David Kearsley - Clarke & Son

Meet the Team

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David is the Head of Commercial Real Estate here at Clarke & Son Solicitors.

Area of expertise:

David has particular experience in landlord and tenant work and the acquisition and disposal of offices and industrial property.

Career:

David trained in Sussex, 20 years ago now, and spent his early career in Sussex/Hampshire. He then moved to Pennington's London office in 2008 where he worked for 5 years before moving out to work in Surrey for the following 12 years, most of which was spent running a start-up law firm. In April 2026, he moved over the boarder, he moved over the boarder into Hampshire to take over from Phil Dixon as Head of Commercial Real Estate at Clarke & Son.

David offers a commercially focussed and pragmatic approach to property transactions.

He also enjoys getting to know his clients well whilst understanding their business and their objectives.

Outside of work:

David likes to play racket sports and spending time outdoors with his children.

Expertise

Alex is an experienced legal expert who was commercial and practical with his advice. Supportive at every part of the process we required counsel on and flexible with his time. I would have no hesitation in recommending him for employment law support.

Group HR Director, International Wholesaler
As a small business we have found the legal and HR aspects in particular to be challenging given the breadth and depth of knowledge which is expected of an employer, not to mention the tight timescales in which we as employers are required to deal with such matters. The support received from Alex at Clarke & Son in particular has been swift, pragmatic and decisive, allowing events to be quickly concluded and also allowing us to remain focussed on our business instead of being bogged down in the intricacies of employment law.

Owner, Pub Company
We engaged Alex May to help us with a delicate employment situation. From the outset Alex was approachable and knowledgeable, guiding us through a difficult process with maturity and sensitivity. Alex understood the need to ensure we were legally compliant, but that we were also dealing with a human being, so empathy was of equal importance. I would highly recommend Alex and Clarke and Son as a whole.

CEO, Creative Agency
A big thank you to Alex who dealt with matters in a very prompt and professional manner in which he was always on the front foot in dealing with my HR department. Alex really understood my risk vs reward position and communication style very quickly and that helped me get exactly what I needed out of matters in terms of compensation.
We recently completed on Woody’s Bar in Kingston. We required legal advice regarding TUPE and Licensing for this transaction which Alex May was on hand to support us at every turn. I have dealt with plenty of similar transactions, but Alex’s guidance, advice and support was far superior to anything I had experienced before. He is now our go to person to ensure confidence in delivering transactions and our Employment and Licensing needs efficiently and correctly.

Jon Radford, Managing Director, Windsor & Eton Brewery
Will, Glenn, and the entire Clarke and Son team were exceptional from start to finish during my transaction. They were consistently responsive, offering clear, practical advice at every stage, and made a complex process feel smooth and manageable.

The Garage Entertainment
I have used Clarke and Son’s solicitors many times over the years, from will writing, LPA’S and most recently obtaining probate. I can highly recommend. Professional and caring service from start to finish.
It has been a pleasure working with Jack Armitstead on our large commercial lease renewal. He was very thorough and had excellent and clear communication throughout the process. He was able to push back and successfully resolve any final queries on the lease and I look forward to the opportunity to work with him again.
The service Simon provides is fantastic – communicative, clear and concise, polite and professional. He takes the time to explain everything to us in a language we can understand, keeps us up-to-date on cases as they progress and is efficient and determined when working with other parties on our behalf.
Working with Mark and his team was a truly reassuring experience during a difficult time as we navigated an international family relocation. Their professionalism, expertise, and genuine compassion made all the difference. They provided timely, clear guidance, strong advocacy, and unwavering support throughout the process.
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Alex May for two years now, and in that time, I’ve come to truly appreciate his professionalism, responsiveness, and solution-oriented approach. I couldn’t recommend his services highly enough.

Chance Fisher, Head of People at Beds & Bars
We have confidence referring clients to Alex knowing they are in safe hands and will get the very best service. Meanwhile it is reassuring for us to know that Alex is on the other end of the phone if we need some legal guidance or an assurance we are taking a good approach with legal employment matters.

VivoHR
Oh Becky – thank you so much, you’re a lovely person. Thank you as always for being my go to for legal support.
The team provided a very fast and efficient service that I would highly recommend to any friends or family that require such legal services. We will for sure be using Clarke & Son again for any future property purchase or selling adventures.
We have worked with Clarke & Son for a number of years and they have always provided excellent support as our brewery has grown. Alongside their professionalism, they have been a pleasure to spend time with inside and outside of work.

Bob Morrison, Deputy Chairman at Windsor & Eton Brewery
The Clarke and Son team are easy to deal with and ensure no unnecessary delays allowing decisions to be made more quickly. They provide practical solutions to difficult issues and we like that they understand our business and what is required to get deals done effectively.

David Nathan, CFO at Brakspear
We have worked with Clarke and Son for a number of years now. In particular, Will and the team have become indispensable to us. Jonny and myself thank the team for their expertise and commitment and we look forward to continuing to work as if they were our team of in house lawyers over the years to come.

Tim Lennox , No.1 Living
Clarke & Son having a specialism within the hospitality sector. They have provided our members with the benefit of their significant experience and expertise. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Will Anderson and his team and look forward to continued success together.

Natasha Dochniak, Commercial Manager at Hampshire Fare C.I.C.
Will and the team at Clarke and Son never disappoint on providing a top class service. Their friendly and approachable nature makes interaction effortless and their attention to detail in answering enquiries often goes above and beyond your initial enquiry; it’s rare but refreshing to find this level of service and openness.

Rebecca Fisher, Partnerships & Events Manager, at Hattingley Valley Wines Limited
We have covered a range of matters with Clarke & Son including corporate structure, acquisitions, leases & contracts, employment, and dispute resolution. The knowledge and service in each of these areas has been exceptional. We do not feel like ‘just another client’, but rather, a valued customer for whom the firm will do their utmost for.

Luke Knowles, Strategy and Development Director Beds and Bars Group

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