Adam Brown
Barrister
Call 2024
Adam practises across Chambers’ core areas, including commercial litigation, arbitration, banking and financial services, civil fraud, company and insolvency, energy and natural resources, and competition law. He is instructed in complex, high-value disputes, both as sole counsel and as part of larger teams, in the High Court and in international arbitration. Since the outset of his practice, Adam has appeared as sole counsel at trial on a number of occasions, leading case preparation and cross-examining key witnesses.
Adam also advises (including as sole counsel) on issues of wider legal and commercial significance arising in Chambers’ core practice areas. For example, he has recently advised, with Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Lodder, on multi-billion-pound litigation between two of the world’s largest beauty brands, and (unled) on jurisdictional issues and challenges arising in several High Court proceedings.
Examples of recent cases include:
- Manolete Partners PLC v Agarwal and Others: Acted for the Defendants, led by Alexander Brown KC, in this fraud claim valued at over $10 million. The dispute concerns allegations of fraudulent investment of client funds, and raises issues across the spectrum of commercial law and civil fraud, including directors’ duties, unlawful means conspiracy, deceit, contractual construction, and issues of foreign law.
- ICC arbitration (London seat): Acted for a major iron ore producer in disputes under long-term supply contracts, valued at over $2 billion. Led by Lord Grabiner KC, Nicholas Sloboda KC, and Douglas Paine.
- Sehgal v Muhammad: Instructed as sole counsel in ongoing £4.5 million High Court proceedings concerning the scope and enforcement of a settlement agreement and the underlying claim.
- $1.5 billion Commercial Court claim: Advised a multinational beauty company in relation to a range of contractual rights. Led by Sonia Tolaney KC and Andrew Lodder.
- UBS Asset Management Switzerland v R.W. Chelsea Holdings: A contractual debt claim for over £12 million arising from the collapse of the Greensill Group, raising issues of alleged bribery, rescission, restitution, and oral contracts. Instructed for the Claimant, led by Daniel Benedyk.
Adam maintains a keen academic interest in the law, having worked as a research assistant to Prof. Simon Holmes (of the UKCAT and the University of Oxford), Dr Federica Paddeu (University of Cambridge), and Prof. Christian Tams (University of Glasgow), focusing on issues of public international law and competition law. He has also taught contract, EU, competition, administrative, and insolvency law to undergraduate students.
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Examples of Recent Cases
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Arbitration
Adam has a particular interest in investment treaty arbitration, having received a first class grade for his dissertation on international investment law under the supervision of Dr Jamie Trinidad KC. Additionally, Adam has undertaken academic research work (supra) which focused (amongst other areas) on issues of public international law.
Confidential ICC arbitration (London seat): Acted for a major iron ore producer in two disputes under long-term supply contracts, valued at over $2 billion. Led by Lord Grabiner KC, Nicholas Sloboda KC, and Douglas Paine.
- Premier League v Leicester City FC: Widely publicised CAS arbitration proceedings concerning the Premier League’s jurisdiction to investigate and proceed against Leicester City FC for alleged breaches of profitability and sustainability rules. Assisted Conall Patton KC (during pupillage).
Confidential LCIA Arbitration: A contractual dispute between the CEO and the Board of a multi-billion-pound company concerning the interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement. Assisted Michael Fealy KC and Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage).
Confidential LCIA Arbitration: A multi-billion-pound claim for unpaid fees under a service agreement. Assisted Conall Patton KC, Henry Hoskins, and Joshua Crow (during pupillage).
Confidential ICC Arbitration: A dispute involving a multi-billion-pound private company, concerning the ownership of, and rights in relation to, a manufactured material factory in mainland Europe. Assisted Henry Hoskins (during pupillage).
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Banking and Financial Services
Before coming to the Bar, Adam worked as a legal assistant and paralegal in-house at Gore Street Capital, an alternative investment fund manager, specialising in green energy and battery storage.
- UBS Asset Management Switzerland v R.W. Chelsea Holdings: A contractual debt claim for over £12 million arising from the collapse of the Greensill Group, raising issues of alleged bribery, rescission, restitution, and oral contracts. Instructed for the Claimant, led by Daniel Benedyk.
- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) v Various Banks: A claim worth over $200 million, brought against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage).
- Firstsource Solutions v Caroleo: A claim in the Chancery Division for the recovery of over £1 million incorrectly transferred by a bank to a customer, as well as consequent enforcement proceedings. Assisted Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage).
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Civil Fraud and Investigations
Manolete Partners PLC v Agarwal and Others: Adam acted for the Defendants, led by Alexander Brown KC, in this fraud claim valued at over $10 million. The dispute concerns allegations of fraudulent investment of client funds, and raises issues across the spectrum of commercial law and civil fraud, including directors’ duties, unlawful means conspiracy, deceit, contractual construction, and issues of foreign law.
UBS Asset Management Switzerland v R.W. Chelsea Holdings: A contractual debt claim for over £12 million arising from the collapse of the Greensill Group, raising issues of alleged bribery, rescission, restitution, and oral contracts. Instructed for the Claimant, led by Daniel Benedyk.
Firstsource Solutions v Caroleo: A claim in the Chancery Division for the recovery of over £1 million incorrectly transferred by a bank to a customer, as well as consequent enforcement proceedings. Assisted Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage).
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) v Various Banks: A claim worth over $200 million, brought against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage).
Skatteforvaltningen (The Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v MCML Ltd: Appeal to the Supreme Court on the scope of the doctrine of issue estoppel. The appeal arises out of one of the Danish tax authority’s claims to recover sums wrongfully paid out as tax refunds. Assisted Jamie Goldsmith KC and NV Krishnaprasad (during pupillage).
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Competition and EU Law
- Airwave Solutions v SSHD: A claim for declaratory relief against the Home Secretary and the Health Secretary in relation to the procurement of the emergency services mobile communication network. The dispute arose following the CMA’s decision to impose a charge control order, which was subsequently upheld by CAT and the Court of Appeal. Assisted Henry Hoskins (during pupillage).
- The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) v Various Banks: A claim worth over $200 million, brought against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct contrary to Article 101 of the TFEU and Chapter 1 of the UK Competition Act. Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage).
- Premier League v Leicester City FC: An arbitration concerning the Premier League’s jurisdiction to investigate and proceed against Leicester City FC for alleged breaches of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. The Tribunal held that the English Football League had validly transferred responsibility for its investigation to the Premier League in June 2024, after Leicester City FC’s promotion from the Championship. Assisted Conall Patton KC (during pupillage).
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Commercial Litigation
UBS Asset Management Switzerland v R.W. Chelsea Holdings: A contractual debt claim for over £12 million arising from the collapse of the Greensill Group, raising issues of bribery, rescission, restitution, and oral contracts. Instructed for the Claimant, led by Daniel Benedyk.
Multi-million-pound expenses claim: Currently acting for a project finance provider in a claim for reimbursement of expenses incurred in negotiating a leveraged finance package for the defendants.
Sehgal v Muhammad: Instructed as sole counsel in ongoing £4.5 million High Court proceedings concerning the scope and enforcement of a settlement agreement and the underlying claim.
ICC arbitration (London seat): Acted for a major iron ore producer in disputes under long-term supply contracts, valued at over $2 billion. Led by Lord Grabiner KC, Nicholas Sloboda KC, and Douglas Paine.
Credit Suisse Virtuoso SICAV-SIF and another v SoftBank: Recognised as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for 2025, this $440 million Commercial Court claim was brought under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and arises from the high-profile collapse of the Greensill Group. Assisted Sonia Tolaney KC, Nehali Shah, Andrew McLeod, and Katherine Boucher (during pupillage).
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) v Various Banks: A claim worth over $200 million, brought against a number of LIBOR panel banks in relation to alleged USD LIBOR misconduct. Assisted Emma Jones (during pupillage).
Skatteforvaltningen (The Danish Customs and Tax Administration) v MCML Ltd: Appeal to the Supreme Court on the scope of the doctrine of issue estoppel. The appeal arises out of one of the Danish tax authority’s claims to recover sums wrongfully paid out as tax refunds. Assisted Jamie Goldsmith KC and NV Krishnaprasad (during pupillage).
DMA Resources v Brazilian Nickel: A claim for introducer fees alleged to be due under an oral or implied services agreement. Assisted Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage).
Inspired Education Online v Crombie: A claim for alleged breaches of warranties contained in a Share Purchase Agreement, and a successful counterclaim for declaratory relief in relation to deferred consideration under the SPA. Assisted Anna Boase KC and Joyce Arnold (during pupillage).
Perelman v Kerr: A dispute in the Commercial Court over the validity, interpretation, and enforceability of a share purchase agreement. Assisted Saul Lemer (during pupillage).
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Company and Insolvency
Manolete Partners PLC v Agarwal and Others: Adam acted for the Defendants, led by Alexander Brown KC, in this fraud claim valued at over $10 million. The dispute concerns allegations of fraudulent investment of client funds, and raises issues across the spectrum of commercial law and civil fraud, including directors’ duties, unlawful means conspiracy, deceit, contractual construction, and issues of foreign law.
£70m Share Purchase Dispute: Currently advising on and preparing to issue proceedings concerning the claimants’ rights under a share purchase and options agreement. Led by Richard Mott KC.
Credit Suisse Virtuoso SICAV-SIF and another v SoftBank: Recognised as one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases for 2025, this $440 million Commercial Court claim was brought under s.423 of the Insolvency Act 1986 and arises from the high-profile collapse of the Greensill Group. Assisted Sonia Tolaney KC, Nehali Shah, Andrew McLeod, and Katherine Boucher (during pupillage).
Confidential LCIA Arbitration: A contractual dispute between the CEO and the Board of a multi-billion-pound company concerning the interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement. Assisted Michael Fealy KC and Eleanor Campbell (during pupillage).
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Education
2023-2024 - Bar Training Course (Distinction) - BPP London
2022-2023 - Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) (Distinction) - University of Oxford, Wadham College
Modules: Corporate Insolvency, Competition Law, Private Law & Fundamental Rights, Advanced Administrative Law
2019-2022 - BA Law (Double First Class) - University of Cambridge, Queens’ College
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Scholarships and Awards
Wadham College Examinations Prize for the BCL (2023)
BPP Career Commitment Scholarship (2023)
BPP Advocacy Scholarship (2023)
The Queen’s Scholarship (MT’s single top award for the Bar Course) – Middle Temple (2022)
Harmsworth Entrance Exhibition – Middle Temple (2022)
South Square Chambers BCL Scholarship (2022)
Foundation Scholarship – Queens’ College, Cambridge (2021 & 2022, respectively)
Redress Solutions Prize for Excellence in Law Exams – Queens’ College (2021 & 2022, respectively)
Access to the Bar Award – Middle Temple (2021)
Slaughter and May Cambridge Scholarship (2019-22)
Smart Start Scholarship – Allen & Overy (2019-22)
CMS Undergraduate Law Scholarship (2019-22)
Before coming to the Bar, Adam achieved success in a range of national and international mooting competitions, including winning the International Roman Law Moot and receiving its Best Individual Oralist prize.
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Previous Employment
Before coming to the Bar, Adam worked as a legal assistant and paralegal in-house at Gore Street Capital, an alternative investment fund manager, specialising in green energy and battery storage.
Adam has also worked as a research assistant to Prof. Simon Holmes (of the UKCAT and the University of Oxford), Dr Federica Paddeu (University of Cambridge), and Prof. Christian Tams (University of Glasgow), focusing on issues of public international law and competition law.
Finally, Adam has taught contract, EU, competition, administrative, and insolvency law to undergraduate students.
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Other
In addition to his practice, Adam is committed to assisting and promoting a range of social mobility projects. During his time off, he enjoys running and reading a range of fiction.