David Pygott

Expertise

David has extensive experience in contentious regulatory work, with a particular focus on FCA and other financial services investigations.  He has acted for retail and investment banks, building societies, asset managers, insurance and private wealth management firms, and for individuals employed by them, in some of the most high profile investigations to date.  He advises on a wide range of contentious regulatory matters, but has a particular focus on market abuse, the handling of inside information, financial crime systems and controls, and anti-money laundering.  His work also includes advising on regulatory interventions / contentious supervision,  internal investigations, culture, governance, and non-financial misconduct.

David is highly experienced in cross-border work, having worked in a 'magic circle' law firm for 11 years and spent time living and working in (among other places) France, Italy, and Hong Kong.

Since moving to Addleshaw Goddard as a partner in October 2018, with a brief to grow the firm's contentious regulatory practice, David has acted in some highly sensitive and innovative new instructions and developed a strong reputation in the market ("he has been instrumental in taking the Addleshaw Goddard team from strength to strength since his arrival and has been involved in some ground-breaking work", Legal 500 2022).  He speaks regularly at industry events and regularly provides Board and other senior management training relating to the FCA/PRA Senior Managers and Certification Regime and UK MAR.

David is personally ranked in band 3 of the 2025 edition of Chambers and Partners UK, and as a Leading Partner in Legal 500 2025, for contentious financial services regulatory work.