David Watson

Year called: 1990

Email David Watson

Area of Expertise

Inquests and Inquiries

Court of Protection

Mediation and Arbitration

Clerked by

Rachel Kehoe at Rachel.Kehoe@7HS.co.uk

Or alternatively email Clerks@7HS.co.uk

Practice Overview

David is an experienced Criminal advocate who Prosecutes and Defends predominantly in Liverpool Crown Court. His practice is focused mainly on serious sexual offences but also incorporates Drug cases, offences of serious of violence, fraud and modern slavery.

David is a Category 3 Prosecutor and is on the CPS RASSO Panel. When Defending David often represents Defendants with particular vulnerabilities due to mental health issues and has significant experience with issues of fitness to plead.

Notable/Recent Cases

  • Acted for the applicant in judicially reviewing the decision of a coroner where, at an inquest, the employer was found to have exposed the deceased to chemicals which caused his death. Led by leading counsel. 
  • Advised an interested person in relation to its response and position to an application for judicial review arising from a death in a care home.
  • Acted for a hospital in relation to the death of a newborn baby in its maternity ward.
  • Acted for the insurers of a driver in relation to a road traffic collision. The case was a rare instance where the coroner had to consider a conclusion of unlawful killing, because of the standard of driving of one of the vehicles.
  • Acted for the healthcare provider in relation to the death of an inmate in prison. The prisoner had committed suicide, and issues included addressing the mental health risk assessments and treatment provided to the prisoner. 
  • Acted for the employee of a specialist children’s cot supply company in an inquest arising from the death of a disabled toddler. Issues around gross negligence manslaughter and tampering with evidence were addressed at the inquest. 
  • Acted for the owner of a farm at an inquest arising from a death on the farmyard.
  • Acted for the owners of a care home in relation to the death of a resident following a fall at the care home. Issues in relation to neglect, risk assessments and adequate care aids being in place were addressed. 
  • In module one, acted as part of the team advising one of the Core Participants at the Covid Inquiry.
  • Was part of the team assisting on a discovery and disclosure exercise in a billion pound High Court action concerning a foreign tax law claim.