David Reader

Experience & Expertise

David is regularly instructed in sensitive and high-profile matters involving public bodies, police forces and Government departments. He is particularly experienced in cases involving complex factual issues, extensive documentation and reputationally sensitive issues, and is valued for his clear advice, careful judgement and effective advocacy.

Inquests and Inquiries

David has significant experience in inquests, regularly appearing on behalf of a range of interested persons, with a particular focus on representing public bodies in inquests where Article 2 ECHR is engaged. He regularly represents Government departments, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, Police Services, Local Authorities, and others.

Recent cases have included:

• Representing the Ministry of Defence as separate representation for a soldier in an inquest arising out of the death of another soldier in the course of live-firing training.
• Represented a police service in a multi-week jury inquest in which the service were joined as an IP after the inquest had commenced.
• Represented a local authority in an inquest involving the death of man following discharge from hospital, with involvement of a third sector provider and multiple referrals to the local authority’s social services teams.
• Represented His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service in a jury inquest arising out of a death in custody. The inquest covered complex expert and procedural evidence with 10 witnesses from the prison giving oral evidence.

David also has an established inquiries practice, appearing in or advising in relation to:

• the Manston Inquiry, representing the Cabinet Office (2025-Current).
• the Southport Inquiry, for the Department of Education (2025-Current).
• the Cranston Inquiry, sole counsel for the Ministry of Defence (2024).
• the COVID-19 Inquiry, for the Cabinet Office and Number 10 Downing Street (2023-2025).
• the Afghanistan Inquiry (2023-2024) for the Ministry of Defence.
• the Infected Blood Inquiry, for the Department of Health (2021-2024).
• the Undercover Policing Inquiry (2020-2023).

Police Law

David has extensive experience in Police Law, including in Police Property Act 1987 matters, public protection orders, and matters touching upon actions against the Police.

David has developed a significant practice in a broad range of public protection orders and their associated appeals, including multi-handed gang injunctions, slavery and trafficking risk orders, and the full range of public protection applications. David has appeared unled against silks, and in courts at all levels, up to and including the High Court.

David also advises Police forces widely on family court disclosure work, material reviews, and the application of legal professional privilege.

Prior to the Bar

Prior to the Bar David had a successful career as a civil servant in Local and Central Government. He studied law as a mature student, winning the University Prize for achieving the highest mark on his LLB and a number of prizes and scholarships on the BPTC.

Recommendations

“David has a strong work ethic, a very good grip on the detail and really critical skills. He produced quality goods from complex documents.”
Chambers & Partners 2026

“David showed great attention to detail and developed strong relationships with the parties involved. He was impressive.”
Chambers & Partners 2026

“David Reader is a very good advocate who is very well prepared and has a lot of respect from others. This case is particularly complex, and he is handling it beautifully.”
Chambers & Partners 2026

“He has a quick grasp of very complex technical issues, and he has the ability to make clients feel at ease no matter how stressful the circumstances. I can highly recommend David.”
Chambers & Partners 2026

Appointments

Fee-Paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration & Asylum Chamber)

Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown

Qualifications

The University of Law, LL.B – 1:1

The University of Law, Bar Practical Training Course (BPTC) – Very Competent

Scholarships, Awards, and Publications

• 4 King’s Bench Walk Prize for Advocacy.
• 5 Paper Buildings Prize for Cross Examination.
• The University of Law Prize for Immigration and Asylum for best overall performance.
• Levitt Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn.
• Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn.
• Advocacy Scholarship (BPTC), University of Law.
• University of Law prize for the highest mark achieved on the LL.B exams.
• University of Law Award for the best overall LL.B student.
• Performance Award, University of Law Winner of the University of Law Mooting Competition 2014.
• The Dechert Scholarship.

Memberships

• ALBA
• Lincoln’s Inn

Privacy

David adopts and adheres to the provisions of his privacy policy which can be found here.

Further Information

For further details of David’s practice please contact a member of the clerking or client care team.