Deputy Head of Clerking
Practice Manager
Assistant Practice Manager
“Extraordinarily intelligent [and] extremely responsive”, Adam has a broad commercial chancery practice acting in and advising on commercial and private wealth disputes both at home and abroad. He is “a top-notch advocate”, “great on his feet and on paper”, who “impresses sources with his courtroom advocacy skills”. Adam’s cross-disciplinary approach across Chambers’ main fields of practice means his commercial nous is frequently brought to bear in the private wealth sphere, while his deep knowledge of equitable, trust and corporate principles is widely sought out in commercial matters.
Described as “outstanding” and “an absolute star” with “a wealth of experience”, Adam’s work on the commercial side includes civil fraud, financial services, aviation, corporate, insolvency and contract disputes, both in court and arbitration.
“Very clever and much sought after” and a “persuasive and formidable advocate” with a “thriving reputation in the market”, Adam’s work on the chancery side involves advising on, and disputes involving, complex and high value trust and corporate structures and estates.
Much of Adam’s work is international in nature – whether representing overseas clients in litigation in England or in arbitration, appearing in courts abroad or co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional matters. He is “recognised for his ability to deal with particularly complex issues in large cross-border disputes” and it is said that he “knows the offshore world inside out”.
Adam is an experienced arbitration advocate having acted in a number of institutional and ad hoc references as well as related court applications.
By definition this side of Adam’s practice is usually highly confidential, but his recent experience as arbitration advocate includes:
Adam’s arbitration-related court experience includes:
Adam has a keen interest in aviation matters and is experienced in commercial claim disputes across the aviation industry.
His experience includes:
Adam is experienced in matters involving both the UK and foreign regulatory regimes and brings to such case his expertise in related areas, such as company law, insolvency and trusts, which is so often required.
His experience includes:
Adam is a highly experienced fraud lawyer “recognised for his ability to deal with particularly complex issues in large cross-border disputes”, while his deep knowledge of offshore trust and corporate structures is often sought out in asset recovery actions.
Recent experience includes:
Recognised as a leader in this field by the major legal directories, and described as “very punchy, clear and tough-minded”, Adam is widely experienced in commercial disputes, being sought out for (among other things) his ability “to digest volumes of contractual and procedural documentation quickly in order to produce clear, insightful and practical advice”.
Current or recent work includes:
Other reported cases include Jet2.com v Blackpool Airport [2012] 2 All ER (Comm) 1053 – leading Court of Appeal decision on “best endeavours” clauses; DHL GBS (UK) Ltd v Fallimento Finmatica [2009] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 430 – arbitration and public policy exception in the Judgments Regulation; and Michael Wilson & Partners v Emmott [2008] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 616 – leading English authority on the confidentiality of arbitrations and exceptions.
Adam is an experienced adviser and advocate on corporate matters both domestically and offshore.
He is well-versed in the Companies Act 2006, having worked on this major piece of legislation at the (then) DTI before coming to the Bar and subsequently advising DBERR (as it became) on the Act’s implementation. Adam was also a major contributor to Blackstone’s Guide to the Companies Act 2006.
Recent work includes:
Adam has wide experience of both personal and corporate insolvency generally, working for both office-holders and others. Crucially, he offers expertise in related areas, such as company, trust, equitable proprietary claims, and aviation and commercial contract disputes, which is frequently sought out in such cases.
His experience includes:
Adam has long been recognised by the major legal directories for the breadth and depth of his work offshore in his fields of practice. Adam is called to the BVI Bar, has been called ad hoc to the Bars of the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar and has extensive experience of work in Jersey, Guernsey, The Bahamas, Bermuda, Hong Kong, the Isle of Man and Nevis.
Details of some of Adam’s offshore work cases appear in the dropdowns above and below. It is said that he “knows the offshore world inside out” and that “Adam is an excellent pair of hands and supports well with advice on difficult matters”.
Adam’s wide and deep experience in this field means he “very in demand” and someone solicitors “go to for complicated or unusual points”. Adam is top ranked in the field by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal and Citywealth, is a general editor of International Trust Laws (looseleaf) and writes and speaks widely on trust and estate matters internationally.
Clients comment that “Adam is incredibly talented. He is thoughtful, careful and methodical, and his advice is always rigorous and reliable”. He represents trustees and other office holders and UHNW clients in private wealth disputes both onshore and offshore, with clients particularly seeking out his commercial acumen, expertise in conflicts of laws issues and strategic approach.
He is also instructed in COP proceedings in cases involving complex or substantial structures or where difficult conflicts of laws or other tricky legal issues arise.
Many of his assignments in this space are confidential but Adam’s recent experience includes:
Older cases include Labrouche v Frey [2016] EWHC 268(CH), substantial and long running breach of trust claim raising numerous issues of English, Swiss and Liechtenstein law; Slutsker v Haron Investments (2013) ITELR 257 – ground-breaking case concerning lex situs rule and choice of law for matrimonial property; and Clark v WWF and ors [2011] WTLR 961 – first case conclusively establishing application of lex situs to capacity to create will.
‘A real intellectual giant of the chancery Bar’ (Legal 500, 2025)
Chancery: Commercial
Chambers & Partners
‘An extremely good advocate, who is really good to have in difficult situations as he is happy to throw punches and doesn’t shy away from the fight’ (2025)
‘Very thorough and a man who produces impressive written work.’ (2023)
‘He is confident, able and technically brilliant.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘Very bright, responsive and user-friendly.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
Chancery: Traditional
Chambers & Partners
‘Adam gives quick, practical advice and is charming to deal with.’ ‘A fine lawyer and a tough negotiator, who is fantastic with the client. When we used him he was turning round work at weekends and his advocacy was excellent.’ ‘Adam is brilliantly clever. He’s a very effective advocate, who makes points very well in front of judges.’ (2025)
‘Adam is really good to work with as he is good with clients and has a unique personal approach. He delivers succinct points.’ (2023)
‘He is really good to work with, he is good with clients and has a unique personal approach. He delivers succinct points that encapsulate a dilemma for clients.’ (2022 – High Net Worth)
‘He is thorough, good to work with and someone who turns things around quickly.’ (2022)
‘He is very good indeed’; ‘has that breadth of practice which is really helpful.’ (2021 – High Net Worth)
‘Someone I would go to for complicated or unusual points. Someone for the niche points.’ ‘He has a very good way about him, he is very easy to work with and he provides opinions which are straightforward and easy to understand.’ Cloherty’s broad chancery practice includes financial services and insolvency disputes, as well as trusts cases.’ (2021)
‘Very clever and much sought after, he is very in demand and certainly someone who has a thriving reputation in the market.’ He has a rapidly growing reputation for his work relating to international trusts, funds and charity litigation. Cloherty often appears in courts in a variety of offshore jurisdictions and is recognised for his ability to deal with particularly complex issues in large cross-border disputes.’ ‘He is super-bright, very quick and very knowledgeable on almost everything, especially cross-jurisdictional matters.’ (2019)
Offshore
Chambers & Partners
‘Adam is an excellent pair of hands and supports well with advice on difficult matters.’ (2025)
‘Adam Cloherty is excellent. He comes up with new points and is not afraid to argue them. A valuable addition to any team and has real expertise in fraud.’ (2023)
‘He is thorough, good to work with and turns things around quickly.’ ‘His company knowledge is outstanding.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘A very strong senior junior who provides clear and concise advice.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
‘Able to digest volumes of contractual and procedural documentation quickly in order to produce clear, insightful and practical advice.’ ‘Impresses sources with his courtroom advocacy skills, and has particular experience of BVI and Cayman Islands cases. His clients, who include beneficiaries and shareholders, benefit from his extensive trust knowledge. He has also handled matters in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.’ ‘He’s smart and really knows his stuff.’ (2019)
Legal 500
Ranked as a top barrister. (2025)
‘Adam is a very clever barrister, as well as charming and generous.’ (2023)
‘An absolute star – practical yet thorough and very user friendly.’ (2022)
‘A good team player and a constructive thinker.’ (2021)
Commercial Dispute Resolution
Chambers & Partners
‘He is commercial and creative in his thinking.’ ‘Consistently one of the most sensible and effective performers in any large team of counsel.’ (2025)
‘Adam is an extremely capable and very user-friendly barrister.’ ‘He is very sharp-witted and very commercial.’ ‘Adam is a great tactician, who is robust and thorough, and has an exceptional knowledge of his subject matter.’ (2023)
‘He is very pleasant and user-friendly.’ (2022 – UK and Global)
‘Has a very good understanding of international law and is easy to work with.’ ‘He is just so efficient and effective.’ (2021 – UK and Global)
Legal 500
‘An outstanding junior with a wealth of experience.’ (2023)
‘An absolute star. Practical yet thorough and very user-friendly.’ (2022)
‘Top notch advocate, great on his feet and on paper – he makes well thought out, powerful submissions.’ (2021)
Commercial Litigation
Legal 500
‘Adam has excellent clarity of thought which manifests in beautifully tight and effective advocacy. He is a great team player and his ability to retain his humour even in times of significant pressure makes him a pleasure to work with.’ (2025)
Private Client: Trusts & Probate
Legal 500
‘Adam is incredibly talented. He is thoughtful, careful and methodical, and his advice is always rigorous and reliable.’ (2025)
‘Adam can distil complex arguments into clear summaries, which is helpful with clients and in the court, where he is refreshingly straightforward. He is excellent at getting to the heart of legal problems.’ (2023)
‘Adam provides clear and practical advice in conference. He is approachable and addresses questions raised in a knowledgeable way.’ (2022)
‘Never fails to impress with his incisive commentary and robust advocacy. He is a great barrister to have on one’s side in a difficult case in light of his strong and positive approach.’ (2021)
Who’s Who Legal
‘A persuasive and formidable advocates.’ ‘He is very practical and liked by Judges.’ (2022)
‘Very bright, very easy to work with, very good indeed.’ ‘Very thorough and works very well in addressing QCs’ needs and raising arguments with them.’ ‘He is very good in commercial disputes involving trusts.’ ‘Acted for the Property Alliance Group in its high-profile and precedent-setting claim against RBS, which related to Libor benchmark rigging.’
