Adam Chaffer

Adam is a pragmatic, commercially minded Dispute Resolution practitioner with a focus predominantly in construction, commercial contract disputes and professional discipline cases. Adam also has an interest in and media, privacy and communication disputes. He thrives on the analytical nature of dispute resolution and has experience of traditional court based litigation and appellate cases along with alternative dispute resolution methods including mediation, adjudication and expert determination.

Prior to joining Hay & Kilner LLP, having acquired his Higher Rights of Audience (Civil), Adam spent eighteen months specialising in advocacy representing clients in the water, energy and commercial waste management sectors including case management, interim and trial advocacy. Before specialising exclusively in contentious work, Adam also undertook non-contentious work including the asset disposals the including publicised the disposal of Newcastle City Hall, drafting commercial contracts, advising on post Brexit arrangements for the acquisition of a shipping company.

Adam is a qualified mediator registered as an Associate with the Civil Mediation Council and a Member of the Society of Mediators. He is available to accept instructions to facilitate mediations, for more information please get in touch.

Adam takes pride in his ability to draw on his commercial experience gained through various private and public positions. Presently, Adam is a Director and the Company Secretary of Visit Northumberland Limited the destination management organisation for tourism in Northumberland. He is also the Person for Independent Standards at the Northumberland National Park Authority. He has previously served as a Governor at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust (2013-2018) and a Company Secretary of Newcastle Cricket Club CIC (2015-2016).

Adam is the author of the Litigation Handbook (Law Society, 2021) and regularly has articles published in the Construction Law Journal and the Company Lawyer.

Adam was a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Law.

Adam qualified as a solicitor of England & Wales (2018) and as a solicitor advocate (2021).

Experience

Construction

• Representing clients in the High Court in relation to the enforcement of an adjudication decision by way of an application for summary judgment.
• Reviewing construction contracts along with ancillary documents including Parent Company Guarantees, collateral warranties and professional appointments.
• Acting for a responding party to an adjudication for defects.
• Advising and drafting a construction contract for the installation of lighting to a theatre in a Grade 1 listed building.
• Advising on the interpretation of an Option Agreement and Deed of Variation in respect of the exercise of an option.

Contractual

• Representing clients as a minority shareholders in an unfair prejudice petition resolved through a joint settlement meeting.
• Advising clients in a contract dispute where the provision of services was disputed through a successful application for summary judgment.
• Advising on the enforcement of a cross-jurisdictional dispute involving unfair prejudice and civil fraud.
• Defending a supplier in relation to a third party supply agreement resolved through mediation.

Media, Privacy and Communications

• Representing an individual in a professional discipline hearing.
• Defending a corporate client in libel proceedings.
• Advising on a breach of confidential information relating to the dismissal of a former employee.
• Advising a former employee of a PLC on the restrictive covenants contained in their contract of employment.
• Acting for the executors of an estate in a section 6 Human Rights Act 1998 claim concerning a death of an individual suffering from mental illness whilst detained by the police.
• Advising an international music app platform on artist content contracts.

Outside of the office

Adam enjoys been outdoors can often be found paddle boarding, cycling or walking. He is a keen historian, traveller and is a regular attendee at the theatre.