Dominic Adamson QC

Year of Call: 1997 / Year of Silk: 2020

da@tgchambers.com


Practice Areas


Dominic Adamson QC

Year of Call: 1997 / Year of Silk: 2020

da@tgchambers.com


Practice Areas




Experience

Dominic has been in practice at Temple Garden Chambers since 1997 and has developed a broad regulatory health and safety criminal and civil practice.  He specializes in health and safety, inquests, personal injury and product liability and related insurance matters.  He was appointed a silk in 2020.

Awards

Winner of the Health and Safety Junior of the Year Award in 2018 at the Chambers Bar Awards.

Directories

Health and Safety
Dominic is recommended as a Leading Silk in the field of Health & Safety in the Chambers UK Bar Directory. The 2020 edition describes him as “a talented new silk”.  It goes on to states he is “an exceptionally good advocate – he’s so impressive. He has excellent judgement and is very empathetic.”  It goes on “He’s extremely thorough and very trustworthy. He also has an excellent manner in court.”

Before taking silk in 2020, earlier editions of Chambers UK described him as “very sound, solid junior who is hard-working, good on his feet and excellent with clients.” and “easy-going advocate with an attractive style.” Solicitors have noted that he “involves himself closely with cases from an early stage and is very approachable and good with clients.”

Dominic is also now recommended as a Leading Silk for Health & Safety in Legal 500.  The 2020 edition 500 stated ‘A good addition to chambers’ silks. He is a tenacious advocate who fights your corner.’

Earlier editions of Legal 500 stated that he was an ‘excellent jury advocate, who goes the extra mile to achieve the right result.’ and as having “a charismatic aura”.  Other editions stated he was “an excellent health and safety lawyer who possesses a keen understanding of the arguments that are likely to appeal to a particular court.” and as having “a brilliant sense of humour and carries clients through the difficult times“.

Inquests and Inquiries
The 2020 edition of Chambers UK identifies Dominic as a Leading Silk for Inquests and Inquiries.  It states “He’s been outstanding. He’s got a good interface with clients and is a good listener and very empathetic.” It goes “A fantastic person to deal with: he’s easy to get along with, sensible and pragmatic, and clients really like him. He prepares well and puts forward a good case in court or in conference.” And that he “provides very high-calibre counsel. He’s grounded and down to earth.”

In the 2020 edition of Legal 500 also recommends Dominic in this field.  It states he has “A style that is very well suited to inquests. He adopts a forensic approach to the evidence, coupled with the sensitivity that this particular forum requires. He is also always well prepared, taking the trouble to go through technical issues with the instructing solicitors and lay client.’  Earlier editions have identified Dominic as a Leading Junior stating he is ‘client-focused and recommended for heavyweight industrial accidents’ and that “He is a marvellously safe pair of hands and instils confidence in both lay and professional clients.”

Personal Injury, Industrial Disease & Insurance Fraud
Dominic is recommended as a Leading Junior for Personal Injury in the 2020 edition of Legal 500. He is described as taking “‘A technically outstanding and tenacious advocate who always fights your corner.’  Previous editions have described him as having “a very pragmatic approach to litigation and offers sound, sensible advice.” and as being “very astute, methodical and organised in his approach, he’s a heavyweight junior who is very capable of taking the lead in cases” and also a “really approachable, nice chap who is very clear in his advice.”

Education

University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Professional Memberships

PIBA
HSLA

R v NMC Surfacing Limited & Others

Dominic Adamson QC, together with Kizzy Augustin (Partner) and Jenny Boyden (Senior Associate) of Russell Cooke, secured the acquittal of a roofing company (X) following a two week trial at Southwark Crown Court (sitting in the Nightingale Court at Prospero House).  The jury reached their decision unanimously.  The Health & Safety Executive alleged that the roofing company X failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees during the course of a construction project in Bromley and had thus breached section 2 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  A worker was struck by a piece of redundant plant which fell whilst it was being lowered from the roof of a building on Bromley High Street using a ginny wheel.

Read more

Inquest in to the deaths of the victims of the London Bridge Terrorist Attack

Acted for the widows of two of the victims of the Westminster Terrorist attack.  Two of the main issues in the case involve safety systems.  First, exploration of the security arrangements on the bridge.  Second, examination of the security and safety arrangements at the Palace of Westminster.  The latter involved extensive cross-examination of Senior Personnel within the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch of the Met Police and the Parliamentary Security Department. This aspect of the case attracted widespread media attention (print and television).  The Coroner ruled that there was an arguable breach of article 2 as a result of the shortcomings in the security arrangements at the Palace of Westminster.  He issued a PFD report.

Inquest into the London Bridge Terrorist Attack

Acted on behalf of the parents & partner of Xavier Thomas who died in the London Terrorist Attack.  Central issue in the case was whether there was an opportunity lost to provide improved security measures on London Bridge prior to the attach.  Coroner ruled that there was an arguable breach of the systemic duty to protect life in relation to the security arrangements on London Bridge.

R v Southern Co-Operative Limited

Dominic Adamson acted for Southern Co-Operative Limited in a successful appeal against sentence to the Lewes Crown Court.   The case arose out of an incident which resulted in an employee suffering a serious leg fracture.  At first instance the Defendant was fined £334,000.  This was reduced on appeal to £20,000 (i.e. a 94% reduction in the penalty.  The Defendant company had a turnover in the region of £400m.

Read more

R v Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited [2017] EWCA Crim 2186

Dominic Adamson acted for Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited in the Court of Appeal in a successful appeal against sentence.  Lord Chief Justice Burnett delivered the judgment of the Court on 20 December 2017.  The fine was reduced from £700,000 to £300,000.  The case concerned a breach of section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Read more

R (HSE) V Tata Steel UK Limited [2017] EWCA Crim 704

In what is believed to be the first successful appeal against sentence for a very large organisation sentenced for health and safety offences under the Definitive Guidelines, Keith Morton QC and Dominic Adamson secured a substantial reduction in a fine imposed on Tata Steel UK following its guilty plea to two health and safety offences.

Read more

Inquest into the death of Adrian Plummer

Inquest into the death of a person who accessed railway infrastructure operated by TfL.  The issues in the case included consideration of the response of line controllers to the knowledge that a person had accessed the infrastructure.

Cardarello v John Atwell Transport & Others

Dominic Adamson acted for the 3 Defendants who faced a claim for £5.7 million following 3 road traffic accidents.  The Claimant alleged that as a result of accident related symptoms he had failed to conclude a contract for the sale of wine to the USA.  The Claimant recovered nothing in relation to the wine contract.  The total award to the Claimant in respect of the 3 accidents was less than £40,000.

R v Tata Steel UK Ltd

Prosecution concerning an explosion at a steel works when water was being used to cool a spillage of molten material.  The case considered the engineering issues which gave rise to the spillage and operational issues which resulted in the explosion.  Fine of £180,000 imposed.

Re: Rachel Anne Burke

Inquest into the death of a trekker in the Himalayas who died as a result of altitude sickness.

R v Tata Steel UK Ltd & Vesuvius Ltd

Prosecution arising out of a death during a steel-making vessel relining operation.  Court accepted the defendant’s argument that death was not caused by admitted breach.  Fine of £120,000 imposed.  Also appeared at the earlier inquest into the death.

M v A

Commercial litigation following an explosion in a piece of industrial equipment.   The amount in dispute was £10 million.  Case was concluded with a favourable settlement .

Inquest into the death of Thomas Challs (Deceased)

Acted on behalf of Securitas Security Services Limited who provide a replacement fire rescue service.  The deceased died in a residential fire whilst the London Fire Brigade were taking industrial action.

HSE v Richard Parker & Allied Domecq

Case involved a fatal accident where an employee of the RP fell through a perspex roof light which formed part of a corrugated asbestos roof.  RP was fined £26,667.  AD fined £276,000.  Issues in the case involved safe working procedures and lack of work equipment.

HSE v Balfour Beatty Rail Track Systems

Acted for Defendant in trial arising out of a series of incidents where employees suffered injuries whilst operating the press which was used to bend rails.  Numerous risks assessments performed in relation to the operation.  After the final incident the process eliminated the risk.  Argument over whether Defendant had done all that was reasonably practicable.

A v B

Personal injury case arising out of road traffic accident.  Acted for the Claimant.  The Claimant had sustained a brain injury.  Claim settled for a sum in excess of £1million.

Powertrain Group Litigation

Employees of Powertrain at the Longbridge claimed damages in relation to respiratory illness arising out of exposure to contaminated metal working fluid.  They commenced group litigation.   There were related Third Party proceedings.

TGC Podcast Covid – 19: RIDDOR Reporting and Causation in a Criminal and Civil Context

10th July 2020

Members of the Health & Safety and PI teams at Temple Garden Chambers have recorded their second podcast in our Covid – 19 series.

 

The podcast is essential listening on the implications for employers and employees in relation to the return to the workplace in the shadow of Covid 19.

 

Please join ranked leaders in the field Keith Morton QC and Dominic Adamson QC along with Lionel Stride, David R White and James Yapp via the below link.

 

The date of knowledge information as mentioned within the podcast can be obtained here.

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Preparing to Reopen: reducing the risks of criminal and civil litigation due to COVID-19

17th June 2020

Dominic Adamson QC and David White consider how retail operators can reduce the risk of criminal sanctions and protect their businesses from the risk of civil litigation in this month’s issue of Retail Risk.  Please see link below to article.

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TGC Podcast: Avoiding Criminal Enforcement Action & Civil Claims in the Shadow of Covid-19

26th May 2020

Members of the Health & Safety team at Temple Garden Chambers intend to inform and assist in a topical podcast on the implications to employers on workers returning to the workplace in the shadow of Covid 19.

 

Please join ranked leaders in the field Keith Morton QC, Dominic Adamson QC along with Lionel Stride, David White and James Yapp via the link below.

 

More information on the speakers and the areas in which TGC can assist can be found at:

 

www.tgchambers.com

Or by contacting the clerks:

0207 583 1315 or clerks@tgchambers.com

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Prosecuting and Defending Health and Safety Cases

30th April 2007

Co-author of book written with the intention of highlighting the various areas of law associated with prosecuting and defending health and safety cases

Defendant Roofing Company acquitted of breach of s.2 HSWA 1974 after 2 week trial

13th April 2021

Dominic Adamson QC, together with Kizzy Augustin (Partner) and Jenny Boyden (Senior Associate) of Russell Cooke, secured the acquittal of a roofing company (X) following a two week trial at Southwark Crown Court (sitting in the Nightingale Court at Prospero House).  The jury reached their decision unanimously.  The Health & Safety Executive alleged that the roofing company X failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees during the course of a construction project in Bromley and had thus breached section 2 of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.  A worker was struck by a piece of redundant plant which fell whilst it was being lowered from the roof of a building on Bromley High Street using a ginny wheel.

Read more

Preparing to Reopen: reducing the risks of criminal and civil litigation due to COVID-19

17th June 2020

Dominic Adamson QC and David White consider how retail operators can reduce the risk of criminal sanctions and protect their businesses from the risk of civil litigation in this month’s issue of Retail Risk.  Please see link below to article.

View External Link

London Bridge Inquests

8th May 2019

The inquests arising from the deaths in the London Bridge and Borough Market terror attack on 3 June 2017 started yesterday in front of the Chief Coroner, His Honour Judge Mark Lucraft QC in Court 1 at the Central Criminal Court.

Dominic Adamson, David White, Piers Taylor and Ellen Robertson are instructed by Patrick Maguire of Slater and Gordon on behalf of the family of Xavier Thomas.

Read more

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Third Pre-Inquest Hearing in London Bridge Inquests

11th January 2019

The third Pre-Inquest Hearing took place today in the Inquests arising from the deaths in the London Bridge/Borough Market terror attack of 3 June 2017. Dominic Adamson (instructed by Patrick Maguire of Slater and Gordon) appeared on behalf of the family of Xavier Thomas. Fiona Canby (instructed by TfL Legal) appeared on behalf of Transport for London.

Read more

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Westminster Bridge Inquest

4th October 2018

Dominic Adamson acted for the widows of Kurt Cochran and PC Keith Palmer in the Inquests into the Westminster Terrorist attack on 22 March 2017.  The hearing concluded on 3 October 2018 having lasted for 3 ½ weeks.  Kurt Cochran was an American tourist who, along with his wife, was struck on the bridge by the vehicle driven by the Khalid Masood.  PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death by Khalid Masood after he had managed to gain access into New Palace Yard through the Carriage Gates at the Palace of Westminster.  His Honour Judge Lucraft QC, the Chief Coroner, made clear in his summary of the evidence that both Kurt Cochran, who had pushed his wife away from the vehicle which had mounted the kerb, and PC Keith Palmer, who had confronted the attacker, had behaved

with courage and bravery.  Both were unlawfully killed.

Read more

Dominic Adamson shortlisted for Health & Safety Junior of the Year

6th September 2018

TGC are delighted to announce that Dominic Adamson has been shortlisted for the Health & Safety Junior of the Year award. The 2018 Chambers Bar Awards will be held at The London Hilton on Park Lane on Thursday, 25th October 2018.

Privacy Notice

Thank you for choosing to instruct me in your case. I will need to collect and hold your personal information in order to represent you. I will take reasonably practicable steps to protect your personal information. I am determined to do nothing that would infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This Privacy Notice describes the information I collect about you, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.

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