David Burns is a Partner at Ronald Fletcher Baker in London and is recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual. Described as a charming yet aggressive litigator with great technical knowledge, David provides expert guidance through complex and high-risk legal matters. His practice spans the High Court, County Court, and Property Tribunals, where he acts at both trial and interim stages, including urgent applications.
David possesses extensive expertise in commercial property and landlord and tenant disputes. He is a trusted adviser on lease renewals, forfeiture actions, rent recovery, break notices, and dilapidations claims. Furthermore, he heads the firm’s contentious leasehold enfranchisement department, where he is a go-to practitioner for advice on collective enfranchisement, statutory residential lease extensions, and matters under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. He frequently advises developers and portfolio owners on achieving vacant possession for complex redevelopment projects.
Beyond his specialism in property, David manages a broad range of commercial litigation. This includes high-value financial disputes, bridging finance litigation, and proceedings involving shareholder or partnership disagreements. His experience extends to representing clients in contractual claims and disputes against financial institutions. Additionally, David brings a unique perspective to his work through his higher rights of audience, having successfully secured acquittals as an advocate in Crown Court jury trials.
David is a member of the Property Litigation Association, the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners, and the London Irish Lawyers Association. Outside of his professional practice, he is a dedicated fitness enthusiast and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, having been crowned the Nogi British Open Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion in 2022.
