David Jackson

David is Chief Executive of Shoosmiths. He is responsible for delivering the firm’s strategy and for driving operational excellence in the business to help serve their clients.

Prior to being elected to the role in 2022, David practised as a specialist Technology & Outsourcing lawyer, leading Shoosmiths’ award-winning national Commercial Group for over ten years. He was recognised by the directories as a Leading Individual in his field, being described as ‘very pragmatic, very commercial and technically brilliant’.

David is passionate about client service and innovating to create new ways of solving their clients’ problems. He won the prestigious Client Partner of the Year Award at the British Legal Awards following a survey conducted by Legal Week of over 1400 senior in-house lawyers who were asked to rate the client partner who’d impressed them most. David topped the poll in the UK.

As Chief Executive, David combines leadership and management of the firm’s three core divisions (Corporate, Real Estate & Advisory Services) and its support directorates and is focused on uniting their people in the pursuit of excellence for the benefit of their clients and each other.

David joined Shoosmiths in 2006 from an in-house counsel role. During his time with the firm, he served on its Partnership Council for six years and led the team responsible for creating connected services offering ‘Shoosmiths8’.

In his role as CEO, David is committed to working hard to encourage more diversity of thought, perspective and experience in the firm and he has a personal passion to see improved social mobility across the profession.