David Cooper

David Cooper’s profile as the ‘king of planning’ was enhanced in late 2018 when he won a landmark case in the Supreme Court (Franses v The Cavendish Hotel). The 5-0 ruling means that landlords’ ability to use redevelopment proposals to oppose lease renewals has been substantially lessened. ‘Hopefully, this case will shake the system,’ he says. Cooper launched the firm in 1993, and has strong connections with the major London estates, including the Grosvenor and Crown Estate. He has many billionaires among his clients. He is also very passionate about saving the ‘artistic soul’ of the St James’s area of London, often defending the rights of art dealers to stay put and pay a reasonable rent.