David Southern  is "an enthusiastic and honourable man who really cares about his cases." (Chambers & Partners, 2012). He has also been described as an “enormously personable” and “brave advocate who offers inventive analysis of a case.” (Chambers & Partners, 2011).  He  has extensive experience of tax litigation and advice. He represented the tax payer in the House of Lord's in the case of Fleming (t/a Bodycraft) v R & C Comrs [2008] STC 324. This case has generated repayments for tax payers of £13.1 billion, and was described by the Financial Times (19-20 January 2008) as the 'VAT case of the decade'. More recently he represented BAA in its successful appeal to recover VAT on takeover costs.

His legal experience covers:

• All forms of tax litigation
• Corporate finance
• Reconstructions
• Property transactions
• VAT and excise duties
• Banking, finance and insurance
• Capital taxes
• Stamp duty land tax and stamp duties
• Goverment consultancy on tax legislation

David Southern’s Directory Quotes

• "an enthusiastic and honourable man who really cares about his cases." (Chambers & Partners, 2012)
• An “enormously personable” and “brave advocate who offers inventive analysis of a case.” (Chambers & Partners, 2011)
• David Southern has a diverse direct and indirect tax practice. (Legal 500, 2010)David Southern scored a significant victory in the House of Lords in Fleming.(Legal 500, 2008)
• David can take instructions from solicitors, accountants, tax advisers as well as foreign lawyers.

He is a barrister at Temple Tax Chambers, 3 Temple Gardens and a Bencher of Lincoln's Inn.