Adam Payter > Chambers of Simon Denison KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Adam Payter

020 3301 0910 adam.payter@6kbw.com View profile

Position

Described as a “go to junior”, Adam is much in demand in the fields of complex criminal litigation, financial crime, extradition, inquests and inquiries and related areas of public law.  He is described in the 2021 and 2022 legal directories as “an eloquent advocate who commands respect from the bench”; “incredibly bright”; “really user-friendly”; “extremely hard-working and very responsive”; he “quickly gains the trust of clients”; “produces excellent written work”; and “raises extremely important points early on”

His recent high-profile work includes advising in relation to ‘Partygate’, representing families in the inquests and public inquiry into the Manchester arena terror attack; the criminal proceedings arising from the Hillsborough tragedy; acting for Pret in relation to allergy-related incidents; the successful defence of a company subject to a private prosecution for fraud; representing company directors in Indian, Russian and USA extradition requests; and pre-charge advice in relation to the Grenfell tower fire.

Financial Crime

Adam is recognised as a leading fraud practitioner who is “flexible, approachable and hardworking”; “able to get to grips with complex underlying material very quickly” with a “a great knowledge of the SFO” (Legal 500). In recent years, he has acted in seven SFO cases, including two of the first Deferred Prosecution Agreement matters. The issues have included concurrent Department of Justice proceedings; non-prosecution agreements in the USA and immunity or leniency agreements pursuant to SOCPA 2005.

Criminal Litigation

Adam is experienced in all manner of general criminal matters from multi-handed murder trials to terrorism cases. He is noted to be a “very skilful and thoughtful advocate” (Chambers & Partners) and as showing “great insight and tactical awareness about how to achieve the best result” (Legal 500).

Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistace

Adam is “a go-to junior in mutual legal assistance and extradition work” (Legal 500) who is “impressive and tenacious” and “a very bright and formidable opponent” (Chambers and Partners). As a result, he has a thriving extradition practice acting for requested persons, judicial authorities and foreign governments in the most “difficult extradition matters” (Chambers and Partners).

Health and Safety

Adam regularly acts for regulators, companies and individuals in relation to health and safety matters. He has significant expertise in food safety cases.

Inquests and Public Inquiries

Adam is currently acting for key Core Participants in the Undercover Policing Inquiry and the Manchester Arena Inquiry.

Adam is experienced in Article 2 ECHR inquests, acting for bereaved families and those at risk of criticism and regulators, including the ORR, CQC and HE. He has particular experience of inquests involving the police, terrorism, prisons, the military and railways.

Public Law

Adam was previously employed by Liberty to advise members of the public on civil liberties and all aspects of the Human Rights Act 1998. He advised on issues including data protection; prison law; actions against the police; the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; inquests and the right to peaceful protest. He is a former elected member of Liberty’s Policy Council.

Disciplinary Tribunals

Adam is well-versed in police and medical disciplinary proceedings. He is instructed by individual registrants, unions (e.g. RCN and MDU) and regulators (e.g. NMC and BSB) in the full range of fitness to practise hearings including conduct, competence, and health cases, High Court applications and registration appeals. Examples of Adam’s experience include cases concerning the death of a patient in a care home; the sexual exploitation of patients with mental health issues; allegations of dishonesty and medication overdoses.

International Criminal Work

In 2008, Adam was a Judicial Assistant to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.  He worked on the case of Popovic et al. (IT-05-88), the seven-handed genocide case concerning the Srebrenica massacre.

Career

• Attorney General’s Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (B Panel)
• Serious Fraud Office – Prosecution (A List)
• List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law (B Panel)
• Crown Prosecution Service – General Crime (Level 4), Serious Crime, Fraud, Terrorism and Extradition (Level 3)
• Justice of the Peace, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court (2008-2011)

Memberships

• Former Treasurer and Chair of the Young Fraud Lawyers’ Association.
• Member of the Criminal Bar Association; Fraud Lawyers’ Association; Extradition Lawyers’ Association; Defence Extradition Lawyers’ Forum; INQUEST Lawyers’ Group; Private Prosecutors’ Association; and the Health and Safety Lawyers Association.

Education

• Cardiff Law School Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding);
• Awarded the Lincoln’s Inn Wolfson Scholarship, Hardwicke Award & Buchanan Prize;
• Winner of the Kalisher Essay Competition 2010;
• University of Nottingham, LLB (Hons), Law.