Practice Areas
David Whittaker KC is a leading advocate in crime, financial crime, regulatory crime, private prosecutions, and public inquiries and inquests. He is recommended in Legal 500 UK Bar 2025 in Crime (Tier 3, Leading Silks), Fraud (Tier 1, Leading Silks) and Health & Safety (Tier 2, Leading Silks), and in Chambers & Partners 2025 in Crime, Financial Crime, and Health & Safety.
He regularly appears in complex, high-profile cases, representing both companies under investigation for serious or regulatory offences and individuals facing allegations that could severely affect their reputations or lives. David is meticulous in case preparation, strategic from the outset, and known for excellent client care.
He has been described as “conscientious and hard-working”, “personable”, and “charming with clients”. In court, he “is a superb advocate” with a “delightful manner with the jury” whose “all-round performance is outstanding”.
Current instructions include individuals charged with fraud and serious criminal matters, companies facing health & safety prosecutions, allegations of gross negligence manslaughter, two private prosecutions, and acting for the project designer for the cladding sub-contractor in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry.
David also delivers training on criminal and regulatory matters and authored the UK fraud chapter for a City solicitors’ firm. He was recently shortlisted as Financial Crime Silk of the Year in the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2025.
Professional Memberships
Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
Criminal Bar Association
Fraud Lawyers Association
Health & Safety Lawyers Association
2002-present: Recorder
