David advises on commercial, technology, IP, data protection and environmental law for businesses involved in the net zero transition, ranging from clean energy to nature-based solutions. He brings 25 years’ experience both as a private practice lawyer within multinational law firms, and as in-house lawyer and sustainability director for real estate, infrastructure and technology businesses. David now supports clients on a broad range of commercial and regulatory matters, including project agreements, commercial terms and conditions, ecosystem services contracts (including for biodiversity units and carbon removal credits), software and platform agreements, innovation and collaboration agreements, intellectual property and data protection compliance. Clients include ecosystem services providers, heat networks, real estate investors, renewable energy project developers and technology companies working on grid flexibility, smart buildings, green hydrogen production and electric vehicle infrastructure.

Recent experience includes:

NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS: Advising Wendling Beck Environment Project on structuring and contracts for a 2,000-acre nature restoration and biodiversity enhancement project in Norfolk that will be funded through sale of environmental credits and ecosystem services.  Advising on contracts and legal mechanisms for sale of biodiversity units, pursuant to the new biodiversity net gain policy, conservation covenants, carbon removal credits, nutrient neutrality and natural flood management. The project is seen as a blueprint for developing and showcasing new models of land use and finance that will enable landscape-scale habitat creation and nature recovery.

EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE:  Drafting full contract suite for leading technology company for launch of new EV charger proposition aimed at residential and multi-family sector.

GRID FLEXIBILITY: Drafting all commercial contracts for Piclo Flex, an online platform that is the UK's leading grid flexibility marketplace. Included drafting the service agreements with DSOs and the flex provider contracts for owners of flexibility assets. Also supporting the client on international expansion into Italy, Ireland, US and other territories.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND ESCOs:  Advising EnergyPro on developing legal structure and framework for BEIS-funded project to develop an 'ESCO-in-a-box' business to identify, finance and implement energy improvement measures at SME sites, including drafting template Energy Services Agreement, Framework Contractor Agreement and Works Contract.

GREEN HYDROGEN: Acting for Shoreham Port on structuring, negotiations and drafting of a strategic partnership agreement and lease with a developer of a planned green hydrogen production facility as part of the Port's green energy hub.

PUBLIC FUNDING ASSESSMENTS: Acting as part of the Triple Point Heat Networks delivery partner team for the DESNZ Green Heat Networks Fund.  Assessor for legal issues on all GHNF applications, working alongside the technical and financial advisory members of the delivery partner, including reviewing contracts, structuring and regulatory issues, drafting the conditions precedent library, undertaking post-commercialisation reviews and advising on funding release conditions.

SMART BUILDING MANAGEMENT: Advising Demand Logic on data protection strategy, privacy notices and customer terms and conditions for cleantech company that interfaces with building management systems and provides a cloud-based platform to optimise building performance through saving energy, maximising comfort and cutting maintenance costs.

DIGITAL ENERGY PLATFORMS: Advising Power Transition on IP transfer, software agreements and customer platform agreements for innovative start-up using distributed ledger technology to provide a digital energy platform for distributed energy resources that enables every participant in the energy system to access data and dynamically track, optimise and balance energy transactions in real time.

MEMBERSHIP ORGANISATIONS:  Advising on collaboration agreements, membership documents, services agreements, IP licences and data protection compliance for membership organisations such as the Better Buildings Partnership, the Sustainable Energy Association and the REA.

SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANCIES: Advising on data protection compliance, commercial agreements, terms and conditions and software-as-a-service contracts for numerous businesses offering consultancy, training and data analytics platforms in the field of sustainability, renewable energy and sustainable real estate.

DISTRICT HEATING – advising on the technology, IP and data protection aspects of commercial agreements for heat networks and companies offering district heating services including Lendlease and Energetik, the heat supply company owned by the London Borough of Enfield.

AIR QUALITY - Advising technology solution provider on London energy and air quality policy, in the context of vehicle emissions limits, on-the-road vehicle emissions testing and a transition to lower-zero emission and electric vehicles.

previous work history

Before joining Lux Nova Partners in 2016, David worked for 9 years with CMS Cameron McKenna in the environment and technology teams, before his 9 year in-house career with GE Capital, as environmental counsel and head of environmental risk and then as sustainability director.

Qualifications

• Solicitor – admitted 1998

• LLM International & Comparative Law (McGill University, Canada) – 1996

• Legal Practice Course (Distinction, Chester College of Law) – 1994

• BA(Hons) Law (2:1, Oxford University) – 1993

INDUSTRY AND PRO BONO ROLES

David sits on the Steering Group of the Green Leases Working Group for the Better Buildings Partnership and is a member of the Green Finance Institute's Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce.   

He also acts as pro bono Sustainability and Climate Change Adviser to the Wessex Multi Academy Trust - which controls 12 amazing schools in Dorset – helping develop and implement its sustainability and climate change strategy. In this role he provides mentorship, advice and support to the Trust leadership and to the grass roots Eco Leaders in each school.