Business & Company Law

David Lucas

David joined the firm in May 2008, having previously been a partner in a major Teesside based legal practice.

David began his career outside the legal profession in sales, marketing and business management. Initially based at ICI in Welwyn Garden City, he was responsible for co-ordinating sales growth across Europe for specialist polyester film products. This led to a European marketing position in the speciality chemicals sector and, in 1993, to overall commercial management of an electronic imaging business, where David co-ordinated sales growth from zero to £4 million in 3 years.

He moved up to Teesside in 1996 to assist ICI in its divestment programme for bulk chemical products. It was this period that confirmed David’s interest in the legal profession. His time in marketing and business management had involved a number of years negotiating detailed commercial contracts with customers and suppliers. David saw from practical experience how the legal documentation needed to properly reflect the deal that needed to be done and had a number of frustrating periods when the lawyers he was using did not seem to appreciate this basic business fact.

Assisting in ICI’s divestment programme exposed him to mergers and acquisitions work, and he personally co-ordinated joint venture discussions with a potential ICI partner, as well as working with his management team on a potential management buy-out.

In 1999, David took the decision to train as a commercial lawyer, with the aim of combining his commercial and legal experience to the benefit of his clients. He qualified as a solicitor in 2003, and was appointed a partner in his then firm in 2004.

In addition to his corporate and commercial work, David has a special interest in franchising and has, at the request of the industry association, the British Franchise Association, made a number of presentations to prospective franchisors and franchisees on the legal aspects involved in franchising.