- London 020 7067 1500
- Email clerks@25bedfordrow.com
David Wood
"He excels more senior counsel in capability, and is pleasant and professional too." "Highly capable, tenacious, and at ease with clients and on his feet."
David is a specialist criminal defence barrister. He is an expert in defending serious criminal allegations including murder, firearm possession, grievous bodily harm, rape/serious sexual offences, and Class A drug dealing.
Both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 rank David as one of the UK’s best junior barristers. Professional feedback in those directories consistently describes him as an excellent jury advocate, persuasive, tenacious, tactical, hard-working and approachable.
Many of David’s cases over the years have involved allegations of organised international criminal activity with a high media profile (examples where he was junior counsel include: Russell Wadge cleared over chemical explosives haul - BBC News, Gary Hyde arms deal trial collapses - BBC News, Crime boss Thomas Kavanagh set up gun plot to dupe police - BBC News).
Alongside his criminal practice, David also defends in professional discipline and regulatory law (for example before the General Medical Council, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and in Police misconduct proceedings). Additionally, he acts in inquests and public inquiries – most notably as junior Counsel to two core participants in the Manchester Arena Inquiry in 2021.
David is a Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple (Masters of the Bench The Inner Temple) and a member of its Advocacy Training Committee – regularly teaching advocacy to younger barristers. He is a former Secretary of the Criminal Bar Association and played a significant role in the development and delivery of the inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme.
In 2022, David was made a Recorder of the Crown Court.
You can find out more about David here:
- David Wood, UK Bar Chambers Profiles
- David Wood > 25 Bedford Row > London Lawyer profiles
- David Wood LinkedIn
You can watch some of David’s cross-examination in the Manchester Arena Inquiry here:
- Manchester Arena Inquiry 11/05/21/ AM (questioning an Operational Firearms Commander from 02.51)
- Manchester Arena Inquiry 18/05/21/ PM (questioning a Deputy Chief Constable from 01.37).
David can accept instructions on a Direct Public Access basis.
Appointments
- Recorder, Northern Circuit (2022)
Publications
- The Law of Public Order and Protest, 2010, OUP (Research credit)
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- South Eastern Circuit
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
- Lawyers for Liberty
- Release
- Fraud Lawyers Association
Education, Scholarships and Awards
- MA (Oxon) (Worcester College, Oxford)
- Diploma in Law (BPP Manchester)
- Bar Vocational Course (BPP London)
- Winner, BPP London Mooting Competition 2007
- Peta Fordham prize