Adam is a partner at the firm.  He is one of the UK’s most highly-regarded media litigation and reputation management lawyers, and also helps spearhead the firm’s Commercial Dispute Resolution practice.

Adam’s clients include multinational corporations, NGOs and leading business people to national governments and heads of state, as well as other high-profile politicians and celebrities.   He also takes considerable pride in having acted for numerous charities and members of the public who have been the subject of intrusive of defamatory media attention.

Graduating from Balliol College, Oxford, with a First in Law (Jurisprudence), Adam started his professional career at Herbert Smith (now Herbert Smith Freehills), where he combined his general commercial litigation practice with a specialism in defamation and media litigation.  He became a partner at Carter-Ruck in 2003.

Media Law and Reputation Management

Much of Adam’s work is for clients seeking to prevent or mitigate the publication of inaccurate, defamatory or private/confidential material, whether through robust (but constructive) engagement with publishers or, where necessary, by way of Court injunction.

Where publication has already taken place, Adam has a formidable record in obtaining redress for clients. In recent years he has secured countless apologies across all media, whether online,  prominently in national newspapers, or on prime time television, as well as securing the removal of articles and other content online.  Adam has also secured for clients many of the highest awards and settlements of libel damages across the past decade.

Adam’s practice often involves an international or geopolitical element and he is highly experienced in working with overseas lawyers and PR agents as part of wider reputation management strategy.

Commercial Dispute Resolution

Adam has extensive experience of large-scale commercial dispute resolution, including complex contractual and shareholder litigation.

Adam’s recent work has included:

  • Representing one of the UK’s wealthiest businessmen in a substantial Trusts dispute
  • Representing a leading FTSE 100 company in a major Commercial Court dispute arising out of a £300m contract
  • Successfully defending, at trial, a businessman facing claims of breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation and breach of contract
  • Successfully securing a Court injunction preventing the advertisement and presentation of a Petition to wind up a large property development company

Adam is frequently cited as a leader in his field.  Accolades in the major legal directories describe him as:

  • Adam is featured in the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024  Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Reputation Management
  • Chambers 2024 sources report that ‘Adam knows the law inside out. He is superb on strategy and handling and advising his clients.’  Chambers & Partners also note that he is frequently instructed by high-profile individuals in libel and reputation management matters and that he has a strong track record of securing damages and public apologies on behalf of claimants in defamation cases’
  • Legal 500 2023 report that Adam ‘is able to wring every last advantage out of cases and is excellent with the most demanding of clients’
  • ‘Very knowledgable, has good tactical sense, thinks things through and is extremely good with client management’ Chambers & Partners 2022
  • ‘Gritty, experienced advocate. Incisive, with a serious talent for assessing evidence and strategising to achieve the best outcome for his clients’ Chambers HNW 2022
  • Extremely technically able’. ‘He’s practical and straightforward.’ Chambers & Partners 2021
  • ‘Incredibly astute and on the ball.’ (Chambers & Partners HNW)
  • ‘The most talented lawyer in his field.’ (Chambers & Partners sources)
  • ‘Outstanding in the field.’ (Spear’s Wealth Management 2020, Reputation Lawyers)
  • ‘Extremely technically able’ with a ‘strong track record of securing damages and public apologies.’ (Chambers & Partners 2020)
  • ‘Highly esteemed for his litigation skills and excellence handling reputation management concerns for multinational companies and high profile individuals.’ (Chambers & Partners 2020)
  • ‘Always one step ahead of the competition and incredibly focused on the endgame. He pulls out all the intellectual stops in getting the right result. He’s incredibly bright and one to have on your side.’ (Chambers HNW)
  • Listed in the Spears Wealth 500 2020 Directory
  • ‘He shows outstanding commitment to his clients and will always go the extra mile. He is very thoughtful and is always looking for the best solution.’ (Chambers HNW, 2018)
  • At Parliament’s invitation, Adam gave evidence at the House of Commons before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee in its inquiry into press standards, privacy and libel
  • Adam has frequently been invited to appear on TV and radio as an expert in his field
  • Nominated as Lawyer of the Week in The Times

Adam’s case highlights include:

  • Securing numerous apologies, and damages totalling over £1 million, on behalf of individuals and NGOs/charities falsely accused of involvement in terrorism or extremism
  • Securing apologies from leading UK and US publications to (separately) two reigning overseas monarchs and a prime minister
  • Successfully representing numerous senior UK and overseas politicians, including members of both UK Houses of Parliament and the leaders or chairpersons of three national political parties
  • Representing Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents of Madeleine McCann, in various libel and privacy complaints, along with the friends who were dining with them on the night that Madeleine was abducted. Included securing a wholly unprecedented four front page apologies from national newspapers, as well as damages totalling well over £1 million. All the damages have been applied to the search for Madeleine
  • Successfully defending a major news publisher in proceedings brought against it by a high-profile political figure and businessman over allegations of involvement in a failed overseas coup
  • Securing a broadcast apology for a major corporation as an opening item on the BBC’s flagship Newsnight programme
  • Representing and coordinating global reputation management for one of the world’s largest trading companies