Crime

David defends & prosecutes in serious criminal cases in the Crown Court. He has been led in multi-handed murder and drugs importation cases as well as appearing in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has undertaken a cross section of work from complex fraud and sex offences to lengthy violent disorder cases and armed robberies. He is a category 3 Prosecutor.

A popular junior, who has led other juniors and been against silk alone, he is instructed by a wide range of prosecution and defence solicitors throughout England & Wales. He has particular expertise in handling expert witnesses and is fully conversant with the requirements of young and vulnerable witnesses and defendants. He is often called to deal with grave crimes cases that require the utmost sensitivity. He has also been appointed by the Court as Special Counsel to conduct cross-examination of witnesses in distressing cases where the Appellant/Defendant is in person.

CPD Seminars & Training & Lecturing

David has lectured on the BTPC course. He has given advocacy training and is on the General Council of the Bar’s Speakers for Schools Programme.

As well as advocacy and advisory services David is often invited to give seminars on new Acts of Parliament, procedure and changes in the law as well as refreshers on established law. These are often CPD accredited and tailored to meet the needs of the recipients eg local authorities, police forces.

Some topics covered, amongst others, include the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), Licensing and Gambling Acts 2003 & 2005 and Judicial Review.

Training of professional witnesses and experts on giving evidence in different courts is also undertaken through training seminars and workshops.

Notable Recent Cases:

R v D [2011] Junior to Leading Counsel on 12 handed fraud indictment with international elements.
R v F [2011] Counsel for principal Defendant in large multi handed case charged with Conspiracy to Defraud and import tobacco and drugs.
R v Rogers [2011] Junior to Leading Counsel representing a child indicted under the grave crime provisions with multiple rapes and encitement to commit sex offences against other children.
R v Oliver [2011] Prosecuted one of the most sophisticated cannabis factories encountered by the police.
R v Smith [2010] Leading Junior Counsel for the principal Defendant in a large scale fraud prosecution by the British Phonographic Industry involving complex POCA proceedings.
R v Hawcroft [2010]. Represented one of 13 Defendants relating to a cross-jurisdictional conspiracy to defraud
Inquest into the death of Baby L.B.
R v M.D. - Successfully represented high profile Councilor to acquittal
Inquest into the death of Christopher Shackleton
Inquest into the death of Jesse James
Inquest into the death of Lee Dewhurst
R v Chandler: Money laundering and organised deception.
R v Singh: Large scale kidnapping with firearms.
R v Sellers: Multihanded multimillion pound fraud.
R v Coughlan: Allegation of serious drug dealing and drugs related murder. Led in representing 1 of 7 Defendants and succeeded with Abuse of Process Argument.
Operation Cam: Conspiracies to defraud involving identity thefts and elements of international law.
Operation Nimrod: Large operation with many Defendants involving undercover police witnesses and Public Interest Immunity regarding the widespread supply of class A drugs.
Attorney General's Reference 45 of 2008: Robbery
The Queen on the application of M v CPS: Review of CPS procedure
The Queen on the application of Oldham MBC v Manchester Crown Court [2005] EWHC 930 (Admin), LTL: Successful Judicial Review relating to ASBO's and procedure.
 

Regulatory

Being on the Attorney General’s List of Approved Counsel and recommended in the Legal 500, David Pojur is a popular choice for regulatory work. He often appears in demanding cases requiring analysis of complex issues and detailed areas of law. He has good practical experience across a number of areas in the regulatory field. His advocacy and advisory services are sought after and he has been a junior alone against leading counsel as well as leading other juniors.

David is one of the few counsel on the Northern Circuit authorised to accept instructions from all government agencies.

He is instructed by a number of government departments from the Health & Safety Executive and the Environment Agency to the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills. He acts for bodies from Local Authorities to insurance companies and regulated professions, including the Ambulance Service in cases that have attracted national media attention.

His approachable style and modern outlook ensures he is easily accessible and gains the confidence of client, court and colleague alike.

Notable recent cases include:

• Appearing for the Health & Safety Executive when a deliberate explosion occurred at a chemicals factory involving crushing machines. Argument as to the interpretation of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002.

• Advocating on behalf of a Local Authority when challenged as to the jurisdiction to set aside liability orders, their administration and enforcement and whether this encroached upon the jurisdiction of the VAT Tribunal. Due to be heard on appeal in the High Court.

• Representing the Environment Agency in relation to deliberate large scale destruction of very fragile habitats of endangered freshwater life.

• Prosecution of an international contractor for carriage of meats, destined for the high street but unfit for human consumption.

• Successfully appealed against the imposition of custodial sentences for a couple charged with animal cruelty offences involving large numbers of horses.

• Representing HSE against a company who had repeatedly flouted health and safety rules and training relating to the movement of massive steel girders when one fell onto an employee during shipping.

• Successful prosecution of major UK supermarket chain for health & safety and food standards breaches. The case examined the powers of entry & search of Environmental Officers & the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). Abuse of process argument opposed.

• Represented 1 of 12 indicted with a Conspiracy to Defraud the public revenue regarding waste management operations across the county.

• Prosecuted a rarely invoked offence for HMRC against an optician under the Minimum Wage Act.

Cases reported in the press

Click Here for press report on Inquest into Lewis Urmson-Brown

Click Here for press report on HMRC v Gains

Personal Injury

Civil

David appears at all stages of personal injury cases and is instructed for both claimants and defendants in fast-track and multi-track cases. He regularly advises on road traffic accidents & his advisory and advocacy services are sought after.

Inquests

David has appeared in a number of long inquests in the Coroner's Court. He has experience representing the interests of a deceased's family and other interested parties such as the Police Federation, NHS, Ambulance Service and insurance companies. The sensitivities displayed in handling witnesses assist the Court in establishing the pertinent issues of an inquest whilst maintaining the dignity of the situation. These are often pressurised high profile inquests attracting media attention.

Of significance he represented a police man initially arrested on suspicion of murder and also a paramedic accused of negligently causing the death of an infant.

David marshalled the late Judge May, President of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal For the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague and former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips.
 

Public/Administrative Law

David has a particular interest in judicial review and regularly advises in public law cases, appearing in the Administrative Court at the RCJ & in Manchester. As an expanding specialist area judicial review addresses issues that have the potential to have a wide impact on society and Government. The Court has seen a huge increase in applications in recent years.

David has also lectured on the issue and the changing nature of the law in this area.