I have always been impressed with James’ knowledge of the law, professionalism, drafting skills and communication. He has gone from strength to strength on the family circuit in the South West over the last couple of years. It is very rare to find newly qualified counsel that you trust immediately.”

Professional client

James specialises in public and private children law. He has experience dealing with a broad spectrum of issues relating to children’s welfare including serious child sexual abuse, self-harm, psychiatric illness, substance misuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, alienating behaviours and inflicted injury. He has acted at all levels of the Family Court.

James’ background in academic child psychology is particularly valuable in cases involving expert evidence and where there are complex interactions between a child’s individual characteristics and their family and social environments. James’ research-based knowledge and experience inform his planning and result in cross-examination of expert psychologists that is probing, challenging and original.

James regularly appears at dispute resolution appointments, issues resolution hearings and final hearings. He has acted at very short notice where there are local authority applications for interim care orders with interim care plans involving separation.

Recent cases

Re H (A Child: Contact: Domestic Abuse) EWCA Civ 326

  • Represented the child, whose parents had each been found to have perpetrated serious domestic abuse against the other, at a six-day final hearing. Recorder ordered that the child have no direct contact with his father and made a three-year section 91(14) order
  • Instructed as lone junior opposing the father’s appeal in the Court of Appeal before Peter Jackson, Coulson and Nugee LJs. Argued that there had been no breach of section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 and that the expert psychiatrist’s evidence was correctly relied upon by the Recorder

S v R

  • Instructed repeatedly on behalf of the mother in her long-running private law case regarding her teenaged daughter who has engaged in significant levels of self-harm.
  • Have provided ongoing advice in relation to the conduct of the expert psychological assessment and tactical case management in the context of a high conflict case involving a rule 16.4 Guardian.

A Local Authority v D, B and D

  • Instructed at the case management stage on behalf of the mother in a public law case involving a two-month-old baby with a confirmed distal femoral metaphyseal fracture and a skin abrasion.

A Local Authority v C, S and S

  • Acted for the local authority seeking interim separation of a one-month- old baby from her 17-year-old The mother and baby were living in a residential placement with constant CCTV monitoring.
  • Analysed and presented the evidence from placement logs thematically to demonstrate that the child’s immediate safety demanded separation.

M v S

  • Repeatedly instructed on behalf of a father with cognitive difficulties and a history of sexual offending against female children in respect of his application to spend time with his daughter.
  • Involved advice regarding expert sexual risk assessment (including Part 25 questions) and rehabilitative work.

A Local Authority v P and others

  • Involved considering whether to seek a fact-finding hearing in respect of allegations that a mother had perpetrated serious physical abuse against two of her children.
  • Ultimately advised that the allegations should not be adopted by the local authority in light of evidential weaknesses following child protection medicals.

S v S

  • Represented a father alleged to have coercively controlled his ex-partner at a four-day fact-finding hearing in private law proceedings.
  • Involved cross-allegations of domestic abuse and specifically an allegation that the mother had sexually assaulted the father.

A police force v T, T and others

  • Advised a police force in writing in respect of an application for disclosure from care proceedings.
  • Involved considering whether the doctrine of res judicata applied and giving detailed practical advice in the context of a similar application having previously been dismissed.

A Local Authority v E, S and A

  • Represented a local authority as a lone junior at case management hearings in care proceedings involving a girl of Bulgarian nationality (but who had lived in Turkey) who alleged that her father had had sex with her. Reviewed over 26,000 pages of mobile phone data.
  • Instructed as led junior at the substantive fact-finding hearing and pursued an allegation that the mother had made a false statement in a statement without an honest belief in its truth.
  • Involved consideration of the Hague Convention 1996, Re W (Children) (Family Proceedings: Evidence) [2010] UKSC 12 and deprivation of liberty under the inherent jurisdiction.

Cases

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Client Quotes

I have instructed James on a number of occasions on a variety of matters, including a complex case with an international element. I have always been impressed with James’ knowledge of the law, professionalism, drafting skills and communication. Even when he first joined the Bar, I felt James was a safe pair of hands and he has gone from strength to strength on the family circuit in the South West over the last couple of years. I have recommended and will continue to recommend him to colleagues. It is very rare to find newly qualified counsel that you trust immediately.”

Professional client

James is always an extremely safe pair of hands. From the outset of receiving instructions, James starts putting together a highly coherent and robust case. James is consistently helpful in drafting key documents and advising in specific areas which may require more careful thought. James’ methodical approach and clear feedback progresses all cases he is instructed on.”

Professional client

Could I just say that James has been wonderful to instruct. For such a newly qualified barrister, I would highly recommend him and I would instruct again.”

Professional client

Just to let you know that James has finished our case this morning and the client is absolutely delighted. We are going to be making another application in the next couple of months and the client is really keen for James to deal with that application as she sees him as part of her legal team. I know that James is fairly junior but he has done an absolutely fantastic job for us. Really sensible, clear advice and really easy to use so I couldn’t recommend him enough.”

Professional client

Seminars & Events

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  • Qualifications & awards:

    • Bachelor of Arts (University of Cambridge; Education with Geography; Starred/Double First and top of class)
    • Master of Philosophy (University of Cambridge; Psychology and Education)
    • Graduate Diploma in Law (University of Law; Distinction)
    • Postgraduate Diploma in Bar Vocational Studies (City, University of London; Merit)

    Awards

    • McAulay Scholarship (2017; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For First Class performance in Part I of the Education Tripos
    • Wright Prize (2017; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For First Class performance in Part I of the Education Tripos being judged to be of special merit, usually within the top third of the First Class across the university
    • Quass (Shared) Year Prize (2017; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For being of special merit and one of the best candidates in the college in the year, irrespective of subject
    • McAulay Scholarship (2018; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For First Class performance in Part II of the Education Tripos
    • Wright Prize (2018; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For First Class performance in Part II of the Education Tripos being judged to be of special merit, usually within the top third of the First Class across the university
    • Hughes (Shared) Year Prize (2018; St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
      For being of special merit and one of the best candidates in the college in the year, irrespective of subject
    • Winifred Georgina Holgate Pollard Memorial Prize (University of Cambridge)
      For outstanding performance on the University of Cambridge Education Tripos
    • Master’s Scholarship (St John’s College, University of Cambridge)
    • Isaac Newton Trust College Master’s Scholarship
    • Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)
      Residential bar course scholarship
    • Bar Vocational Studies Scholarship (City Law School, City, University of London)

  • Professional memberships:

    • Family Law Bar Association
    • Denning Society, Lincoln’s Inn
    • Western Circuit

  • James Adams is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please read here.