Call: 1984 QC: 2003
For many years, David has been widely recognised as a leading practitioner in commercial dispute resolution with a particular emphasis on professional indemnity, construction and engineering, energy and utilities, information technology and insurance law. He has represented a wide range of clients including multinational corporations, government entities, professional advisers and individuals both in the UK and abroad.
As an advocate, David has many years experience in the Technology and Construction Court, the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal. He has advised and acted for clients in international arbitrations under ICC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules as well as in relation to all kinds of domestic disputes. He is an accredited adjudicator and regularly advises on both the conduct of adjudication and the enforcement of adjudicator's decisions, advising on tactics, preparing statements of case and even appearing at the hearings. Similarly, he is sometimes asked to represent his clients at mediations.
David prides himself on being highly approachable and accessible to clients; on giving practical, objective, straightforward and commercial advice; on being hard-working, conscientious and thorough as well as being totally committed and highly tenacious as an advocate.
For a number of years, David has been listed in the two main legal directories (Legal 500 and Chambers) as a leader in the fields of professional negligence and construction where it has been said that:
“He is a tenacious and debonair barrister, who works astonishingly hard and has a prodigious work output." As well as "grasping the facts of a case and dealing with clients extremely well," he stands out for the elegance of his written work. Active both domestically and internationally, he recently appeared for one of two defendants in a EUR70 million international arbitration concerning the construction of a new power station in Spain”.
‘He has a strong reputation for high-profile and significant work, and is noted for his "brilliant draftsmanship" and his "amazing ability to grasp the facts of a case."’
‘David Sears QC stands out for many as “absolutely brilliant, a great advocate and a tenacious fighter.” “Charming and terrifically committed”, he is a lawyer with a “formidable intellect and a tenacious style.” He “gives practical advice and clients really like his manner.” He is “incredibly hard-working and handles a seriously heavy case-load but always retains his good humour despite the weight of work that lands on his desk.” “Authoritative and charming, he has a wonderfully debonair manner”. He is “clear, lucid and elegant” and ‘Instructing solicitors are indebted to him for the number of times he has “dug them out of holes” during intricate litigation’. ‘Solicitors describe Sears as “excellent and hard working; reliability itself.”’
David is a TECBAR accredited Adjudicator and also a trained Mediator. He is qualified to undertake Public Access work and has worked for a number of clients on a direct access basis. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Publications: Contributor to the section on Delay and Disruption, Liquidated Damages and Penalties in the 12th edition of Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts
Education
MA Oxon Jurisprudence