Adam has a busy practice prosecuting and defending in the Crown Court. He has been described by clients as “absolutely brilliant” and “extremely professional and knowledgeable”. Equally, his submissions have been described by the court as “skilfully structured and carefully crafted”.
Background and Expertise
Adam has appeared in various trials across the criminal spectrum including offences of kidnap; drugs supply; robbery; GBH; domestic violence and burglary. He has also appeared in various ancillary order applications (in both Criminal and Civil contexts) such as Criminal Behaviour Orders; Sexual Harm Prevention Orders; Football Banning Orders and restraining orders.
Having previously worked as an Investigator for the Serious Fraud Office, Adam also maintains a keen interest to develop his financial and white-collar crime practice. At the SFO, Adam investigated a number of cases of domestic and international complex fraud, bribery and corruption.
This included interviewing suspects and witnesses under PACE 1984 and S2 CJA 1987, reviewing financial records and attending property searches with the police. Whilst at the SFO he was awarded an official commendation from the Director of the SFO for his outstanding contribution.
In 2022, Adam was also seconded to a top-tier law firm in their business crime department predominantly advising on financial sanctions.
Adam achieved a first-class honours Law degree from Bournemouth University in 2015. During his university placement he acted as a Crown Court paralegal for the Crown Prosecution Service where he managed a monthly case load and attended court daily. In this role he was nominated for Placement of the Year for outstanding achievement by exceeding expectations.
Adam is currently a Grade 2 Prosecutor and regularly accepts both prosecution and defence work. He also regularly appears as a case presenter on behalf of Social Work England, and the General Medical Council. Adam is also the Lead Legal Consultant for Training For Success.
Outside of work he is an avid, yet unfortunate, fan of Arsenal Football Club.
Notable Cases
GMC v R, 2024
Instructed counsel in an ongoing case, defending an allegation of sexual assault.
SWE v LW, 2024
Case presenter on behalf of Social Work England involving a case of two dementia patients, who had been the victims of fraud. The social worker was charged with a series of allegations surrounding their ability to safeguard each service users’ finances, and their dishonest conduct thereafter. Various allegations were found proven, and the social worker was removed from the register.
Disciplinary and RegulatoryR v C, 2023
Conviction in a class A drugs supply case involving the use of cell site material.
R v M and others, 2023
Conviction in a multi-handed allegation of being concerned in the production of cannabis.
DrugsR v A, 2023 (ongoing)
Instructed prosecution counsel in a case concerning the transfer of £70,500 suspected to be money laundering.
R v H, 2023
Instructed prosecution counsel in ongoing POCA proceedings relating to a defendant convicted of selling kilograms of cocaine.
R v P, 2023
Defence counsel for a defendant who had pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud involving over £18,000 of benefit fraud. Following mitigation, Adam secured a small financial penalty and 6 days unpaid work.
Sanctions work, 2022
Adam was seconded to the business crime department of a law firm predominantly advising on the recent implementation of the Russian sanctions.
Financial CrimeR v S, 2023 (ongoing)
Instructed counsel in a long running and multi-handed conspiracy to steal.
R v Cowan [2023] EWCA Crim 1278
Adam appeared for the Appellant who had received a total of 6 months’ imprisonment following a mandatory minimum sentence. Adam argued four grounds of appeal and was successful in three (though the fourth ground was an alternative and thus not considered). The COA deemed that the most appropriate sentence would have been one of a low-level community order, however, as the Appellant had already served some time in custody since the initial sentencing hearing, a short custodial sentence was imposed. This resulted in the Applicant’s immediate release from custody.
R v H, 2023
Adam represented a defendant charged with the attempted kidnap of a 6-year-old child. The case was set down for a s28 hearing to cross-examine the vulnerable complainant though, following discussions with the prosecutor, the Crown accepted a plea to affray.
R v S, 2023
Adam appeared as D1 in a violent kidnapping trial. After successfully resisting the Crown’s application to adduce the complainant’s evidence as hearsay (under the fear provisions); the Crown offered no evidence.
R v B, 2022
Successful appeal against conviction following a submission of no case to answer involving an allegation of obstruct PC. Adam was able to successfully argue that the force used by officers at the time of a search was unlawful through a variety of breaches of PACE Codes.
R v C, 2022
Robbery trial involving a youth defendant and youth witnesses where identity was in issue. Offence captured on CCTV but at the close of the Crown’s case, Adam was able to successfully argue that there was no case to answer.
R v BW, 2021
Adam represented a client who had long standing mental health issues. He was charged with three counts of possessing a bladed article and two breaches of Heathrow byelaws. After obtaining expert psychiatric evidence it was concluded that the client was not able to understand proceedings but neither a hospital order nor guardianship order was appropriate under s37 of the Mental Health Act 1983. In addition, no special measures or the use of an intermediary would have been of assistance to the defendant. Consequently, Adam argued that to try the defendant would be an abuse of process as the defendant could not receive a fair trial. Upon receipt of Adam’s skeleton argument and supporting documentation, the Crown conceded that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute the defendant.
CrimeR v GL, 2021
Successful submission of no case to answer concerning an allegation of exposure where the offence had been captured on CCTV and was supported by eyewitness accounts. Following cross-examination, both witnesses to the offence conceded that they could not be sure of seeing the actions alleged.
Rape and Sexual OffencesR v B, 2023
Instructed prosecution counsel in an aggravated burglary relying on DNA evidence.
R v S, 2023
Adam appeared as D1 in a violent kidnapping trial. After successfully resisting the Crown’s application to adduce the complainant’s evidence as hearsay (under the fear provisions); the Crown offered no evidence.
R v J, 2023
Multi-handed affray trial. On day two of the trial, the Crown disclosed an additional violent suspect who had been NFA’d. Consequently, Adam successfully persuaded the Crown that it would not be in the public interest to try J.
R v C, 2023
Prosecution counsel in a multi-count indictment alleging various domestic violence offences, including an offence of intentional strangulation. D sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment.
R v O, 2022
Unanimously acquitted in a two-handed ABH where the defence related to the use of reasonable force against an individual wanted for rape and breach of a life licence relating to two further rapes.
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Achievements
- The Criminal Bar Association
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers Association
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
- CPS Panel (Grade 2)
- CPS Fraud Panel (Grade 2)
- LLB Law, Bournemouth University, 2015 (First Class)
- Bar Professional Training Course, University of Law, 2018 (Very Competent)
- Provosts Award for Excellence (2016)
- ICA Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering, 2020 (Distinction)