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Jayne Adams KC

Jayne Adams KC

Call 1982 / Silk 2016

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"Her knowledge in all aspects of asbestos-related claims is second to none - she's an intellectual leader in this field"

Chambers & Partners

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Jayne has extensive experience in disease, high value personal injury, clinical negligence, fraud and sports claims.

She is frequently requested by insurers to advise and represent in cutting-edge disease claims.

She is often invited to provide lectures in all of the areas above, but particularly in the industrial disease field to both solicitor and insurer clients.

Areas of Expertise

  • Disease

    Having spent pupillage working on the leading disease case of Thompson v Smiths Shiprepairers (North Shields) Ltd [1984] QB 405, Jayne has worked in the industrial disease field for the whole of her career.

    Working on all aspects of disease claims at Multi Track level, with a particular interest in asthma, cancers and chest diseases, asbestos work forms a significant part of practice.

    Regular appearances before the Specialist Masters on show cause and all interlocutory matters are combined with trials and appeals on limitation, liability, causation and quantum. Jayne has been involved in group actions involving exposure by the Fire Service to allegedly contaminated water in rescue training and RADS claims arising from work in petroleum columns, as well as new claims in resurgent areas of silicosis and tuberculosis.

    She has also been involved in air contamination, wood dust and aspergillus claims.

    Recent cases have included Hill & Billingham v Lloyds British Inspections Services Ltd & Others [2013] EWHC 520, establishing the test for exposure between 1965 and the introduction of the Asbestos Regulations 1969 to be measured by TDN 13, Dalton v Gough Copper & Co Ltd [2014] EWHC 1556, an appeal from an Asbestos Master leading to setting aside judgment in default and ultimately discontinuance of the claim, and Robinson (Personal Representative of Frederick Lugay Deceased) v Hammersmith & Fulham LBC [2017] EWHC 1823 where the local authority successfully defended allegations of breach of duty in a mesothelioma claim arising from occupancy of local authority housing.

    Jayne also provides generic and strategic advice for insurers in relation to matters which affect claims generally, including public liability claims, disputes between insurers and, most recently, the approach to be taken to immunotherapy claims in mesothelioma. She regularly provides lectures and training within this sphere.

  • Personal Injury

    Jayne has practised in the personal injury field throughout her career, with the emphasis now on high value and catastrophic claims as well as those with a generic or strategic angle. That work has also involved stress at work and bullying claims.

    Jayne has extensive expertise in spinal and major head injury claims as well as physical conditions generally, chronic pain type conditions and psychiatric/psychological injuries. Whether arising from road traffic accidents, accidents at work, construction sites or product liability, Jayne has worked in that area.

    Jayne was junior counsel on the Leicestershire, Bryn Alyn and North Wales Abuse in Care Litigation and has experience of many hundreds of such abuse claims in the context of limitation, breach of duty, medical causation and quantum.

  • Serious Injury

    Jayne has practised in the personal injury field throughout her career, with the emphasis now on high value and catastrophic claims as well as those with a generic or strategic angle.

    She is regularly involved in seven figure claims arising from physical injury, predominantly spinal, brain and head injury as well as chronic pain and psychiatric type conditions whether on liability, medical causation or quantum.

    Jayne is used to preparing extensive schedules and counter-schedules, advising on risk and value, and running claims to trial as well as carrying out joint settlement meetings and mediations.

    Apart from very serious motor claims, recent cases have involved cauda equina injuries, systemic damage from sewage contamination, stress at work involving termination of high powered careers both for Claimant and Defendant and claims involving intervening clinical events.

  • Counter Fraud

    As a personal injury practitioner throughout her career, Jayne has always considered fraudulent claims as an inherent part of that work.

    Every claim requires a forensic analysis of the truth or otherwise of a claim. Whether looking at exaggeration, dishonesty in terms of symptoms or downright fraud in relation to the occurrence of the event in question, Jayne has fought many such cases.

    Most recently. Jayne was successful in a case spanning fifteen years of her practice, as counsel throughout and then junior counsel on the Supreme Court decision of Colin Hayward v Zurich Insurance Company Plc. Having been counsel on the original claim, Jayne then advised on the prospects of setting aside a Tomlin order in the case of fraud, successfully ran the action claiming fraud to trial and ultimately succeeded, with Patrick Limb KC, in persuading the Supreme Court of the force of the first instance decision. The insurer was able to claim back those sums which had been overpaid as a result of the original fraudulent exaggeration of injury. This decision has far reaching consequences for the approach to fraudulent claims.

  • Clinical Negligence

    Jayne has extensive experience in the clinical negligence field as well as being a member of a local drugs related research ethics committee and for 10 years sitting as the chairperson of the CARE fertility services ethics committee.

    She is the President of the Nottinghamshire Medico-Legal Society (2017-2018).

    Jayne has advised on IVF and surrogacy related issues in the clinical negligence area.More regularly, Jayne has appeared in actions against NHS Hospital Trusts, GPs and individual Consultants working in the private sector. Such work has included, as well as birth and immediate post birth injuries / failures involving the child, a number of serious birth injuries from the context of injury to the mother. She has also dealt with TVT, kidney and urinary injuries, life changing injuries to sight and the creation of prescription drug addiction. Jayne has also appeared in numerous inquests arising from alleged medical errors.

  • Sports

    Jayne has acted in several interesting sports-related cases, including a number of claims for the British Gymnastic Society involving high level gymnastics and trampolining injuries.

About

  • Memberships

    Personal Injuries Bar Association

    Nottinghamshire Medico-Legal Society

  • Education

    LLB, University of Birmingham

  • Notable Cases

    Hayward v Zurich Insurance [2017] AC 142. Deceit; fraudulent misrepresentation; personal injury; setting aside; settlement.

    Hill & Billingham v Lloyds British Inspections Services Ltd & Others [2013] EWHC 520. Asbestos; establishing the test for exposure between 1965 and the introduction of the Asbestos Regulations 1969 to be measured by TDN 13.

    Dalton v Gough Copper & Co Ltd [2014] EWHC 1556. Appeal from an Asbestos Master leading to setting aside judgment in default and ultimately discontinuance of the claim.

    Robinson (Personal Representative of Frederick Lugay Deceased) v Hammersmith & Fulham LBC [2017] EWHC 1823. Where the local authority successfully defended allegations of breach of duty in a mesothelioma claim arising from occupancy of local authority housing.

    Dunn v National Grid Gas PLC [2010] Lawtel. Level of damages, mesothelioma.

    White v E.On [2008] EWCA Civ 146. Limitation, HAVS.

    Brett v University of Reading [2007] EWCA Civ 88. Breach of duty, mesothelioma.

Areas of Expertise

Blogs

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Personal Injury
02 Dec 2020
Fatal Accident Claims – A Brief Overview

The area of fatal accident claims is wide and occasionally very complicated. An understanding of the principles and the cases...

Jayne Adams KC
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Events

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event
20th Jun 2024 @ 13:30
Nottingham: Clinical Negligence Litigation Conference 2024

Register here > We are delighted to be holding our annual in-person half day Clinical Negligence Litigation Conference. This event...

Jayne Adams KC
Philip Turton
Shilpa Shah
Rachel Young
Thomas Herbert
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Webinars

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webinar
19th Nov 2024 @ 01:41
Serious Injury Webinar 2021 | Care and Case...

An in-depth look at the circumstances in which care and case management is required, the principles to be applied in...

Jayne Adams KC
Georgina Crawford
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webinar
19th Nov 2024 @ 01:41
Personal Injury Webinar 2021 | Employers’ Liability for...

Presented by Jayne Adams QC and Tom Panton, this webinar covered employers’ liability for psychiatric injuries caused by work-related stress. It reviewed long-established principles...

Jayne Adams KC
Tom Panton
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Publications

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publication
19 May 2020
Fatal Accident Claims by Jayne Adams QC

In an article originally published in the delegate pack for our Personal Injury Litigation Conference 2020, Jayne Adams QC outlines...

Jayne Adams KC
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publication
27 Jul 2016
Supreme Court Judgment Handed Down in Zurich v...

Click to view the Supreme Court Judgment Handed Down in Zurich v Hayward PDF.

Patrick Limb KC
Jayne Adams KC
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  • “Jayne is all that you would expect from an experienced silk. She has excellent knowledge and experience, gets on well with the clients and instils confidence in the team.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “You go to Jayne for out-of-the-ordinary work. She is an excellent advocate, extremely good on paperwork and very easy to work with.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “Jayne is brilliant. She approaches each case with care, attention and skill and is strategic, pragmatic and very astute. Her paperwork is good and she is an excellent advocate.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “She is an excellent advocate who is extremely good on paperwork and very easy to work with. She is also very good with witnesses.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “She approaches each case with care, attention and skill and she is strategic, pragmatic and very astute. Her paperwork is good and she is an excellent advocate.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “Jayne is brilliant. She approaches each case with care, attention and skill and is strategic, pragmatic and very astute. Her paperwork is good and she is an excellent advocate.”

    Chambers UK 2025

  • “Jayne is absolutely meticulous in preparation, phenomenally knowledgeable and an awesome advocate, skillfully extracting crucial responses from seemingly innocuous cross-examination. Major clients repeatedly ask for her, a great testament not only to her gravitas as a KC, but also her approachability and warmth. She is exceptional in producing innovative solutions to the thorniest of cases.”

    The Legal 500 2025

  • “She is technically brilliant but also acutely aware of the need for commercial strategies that meet and exceed clients’ needs.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “She’s very effective on her feet, knows the law and is exceptionally good on quantum issues.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “Jayne is a very good advocate and she is very thorough.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “Jayne is effective on her feet. She knows the law and is exceptionally good on quantum issues as well as being very responsive.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “Jayne’s advice is always on point, clear and easy to follow. She is easy to engage with and can explain complex issues simply and effectively to lay clients.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “She is the most delightful and impressive counsel, who gets the job done with the maximum empathy and effort.”

    Chambers UK 2024

  • “Jayne’s technical knowledge, unflappable nature, general professionalism and personality make her a good KC to instruct.”

    Legal 500 2024

  • “Jayne Adams is an incredible operator.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Jayne is a very compelling advocate.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Jayne is excellent with medical evidence, she’s all over the detail.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Jayne is outstanding. She is a leading silk.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Jayne is a persuasive and effective communicator.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Jayne has good commercial awareness, particularly in areas of quantum.”

    Chambers UK 2023

  • “Her ability to pick up key issues quickly and being able to explain complex matters to clients in an approachable and use friendly manner. She is technically excellent on disease related issues and is a pleasure to instruct.”

    The Legal 500 2022

  • “Very personable, popular with clients and an excellent negotiator.” “She is undoubtedly at the top of her game.” “She presents her cases extremely clearly and forcefully.” “A tremendously personable individual.”

    Chambers UK 2021

  • “Her firm but fair approach to JSMs engenders respect, while her grasp of medical issues allows her to provide incisive and insightful advice.”

    The Legal 500 2021

  • “She’s excellent to deal with and very straightforward.” “She’s everything you could want in a KC; she’s pragmatic, her advice is very clear and she’s very well respected in the market.” “There are no airs about her – she’s pragmatic, straightforward, and her advice is very clear. She has a reputation for being firm but fair.”

    Chambers UK 2020

  • “She provides clear, insightful and incisive advice.”

    The Legal 500 2020

  • “Her knowledge in all aspects of asbestos-related claims is second to none – she’s an intellectual leader in this field.” “She takes a very forensic approach to the evidence available and when handling witnesses, gently probing them to get the information out.” “She’s completely on top of her game. She’s highly sought after, well respected and an excellent all-rounder.” “She’s robust in court and very good with clients.”

    Chambers UK 2019

  • “A leading light in asbestos cases.”

    The Legal 500 2019

  • “Highly esteemed for her experience in industrial disease claims. She has a related specialism in clinical negligence claims and also frequently handles matters involving fraud.” “Very knowledgeable in relation to all diseases and impressive tactically and in court.” “Thorough, attentive and sharp.” “She is calmness personified and has an excellent ability to distinguish the wood from the trees.”

    Chambers UK 2017

  • “Level headed and approachable.”

    The Legal 500 2017

  • “Highly esteemed for her experience in industrial disease claims. She frequently handles matters involving fraud and is commended for her client care.” “Jayne has excellent attention to detail, is robust and concise in her advice and is able to come up with practical solutions.” “Very thorough and good on her feet.” “Highly regarded for her expertise in industrial diseases and fraudulent claims. She is recognised for her strong advocacy skills, responsiveness and client skills.”

    Chambers UK 2016

  • “Down to earth while remaining tenacious with the opposition.”

     

    The Legal 500 2016

  • Barrister of the Year 2016 - Nottingham Law Society

  • “She is good with clients and speaks to them naturally and without jargon. She’s got a very good brain, and takes a sensitive approach to cases.”

    Chambers UK - Personal injury

  • “Very good on her feet.”

    The Legal 500 2015

  • “Acts across the spectrum of personal injury litigation for both Claimants and Defendants. She is highly regarded for the breadth and depth of her experience, particularly in serious personal injury and disease claims, and for her courtroom advocacy. ‘She’s extremely good with clients and on her feet. She’s very thorough and good to work with.'”

    Chambers UK 2014

  • “Jayne Adams is recommended for her ‘strong court presence.'”

    The Legal 500 2014

  • “Jayne Adams acts for both Claimants and Defendants on a broad range of matters. Industrial disease, product liability and fatal accident claims all fall within her remit.”

    Chambers UK

  • “‘The ‘tough but fair’ Jayne Adams ‘presents cases very well’ and wins plaudits for her approachability and judgement. She has broad experience in asbestos-related, deafness and HAVS litigation.”

     

    Chambers UK

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Jayne Adams KC
Jayne Adams KC

1982

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