Trinity Chambers

Adam is a member of Chamber’s civil practice group. While open to receiving instructions on a broad range of civil matters, Adam has a particular interest in construction, commercial and insolvency. He is further open to education instructions and has an interest in special education needs.

Before joining Trinity Chambers, Adam practised as a solicitor in Newcastle upon Tyne for seven years, specialising in construction and commercial dispute resolution.  During his time as a solicitor, Adam gained his higher rights of audience (civil) and became an accredited mediator.
SPECIALISMS
Construction

• Represented and also assisted in several adjudications on behalf of both the referring and responding party, covering issues including final account, ‘smash and grab’ and defects. Adam is also familiar with the drafting requirements for adjudication enforcement proceedings in the Technology & Construction Court.
• Represented clients in adjudication enforcement proceedings in the Technology & Construction Court.
• Advising a homeowner on a claim under the Defective Premises Act 1972 in relation to fire compartmentation defects to a new build terraced property.
• Reviewing, amending and negotiating construction contracts, including standard form building contracts such as JCT and NEC, along with bespoke construction contracts.
• Reviewing ancillary documents, including parent company guarantees, performance guarantees, collateral warranties and professional appointments.
• Advising a homeowner in the interpretation and a successful challenge to an insurer’s refusal to call upon an insurance policy relating to a contribution for sums arising from water ingress to an apartment building with a defective living roof.
• Advising a construction contractor on the recovery of a retention sum held by an employer for the installation of a wind turbine facility off the coast of Norfolk.
• Written advice for an education provider on the termination of a JCT 2016 Design & Build contract due to the negligence of a consultant appointed to assist on the M&E installation.

Commercial Litigation

• Representing a minority shareholder in an unfair prejudice petition resolved through a joint settlement meeting.
• Advising clients in a contract dispute concerning the provision of services and then representing the clients in a successful application for summary judgment.
• Drafted submissions on behalf of a shareholder in an Expert Determination concerning the release of monies in a disputed completion account.
• Advising on the interpretation of an Option Agreement and Deed of Variation in respect of the exercise of an option.
• Advised an energy intermediary company on allegations of half-secret commissions and evidential issues to demonstrate the disclosure of the commission.
• Drafted an artist’s agreement for the use of traditional Irish music on an app-based platform.
• Assisting in proceedings for declaratory relief on a question of whether sums advanced by parents to a child constituted a gift or a loan.
• Representing a local charity in defending libel proceedings commenced by a volunteer.
• Acting for clients in a combined construction adjudication for defects and libel proceedings. These proceedings included two challenges by the construction company for permission to appeal and intensive satellite litigation resulting in the granting of an extended civil restraining order.
• Assisting in obtaining Court-based undertakings in a breach of confidence claim relating to the extraction of confidential information by a former employee.
• Providing written advice on the evidential approach to debt recovery portfolio arising out of deemed contracts in the water sector.
• Written advice in a copyright allegation relating to the publication of children’s literature.

Insolvency
Adam is familiar with aspects of insolvency and the concurrent obligations under the Companies Act for office holders. Recent examples include:

• Written advice to a board of directors on their statutory duties in a possible insolvency scenario.
• Representing petitions at Court in both bankruptcy proceedings and proceedings for the winding up of a company.
• Assisting in advising a client on the bankruptcy of a spouse and the resulting ownership of the family home which was occupied by a disabled child.
• Representing a shareholder in an administrative restoration of a dissolved company.

Education Law
Adam is developing an education practice and has a particular interest in matters relating to special education needs. Having a twin brother with special needs, Adam recognises the value of enabling a child to reach its potential in circumstances where that potential may be out of step with main stream comparators.
Mediation
Adam is an accredited mediator and an associate member of the Civil Mediation Council.
PUBLICATIONS
Adam is the author of the Law Society’s Litigation Handbook: A practical guide to practice and procedure in the Business & Property Courts with the First Edition published in 2021. He is currently working on updates to accompany the second edition.

In addition, Adam has contributed to the Construction Law Journal with recent publications including:

• ‘Protect the margin: mediate first’ Construction Law Journal (2015) 31 Const. L. J. (Issue 1)
• ‘Construction site safety: Analysis of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.’ Construction Law Journal (2015) 31 Const. L. J (Issue 6)
• ‘An International Perspective: Mediation in Ireland: A future model for English Law?’ Construction Law Journal (2018) 34 Const. L. J. (Issue 6)
• ‘Case Analysis: Supreme Court affirms that there is jurisdiction for insolvent construction company’s to refer a dispute to adjudication.’ Construction Law Journal (2020) 36 Const. L. J. (Issue 7)

EDUCATION

• LLB (Hons), Northumbria University, 2012
• LLM Advanced Legal Practice (Legal Practice Course), Northumbria University 2013
• Higher Rights of Audience, BPP Manchester, 2021
• LLM Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, with Distinction, Leeds Beckett University, 2025

MEMBERSHIPS

• The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
• Construction Law Society
• Adjudication Society
• Selden Society
• Technology & Construction Bar Association
• Commercial Bar Association
• Chancery Bar Association

FURTHER INFORMATION
Adam takes pride in his ability to draw on his commercial experience gained through various private and public positions, which he has held alongside his practice as a solicitor.

Adam has previously acted as a Director and the Company Secretary of Visit Northumberland Limited, the destination management organisation for tourism in Northumberland. He held a fixed-term appointment as the Person for Independent Standards at the Northumberland National Park Authority (2023-2025). He has previously served as a Governor at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust (2013-2018) and a Company Secretary of Newcastle Cricket Club CIC (2015-2016).

Adam was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law, teaching the Business Law & Practice module, along with the electives in intellectual property and commercial law.

Outside of Chambers, Adam enjoys the outdoors and will often be found walking or kayaking in the Lake District. He is a keen chef, having undertaken cookery schools in England and Scotland and has an interest in history.