David Comb
Specialisms:
Criminal Law
Prosecutes and defends a broad spectrum of criminal cases in both the Crown Court and Magistrates Court. Experience includes cases involving offences of violence, public disorder, sexual misconduct, drugs, dishonesty, financial crime and road traffic offences.
A string of appearances on behalf of teachers, journalists, nurses and other professionals alleged to have breached positions of trust. These cases have included allegations of sexual assault, inappropriate sexual relationships, common assault and commercial theft/fraud. Typically involving trial before a jury, these cases have involved a number of acquittals.
Prison Law
David has experience of disciplinary hearings, parole hearings and judicial review.
Regulatory Law
As well as a substantial defence regulatory practice, David also receives instructions from public authorities including the RCPO, Environment Agency, Local Authorities and Police Services.
Licensing
David appears for licensees at all stages from committee onwards and also receives instructions from Local Authorities on appeal.
Immigration and Asylum Law
All aspects of refugee law, human rights law and humanitarian law. Particular interest in foreign affairs and humanitarian crises, especially in ‘hot-spots’ including (but not limited to) Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Eritrea, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan.
Commercial and family immigration law
Particular experience of appeals from the subcontinent (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh). Undertakes an increasing number of cases arising from reform to the Immigration Rules, especially the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme.
Administrative and Public Law
Judicial review can be a vital tool across all areas of public work and David is always happy to advise and assist from an early stage. Most frequently, David has acted to challenge immigration decisions that are not susceptible to appeal, and in the field of prisoners’ rights. A growing area of his practice, David has an interest in work that intersects disciplines and pushes at boundaries.
Cases:
David advised on the effect of one of the first ‘informer’s agreement’ made under s73 Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Effect of a clause (not authorised by the Home Office) guaranteeing the informant leave to remain in the United Kingdom, in exchange for co-operation.
Appointments:
Grade 2 prosecutor
Equality and Human Rights Commission Preferred Panel of Counsel
Memberships:
- Criminal Bar Association
- North Eastern Circuit
- Liberty
- Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Lectures & Seminars:
Jury Bias: Occupational Hazards? June 2008. A practical examination of law reforms concerning the eligibility of police officers etc. to sit as jurors.
Data Protection Act 1998: An Introduction and Guide for Police Service Lawyers January 2009
Tees Valley Law Society – Human Rights March 2010
Education & Awards:
- LLB (Hons) 2:1
- University of Sheffield 2003
- Dubb Lipton Allsopp Award 2005
- Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Inner Temple Exhibitioner
- Inner Temple Intern Scholarship
Additional Information:
David undertook an Internship at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Centre (New Orleans) working on death penalty cases and the cases of British citizens incarcerated at the Guantanamo Bay military facility.
David was the winner of the Inner Temple Inter-Varsity Mooting Competition and Telders Public International Law Mooting Competition (English round), in successive years. He appeared at the International Court of Justice on behalf of English Universities.