Ex-Gambling Commission lawyer promoted to partner at Harris Hagan
David Whyte starts new role next month five years after joining gambling and leisure industry law firm as senior associate
Gambling law firm Harris Hagan has promoted David Whyte to partner, with the move coming into effect from 1 April.
Whyte previously spent nine years at the Gambling Commission, first joining as an investigation manager in July 2008 before becoming a solicitor for the regulator from May 2014.
Leaving in 2017, he spent a few years as legal and general counsel for land-based and online operators before joining Harris Hagan, which specialises in online and land-based gambling law, as a senior associate in 2019.
Since joining the firm, Whyte was recognised by The Legal 500 as one of the sector’s rising stars for associate-level lawyers who “appear frequently in significant matters and are widely cited by peers and/or clients as having made major contributions to practices”.
Whyte will now join John Hagan, the firm’s co-founder, and Bahar Alaeddini as partners.
Hagan said that Whyte had been a key asset to the group and would continue to deliver in the “post-white paper era”.
“His practical operational experience and unique insight into the gambling regulatory framework, aligned with his legal expertise and highly personable approach, has been invaluable to the firm and our clients,” he said, “particularly on high-profile compliance and enforcement mandates, including some of the most significant cases in the recent history of the UK gambling industry.”
Commenting on his promotion on LinkedIn, Whyte thanked his colleagues for the opportunity.
He added: “I am proud to join the partnership of a firm that has been ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK and Tier 1 in The Legal 500 since it was established in 2004 and that continues to go from strength to strength in its 20th year.
“Thank you to John Hagan and Bahar Alaeddini for the opportunity, and to the amazing team at Harris Hagan, our clients and our colleagues for their support.”
Arnold Ash is EGR’s Executive Recruitment Partner. They support ambitious organisations to identify and attract industry leading executive talent. Find out more here.