About

Career

U.S. Trial Counsel

David began his legal career in Florida and acquired fourteen years of U.S. courtroom experience as lead counsel in over 70 bench and jury trials in both the state and federal court systems, practising first with a Florida litigation firm and then with major Wall Street law firm Pillsbury.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

As Branch Chief of the SEC's Enforcement Division in New York, David led a team of lawyers and forensic accountants, launching investigations into insider trading and market manipulation cases, including one involving high-profile derivatives dealings between Procter & Gamble and Bankers Trust Company. He also prosecuted affinity frauds requiring Chinese language skills.

Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission

In 1995, Hong Kong's SFC recruited David as its Director of Corporation Finance. He represented the Takeovers Executive in hearings of the Takeovers and Mergers Panel to determine disputes over the control of listed companies in Hong Kong. He subsequently joined Sidley Austin as Counsel, preparing securities offerings for corporate clients in Greater China.

General Counsel — China Mobile, Hong Kong

From 1999 to 2004, David was General Counsel to China Mobile, then the world's largest telecommunications operator. Reporting directly to the Chairman in Hong Kong, he guided the company through challenging asset acquisitions and overseas securities offerings during a period of rapid economic growth in China. During his tenure, China Mobile raised US$20 billion in overseas equity markets. He played a central role in the formation and functioning of the US$2.3 billion strategic alliance joint venture between China Mobile and Vodafone.

Legal Director — Vodafone, New Zealand

After ten years in Hong Kong, David joined Vodafone in New Zealand to head the Legal Department and serve on the Executive Management Team. He was personally responsible for all regulatory and business disputes, achieving successive wins in litigation, arbitration and mediation cases.

Independent Arbitrator (2013 – present)

In 2013, David launched his own arbitration practice. Due to his extensive China experience and Mandarin capability, he is often appointed in cases involving one or more Chinese parties. His practice focuses on technology, intellectual property, telecommunications, hospitality, investment, and post-merger disputes.

Education & Qualifications

• Chartered Arbitrator — Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2007)
• Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration — Keble College, Oxford (2006)
• Fellow — Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2006)
• Fellow — Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (2013)
• Fellow — Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand (2006)
• Fellow — Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (2004)
• Faculty Member — Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London (2015–present)
• Doctor of Laws — University of Miami School of Law (1981)
• Bachelor of Arts, East Asian Studies — Muhlenberg College (1978)
• Oberlin-in-Taiwan Intensive Chinese Studies Program (1975–76)

Former Appointments

• Chairman — New Zealand National Committee, ICC International Court of Arbitration (2016–2019)
• Alternate Member — ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris (2014–2017)
• Member — New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal (2013–2017)
• Director — American Arbitration Association (2010–2016)
• Director — Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (2011–2016)
• ICDR Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics Committee (2013)

Languages

David lived in Taiwan (1975–76) and in Hong Kong, where he was General Counsel to China Mobile (1999–2004), speaking Chinese on a daily basis. He fluently speaks and reads Mandarin Chinese as a second language — in both simplified and traditional characters. He holds HSK Level 5 (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, administered by the Ministry of Education of the PRC) and CLPS Level 5 (the highest level under the Chinese Language Proficiency Scales for Speakers of Other Languages).

David also lived in Japan (1976–77) and has a working knowledge of spoken and written Japanese.