Sean Adams > Gowling WLG > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile
Gowling WLG Offices
TWO SNOWHILL
BIRMINGHAM
B4 6WR
England
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Sean Adams
Work Department
Automotive; Dispute Resolution; Energy; Fraud & Asset Recovery, Commercial Litigation
Position
Partner
Career
Sean is a commercial disputes partner, based in Birmingham (but often working in London). He has a broad commercial practice, with significant experience in a variety of sectors (including within the automotive and financial services sectors).
Sean focuses on corporate and commercial disputes for a wide variety of clients. Those disputes routinely include breach of contract claims, tort and negligence claims, post-M&A / acquisition disputes, investor and shareholder disputes, and serious and complex fraud claims. He also has significant experience handling supply chain disputes (across a number of sectors) and assisting clients in seeking or responding to applications for urgent injunctive relief. Sean also acts for clients in relation to public procurement claims and judicial review proceedings, and has a growing interest and practice dealing with FinTech disputes, particularly related to cryptoassets and blockchain technology.
Sean focuses on helping clients analyse risks and their legal options in order to avoid or resolve disputes with minimal impact on their ongoing business, whether through litigation, arbitration, expert determination or alternative dispute resolution. Although disputes and disagreements are an inevitable part of corporate life, and have increased due to recent economic pressures, Sean’s aim is to help clients obtain an efficient and cost-effective resolution which limits disruption to their underlying business where possible. When formal proceedings are required, as they often are, Sean is well-versed in the associated tactical and procedural requirements and has experience in supporting clients throughout the process, whether before the English Courts or international arbitral tribunals, deploying an experienced team to secure the client’s desired objective and advising on potential litigation financing options / funding arrangements. Sean can also assist clients in assessing and responding to the rapidly increasing risk of ESG-related litigation (including the defence of group litigation proceedings).
Sean represents a broad range of clients, based in both the UK and internationally, including private individuals, SMEs and multinational corporations, across a number of different industry sectors. Sean also regularly represents manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in the automotive sector, and large banking, asset management and private equity clients in the financial services sector. Sean is a member of the Gowling WLG Nordic desk (with a focus on Finland and Iceland), participating in regular trips to the region, and is a member of the IBA (with a focus on the litigation forum). Sean also takes on a variety of pro bono cases where litigation / disputes support is needed, and plays a leading role on a number of the firm’s diversity & inclusion initiatives.
Sean’s key focus is on ensuring that he provides the highest levels of service to his clients. The fact that there are always interesting and unique aspects to every case, which need to be analysed to assess the potential impact on a particular client’s business and devise the best way to proceed, is what keeps him constantly engaged and excited about working in this area.
Languages
English
Lawyer Rankings
London > Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
Gowling WLG’s banking litigation expertise extends to regulatory, structure finance, restructuring, and fraud, acting on many high-profile regulatory matters linked to Libor and FX. The team notably acts for JP Morgan on many of its banking disputes. James Sidwell is the head of the practice. He has experience across all aspects of corporate and financial services litigation, including fraud and asset tracing. Further noted practitioners include Catherine Naylor and Sean Adams.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech
Cryptoasset regulatory advice, payment services issues, and corporate transactional work stand out as recent areas of activity for Gowling WLG, while commercial contracts, tax and IP are additional areas of strength for the practice. Technology specialist David Brennan helms the firm’s fintech offering; his corporate expertise extends to advice on public takeovers and private acquisitions. Kristian Rogers is noted for his capabilities in capital raisings and fund restructurings. Commercial litigators Helen Davenport and Sean Adams extend the unit’s contentious expertise, while Sushil Kuner is praised for her ‘wealth of knowledge concerning fintech and FCA regulatory work’. Ian Mason left the firm in January 2023.
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Birmingham
- Real estate > Commercial property: Birmingham
- Real estate > Construction
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Birmingham
- Employment > Employment
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy, project finance and PFI
- Public sector > Health
- Employment > Health and safety
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Pensions
- Transport