Disputes Team

For many years I predominantly practised family and civil law. I qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1997 and in 1999 qualified as a solicitor.

I have experience of all types of litigation including housing, commercial, dispute resolution, disputed wills and probate, insolvency and debt recovery.

I have successfully concluded a case in the Supreme Court, which clarifies the law surrounding harassment: Hayes v Willoughby.

I am a member of ACTAPS which is the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists.

My main area of practice now is contentious probate advising upon the validity of wills, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for family and dependants) Act 1975 and disputes in relation to trusts.

I studied Business Law at Nottingham Trent University, where I stayed and completed my LPC LLM, graduating in March 2022. I started working at Sharmans as a paralegal in the Dispute Resolution department in May 2021 shortly before my final exams on my LPC. I was then offered a training contract, commencing in April 2022.

In my training contract I completed seats in the Dispute Resolution, Family, Private Client and Commercial Property departments, working alongside the Partners.

I qualified as a Solicitor on the 2nd April 2024, I am now working in the Dispute Resolution team. Through my career with Sharmans I have worked in many areas of litigation, including and not limited to, landlord and tenant disputes (both residential and commercial), contentious probate, debt recovery and contract disputes.

I have lived in Bedford all my life. Outside of work I enjoy keeping active through various sports including playing rugby for the Bedford Blues Women.

David studied Law while working for the CPS and the Serious Fraud Office. He qualified as a solicitor in 1997 at Nicholas Drukker & Co (as it then was), a niche litigation firm then based in Cheapside.

David has nearly 30 years experience of civil dispute resolution. This came after 10 years working in crime and international fraud. He has acted for clients both corporate and individual, domestic and international, and generally in matters which require a sensitive approach to the issues; an appreciation of detail; and a forensic analysis of the facts and application of the law. He is known for his dogged and forensic approach to complicated matters and his commitment to his clients and their interests.

He was described in Legal 500 as “practical, commercial and , really fights his clients’ corners”.

We asked David - How do you usually like to unwind after a busy week?

“I like to spend time with friends and family. This usually involves walking the dog; watching rugby at Ampthill Rugby club; exploring the local area on foot and trying new recipes out on my family.”