David Wootton

Sir David Hugh Wootton (born 20 July 1950 in Yorkshire) is a British lawyer and politician. He was the 684th Lord Mayor of London, from 2011 to 2012, and is the Alderman of the Ward of Langbourn.

Wootton was educated at Bradford Grammar School before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge to read Classics and then Law. While at Cambridge he also captained his college’s boat club in 1972 and rowed in the First Boat which swept the board against all comers – and until he became Lord Mayor he endeavoured to row there once a year with his contemporaries.

In 1979 Wootton became a Partner at Allen & Overy, the international law firm headquartered in London with offices in 30 countries, specialising in corporate transactions and best-practice compliance with law and regulation in corporate governance. This involves dealing with mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and joint ventures across various international markets.

Having a strong interest in the governance of the City of London, Wootton stood for election to Common Council and was elected as Commoncouncilman for the Ward of Farringdon Within in 2002. In 2005 he was elected Alderman for the Ward of Langbourn. He was Deputy Chairman of the Finance Committee and a member of the Policy and Resources and the City Lands and Bridge House Estates Committees. In 2009 he was elected Aldermanic Sheriff before serving as Lord Mayor of London for 2011-12.

Wootton has made time throughout his career to devote to charitable and community activities in promotion of education and sport. Away from the Corporation of London, he is:

• Member of the Management Committee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the King’s Fund
• Chairman of the City of London Branch of the Institute of Directors
• President of the Society of Young Freemen
• Honorary Vice President and serves on the Council of the City Livery Club
• Chairman of the Trustees of the Charles Dickens Museum
• Chairman of the Jesus College Boat Club (Cambridge) Trust
• Music Patron of St Paul’s Cathedral
• Director of the City of London Festival
• Director of Local Partnerships LLP
• Member of the Council of Royal Society of St George (City of London Branch)

Sir David is Governor of several institutions, including:

• Guildhall School of Music & Drama
• King Edward's School, Witley
• City of London Academy, Southwark

and, is a keen supporter of the Livery, being:

• Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers, Solicitors’ Company, the Worshipful Company of Glaziers and Painters of Glass, the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and the Guild of Freemen
• Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, the Worshipful Company of Bowyers and the Worshipful Company of Woolmen
• Honorary Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals
• Freeman of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen

Wootton is a racing steward of Henley Royal Regatta and a member of Leander and London Rowing Clubs, as well as the Athenaeum, the Oxford and Cambridge, and City of London Clubs.

He has also been:

• Almoner of Christ's Hospital
• Chairman of the Misys Charitable Foundation
• Committee member of the City of London Law Society
• Member of the Development Board of The Institute of Cancer Research
• Member of the Council of the National Trust (elected)
• Master of the Worshipful Company of Fletchers (2005–06)
• Master of the Solicitors’ Company (2010–11)
• Chancellor of City University London (2011–12)

Wootton was knighted in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to legal business, charity and the City of London".

Wootton was conferred Doctor of Laws honoris causa by the City University London in 2012.

Married to Elizabeth (Liz), they have two sons (James and Christopher), two daughters (Alexandra and Sophie) and six grandchildren (Ellie, Lucy, Casper, Henry, Lawrence and George). Sir David and Lady Wootton live at Sevenoaks, Kent.

Freemasonry

Wootton is a Freemason. In 2007, he served as Senior Grand Warden of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and was Past Grand Sword Bearer in 2012. Since March 2014, he has been Assistant Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England.