David J. Lant
Partner
Litigation/Dispute Resolution
E: david.lant@kingsley-wood.com
David is a specialist litigator and has amassed an impressive body of work over the years, since qualifying in 2006. He has worked for renowned firms in London, Newcastle upon Tyne and Dubai.
During David’s time in the UAE, where he lived for 4 years, he established a new litigation team for a prominent firm in the region. In 2015 his efforts on behalf of an investment banker client in redacting a high-profile judgment for in the region of £50m, led to recognition by winning an award from the Dubai International Financial Centre Court.
David’s experience includes holding a post as director of a retail company with a £25m turnover, giving him invaluable knowledge of how such a business runs and the challenges faced on a day-to-day basis. This allows him to empathise with his clients, approaching problems with legal expertise and commercially minded pragmatism.
David qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate in 2021, giving him higher rights of audience in the Civil Courts (equivalent to a barrister).
about
He is known for plain speaking, tenacity and achieving outstanding results. David carries out a full range of disputes work and is happy to accept instructions from individuals, starts ups, SMEs and large corporations. He is especially adept in handling unfair prejudice petitions for minority shareholders and has secured settlements worth millions of pounds.
In his spare time outside work, he enjoys spending time with his family and dogs at the Northumberland coast, close to where he lives.
Recent Matters
my work
Recent cases include the following :
- Advising a policyholder in relation to a £12m insurance claim, in connection with fire damage.
- Acting for the Petitioner in relation to an unfair prejudice dispute, further to s.994 of the Companies Act 2006. The claim settled when the company was sold for £4m due to the pressure of litigation, with David’s client achieving £1m by way of share purchase.
- Obtaining injunctive relief for a high-net-worth client based in Monaco in relation to recovering a classic car from a restorer, who was refusing to release the vehicle.
- Advising a client on an exit strategy from a company which was being sold for £8m, in connection with share options.
- Advising a PLC operating in the Falkland Islands in relation to a collateral warranty dispute.
- Advising a multi-national company with operations in Europe, the US and Middle East over a period of years in relation to various contractual disputes.
- Numerous successful applications to set aside judgment (and challenging such applications).
- Pursuing a professional negligence claim for in the region of £500k against an energy broker.
- Demobilising a claim made by an overseas entity via a security for costs application.
Interest
about me
David is an avid traveller, surfer and plays squash when he can. He has travelled far and wide to surf which is his biggest passion, including visits to Oman, Sri Lanka, Cape Town, Morocco and Lebanon. He can typically be found at the Northumberland coast on his days off.
David likes to take on challenges and has completed the Tromso Midnight Sun Marathon, which is the world’s most northerly marathon race.
He has two children and another on the way. David takes pride in his two dogs, an English Springer Spaniel and German Shorthaired Pointer.
Awards & Experience
my expertise
He is a Solicitor-Advocate (Civil) with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Hons) from the University of Manchester and completed his Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in London.
