David Pickersgill both prosecutes and defends . He regularly conducts prosecution work for the Crown Prosecution service and other prosecuting authorities. His practice includes cases which fall within a wide range of criminal and regulatory offences, from large scale drug supply prosecutions to those involving serious and complex fraud and money laundering.

Similarly, in terms of defence work, he conducts cases across the full range of criminal offences and has represented defendants in cases of murder, manslaughter, ape, indecency, fraud, money laundering etc.

He undertakes work in company and commercial law. Examples of his recent work include representing clients in the food and fisheries sector, both in terms of compliance and litigation. He conducts cases in competition law and advises companies upon liabilities under UK and EU legislation. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries including publishing, the motor industry and UK medical care.

A notable case in 2008 was his appearance in the Court of Appeal in the case of R v Wallis. For an automatic life sentence to be imposed under PCC(s) 2000 s109, it was necessary for a defendant to have been actually convicted of another serious offence at the time he committed the second offence.

R v Stapleton and ors (2002), CCC, junior defence counsel in a £16 million carousel fraud

R v Sherman and Badrick (2004), Ipswich Crown Court, junior prosecuting counsel in a marine insurance fraud.

R v Alistair Green and ors (2006) Ipswich Crown Court, junior counsel for the defence, lead by Stephen Harvey QC, a building trade fraud.

Other serious cases include:

R v Erol Seyhan and ors (2006) junior counsel for the defence, led by Ramiz Gursoy, a cocaine importation to the UK from Panama.

R v Paul Claire (2006) Ipswich Crown Court, junior counsel for the prosecution, leading to a retrial. A rape case, complicated by the defendant’s extensive history of violent sexual offences.

1996 - Called to the Bar, Middle Temple