David Gollancz specialises in all aspects of the law relating to public/private transactions. He is widely recognised as a leading public procurement lawyer and also has in-depth expertise in state aid, employment, pensions and commercial law. Besides his wide-ranging experience in public contracts in general, David has a strong background in the law relating to nuclear installations and nuclear decommissioning. He also has a significant public law practice, particularly in connection with the status and powers of non-departmental public bodies, and an in-depth understanding of the working of public sector authorities.
David was admitted as a solicitor in 1990 and spent the early years of his career as a trade union and legal aid lawyer, joining the Treasury Solicitors Department in 1999. Starting there as an employment litigator, David moved in 2001 to establish the Public Procurement and Commercial Contracts team, and the TUPE Task Force, both of which he led until leaving in 2005 to join City firm Field Fisher Waterhouse in 2005.
As a partner in Field Fisher Waterhouse’s Competition and EU Regulatory Group, and as Head of the firm’s Public Sector Group, David led on a number of major public contracting projects. In 2009 his team was recognised as the Commercial Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards, for their work on the Sellafield nuclear decommissioning contracts, then the highest-value civil contracts in Western Europe. David also maintained his interest in employment law, managing the FFW project to draft the Equality Act 2010 statutory codes of practice on Employment and Equal Pay for the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
In 2010 David transferred to the Bar, joining Keating Chambers as a tenant on 1 August 2011.
Recommendations
“Lofty reputation”...“sharp, reliable and pragmatic”.
Chambers & Partners
‘Excellent understanding of public sector issues’.
Legal 500
Recent Work
- Competitive procurement (advising contracting authority) of nuclear decommissioning contracts for Sellafield nuclear site.
- Competitive procurement (advising bidder) of nuclear decommissioning contracts for Dounreay nuclear site.
- Public procurement law issues in relation to Identity Cards framework agreements; National Police Database contract.
- Creation of Equality and Human Rights Commission.
- State aid issues in relation to Local Authority Mortgage Guarantee Scheme;
Publications
- Author of reference documents on public procurement and state aid for PLC Public Sector and of procurement blog, member of PLC PS Consultative Committee.
Education and Professional Career
| Admitted solicitor |
1990 |
| Postgraduate diploma in EC Law |
2001 |
| Postgraduate diploma (Merit) in EU Competition Law |
2009 |
| Commercial Team of the Year, British Legal Awards |
2009 |
| Keating Chambers |
2011 |
Other Information
- Founder and former chair of Public/Private Procurement Forum.
- Widely in-demand lecturer.
- Active member of the Procurement Lawyers Association, currently member of working group on framework agreements.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact Senior Clerk,
Nick Child, in the first instance, on +44(0)20 7544 2600. The teams of Clerks will be pleased to advise you on the member of Keating Chambers appropriate to your requirements.
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