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Background

Richard Adams

Call: 1999

Richard Adams is an exceptional junior, practising exclusively in personal injury and clinical negligence work. He represents claimants and defendants on an approximately equal basis.

He specialises in the most serious and high value claims, including brain injuries and cerebral palsy, spinal injuries and amputations. He also has particular expertise in relation to delayed cancer diagnosis and failed plastic surgery cases.

He is renowned for his approachable and empathetic manner with clients, but is a tenancious cross- examiner in court, along with excellent judgement and persuasive advocacy.

Expertise

Clinical Negligence

Richard undertakes a broad spectrum of clinical negligence work, but has particular expertise in the specialities set out below.

Brain Injury & Cerebral Palsy

Richard has been involved in many cases concerning TBI and cerebral palsy. His recent workload has includes cases where capacity is lacking and the claim value is in the millions.

Richard’s gentle style with the family is one of the hallmarks of his approach, and is greatly appreciated by his instructing solicitors.

Cancer

Richard has been involved in a number of cases involving the delayed diagnosis of cancer. In these kind of cases, Richard understands that a particularly kind and empathetic attitude is essential, and is well-used to providing an exceptional level of service.

Further, such cases can often involve difficulties concerning causation, and Richard understands the value of an early conference with the expert so that this issue can be probed in detail.

Gynaecology & Obstetrics

Richard has considerable experience of cases involving gynaecology, obstetrics and urology.

He has extensive experience in inquests, in particular representing the family in cases where the baby has died as a result of negligent obstetric management.

His recent work has included:

  • Mismanagement of endometriosis;
  • Ureter injury during surgical procedure; and
  • Negligent surgery resulting in vaginal fistulas and incontinence.

Industrial Disease

Although sometimes of relatively low value, Richard has significant experience in many different kinds of industrial disease claims. These include:

  • Mesothelioma;
  • Asthma;
  • Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus;
  • Vibration White Finger; and
  • Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.

Medical / Surgical

Much of Richard’s work in the field of clinical negligence is concerned with the errors made by General Practitioners, dentists, and clinicians during surgery.

Dental negligence is of particular interest to Richard, and he has been involved in a significant number of cases involved protracted negligent treatment, lasting over a number of years.

Spinal Injury

Spinal injury claims require a particular sensitivity which Richard is well-versed in providing. He has happy to undertake conferences at the client’s address or in the care home.

His recent cases have involved a spinal cord injury as a result of negligent surgery, and spinal cord compression when being restrained.

Personal Injury

Richard undertakes the most serious and high value claims, including brain injuries, amputations and spinal injuries.

Although sometimes not of particularly high value, he has considerable experience in fraud work, with extensive knowledge of fundamental dishonesty and section 57 cases.

He also has a thriving international travel litigation practice. His specialities are set out in greater detail below.

Catastrophic Injury

Richard’s caseload involves often involves claims for catastrophic injuries.

Recent claims in which he has advised have involved:

  • Serious spinal injury T
  • raumatic brain injury
  • Limb paralysis
  • Amputation
  • Pain disorders

Costs & Litigation Funding

Richard’s many years of experience sitting as a Deputy District Judge has provided him with a particular insight into the judiciary’s approach to the issue of costs’ management, which is now so heavily ingrained into all aspects of litigation. This means that he is particularly well-equipped to advise at an early stage on all matters relating to costs, well in advance of the first CCMC.

Credit Hire

Many find this a rather uninspiring area of law. Richard actually really enjoys it, and has built up a large following for both claimants and defendants, often where the sums involved are in the many tens of thousands.

Fraudulent Insurance Claims

Richard has a heavyweight fraud practice, and it is his favourite area of work. He acts for many of the large insurance companies, and is known for his incredible eye for detail and tenacious cross examination technique.

Inquests, Public Inquiries & Coronial Law

Richard practices the following areas:

Inquests, Public Inquiries & Coronial Law (Clinical Negligence)

Richard’s inquest caseload is mainly concerning deaths during childbirth. Richard understands that the coroner’s court is a particularly dynamic environment which which requires a different skill set to that of the County Court and the High Court, where the environment is adversarial.

Related News, Resources and Events

News


Dr Louisa Sherlock to release a series of videos on dental negligence

Dental Negligence: How lawyers can improve their chances of success from the expert’s perspective Dr Louisa Sherlock, barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers and former dental…

Podcasts


Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Vlog – Episode 1 – Video Court Hearings

Presenting the first vlog from the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence groups at No5. Join Jamie Gamble, Richard Adams, Denise Owen, Rebecca Livesey and Neil Shastri-Hurst as they discuss their personal experience…

View all related news

  • Richard was made a Deputy District Judge more years ago than he cares to remember. In Birmingham, he is a Specialist Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Judge.

Related News, Resources and Events

News


Dr Louisa Sherlock to release a series of videos on dental negligence

Dental Negligence: How lawyers can improve their chances of success from the expert’s perspective Dr Louisa Sherlock, barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers and former dental…

Podcasts


Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence Vlog – Episode 1 – Video Court Hearings

Presenting the first vlog from the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence groups at No5. Join Jamie Gamble, Richard Adams, Denise Owen, Rebecca Livesey and Neil Shastri-Hurst as they discuss their personal experience…

View all related news

Clerk Team

William Theaker

Practice Director, Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury

williamt@no5.com

07494 070989

Clare Radburn

Practice Director, Family, Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury

clarer@no5.com

07809 407950

Pete Mottram

Practice Manager, Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury (Multi-Track)

peterm@no5.com

Ed Milburn

Personal Injury (Fast-Track) Team Leader

edmundm@no5.com

Matthew Reeves

Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury (Multi Track) and Regulatory Clerk

matthewr@no5.com

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