Spear’s Review

A well-known figure in the field of fraud and commercial litigation, David de Ferrars has a particular specialism in addressing various disputes surrounding the sale and purchase of classic cars; this could be anything from a blip in a car’s provenance, someone selling a car they don’t own, or forgeries – which are increasingly common.

De Ferrars has been with Taylor Wessing (now Winston Taylor following the merger of Winston & Strawn and Taylor Wessing in 2026) since qualifying over 25 years ago, but it was when colleague Ronald Graham brought his clients from RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby’s) to the firm that he was able to use his lifelong interest in cars in the workplace. 

He tells Spear’s: ‘I share the passion; I understand the drivers behind the ownership and investment, and I understand the issues that [clients] face through my own experiences as a car owner and as a lawyer in the sector.’

Adviser Profile

David de Ferrars is recognised as an expert litigator and a leader in the field of fraud. He has led on some of the largest financial fraud cases of the last 30 years, and clients know him as eminently reliable and professional, and value his exceptional negotiation skills. He advises on complex commercial litigation and arbitration, and corporate crime issues, often in multiple jurisdictions.

David regularly works with clients including multinational companies, banks, UHNW individuals and family estates. He has extensive experience in classic car related disputes, contractual disputes, corruption investigations, product liability cases, partnership and joint venture disputes, and shareholder disputes.