Adam Griffiths

Adam’s postgraduate research focused on the development of the fiduciary relationship and the regulation of corporate governance.  Adam welcomes instructions in these narrow fields while maintaining a broader commercial, contract and modern Chancery practice both at first instance and on appeal.

Adam is regarded for his deft navigation of civil procedure and is regularly instructed at short notice to appear in interlocutory matters on security for costs, asset freezing, disclosure and third-party involvement.

Notable Instructions

Appearing at first instance and on appeal in a disputed commissions and secret profits case: Biddulph v Eastern Counties Leather (In Partnerships) [2025] EAT 56 (10 April 2025)

Advising on and mediating a dispute surrounding lost profits of multiple businesses following a fire at a national maritime museum (December 2024 – August 2025)

Advising on and appearing in dual High Court and tribunal proceedings for diluted entitlement to sweet equity in an investment arrangement (June 2024 – November 2025)

Advising on and appearing in Part 8 proceedings concerning the contractual interpretation of dispute resolution clauses in the circumstances of a business sale and purchase agreement: Bailey Ahmad Holdings Ltd v Bells Holdings Ltd [2023] EWHC 2829 (Comm) (April 2023)

Appearing in urgent mandatory injunctive proceedings against a former employee of a nuclear industry business in the circumstances of threats to cause imminent irreparable damage: Evenort Limited v Ward and Godaddy.com LLC [2023] High Court (Manchester) KBD (Circuit Commercial) (unreported) (18 May 2023)

Appearing in a multi–week hybrid trial in the High Court (LMC) along with advising and drafting pleadings in a commercial contract/shipbuilding dispute: Global Technologies Racing v Alex Thomson Racing [2020] EWHC 3334 (Comm) (September 2018 – December 2020)

Appearing in a mediation, advising on and drafting pleadings in a submarine construction methods/shipbuilding case in the High Court (Adm) (August 2021)

Having studied admiralty law under Professor Francis Rose—and with a background in professional yacht racing—Adam attracts specialist maritime and admiralty work, and is uniquely placed to understand many of the practical issues faced by parties in this area of litigation.

Adam is instructed in the most factually diverse matters of shipping work featuring round-the-world-solo race yachts, foreign naval submarines and sunk superyachts.

Notable Instructions

Advising on and drafting pleadings in a vessel sinking and salvage claim immediately following botched works ashore (June 2025, ongoing)

Instructed in threatened salvage proceedings arising from a rescue by a tortfeasor (February 2025)

Instructed in Injunctive proceedings against a shipbuilder refusing inspection of a vessel before the issue of a claim (January 2024)

Appointed as sole Arbitrator to resolve a dispute arising from a three–vessel collision in the Bristol Channel. Award issued (April – August 2023)

Advising on and drafting pleadings in a superyacht refit dispute in the Admiralty Court (December 2023)

Appearing in a mediation, advising on and drafting pleadings in a submarine construction methods/shipbuilding case in the High Court (Adm) (August 2021)

Appearing in a multi–week hybrid trial in the High Court (LMC) along with advising and drafting pleadings in a commercial contract/shipbuilding dispute: Global Technologies Racing v Alex Thomson Racing [2020] EWHC 3334 (Comm) (September 2018 – December 2020)

Advising on and drafting pleadings in a breached charterparty (March – July 2020)

Prosecuting the master of a ferry in Bournemouth Crown Court for conduct endangering life and contrary to IRPCAS following a vessel collision: R v Jarvis (The Telegraph) (15 January 2019)

Adam is sought by solicitors faced with unusual regulatory and public law issues, chiefly matters of shipping regulatory law, human rights inquest proceedings and contempts.

Notable Instructions

Appearing in the jury inquest into the death of Malcolm Baker (July 2025)

Appearing in contempt proceedings following allegations of civil fraud in relation to a collection of contemporary Warhol artworks and luxury vehicles (August 2024)

Appearing in and advising on novel Brexit transitional provisions in the Coroner’s Court relating to the Middleton classification of an inquest based on regulated medical devices (May 2023)

Appearing in, advising on and drafting grounds in appellate judicial bias proceedings Aspect Windows v Adam Retter [2023] EAT 95 (April 2023)

Prosecuting the master of a ferry in Bournemouth Crown Court for conduct endangering life and contrary to collision regulations following a collision between vessels: R v Jarvis (The Telegraph), 15 January 2019 (January 2019)

Advising on the procedure and prospects of a judicial review against a maritime body of uncertain public nature (October 2018)

Appearing in an Article 2 novel opioid inquest into the death of Christopher Jeffery (March – September 2018)

Representing a defendant facing a significant custodial sentence in committal for civil contempt proceedings (April 2018)

Advising on a prosecution under maritime regulatory law (IRPCAS) following a collision on the high seas (March 2018)

Adam is instructed in the most complex employment work both at first instance in the Tribunals and—where species or value of relief require it—the High Court. Adam’s commercial practice makes him ideally suited to employment litigation that forms part of a broader litigation strategy.

Adam attracts specialist appellate work on issues of legal importance.

Notable Instructions

Appearing at first instance and on appeal (EAT) in a disputed commissions and secret profits case: Biddulph v Eastern Counties Leather (In Partnerships) [2025] EAT 56 (10 April 2025)

Appearing in appellate (EAT) proceedings defining the meaning of disciplinary action: Jenkins v Compass Group UK & Ireland [2024] EAT (EA-2022-000885-RN) (unreported) (June 2024)

Appearing in, advising on and drafting grounds in appellate (EAT) judicial bias proceedings: Aspect Windows v Adam Retter [2023] EAT 95 (April 2023)

Appearing in urgent mandatory injunctive proceedings against a former employee of a nuclear industry business in the circumstances of threats to cause imminent irreparable damage: Evenort Limited v Ward and Godaddy.com LLC [2023] High Court (Manchester) KBD (Circuit Commercial) (unreported) (18 May 2023)

Appearing in urgent injunctive proceedings in the High Court (QBD) resisting quia timet relief in the circumstances of an improperly prepared originating application relating to employee springboard contracts (August 2021)

Appearing in a multi–million pound employment mediation between a hedge fund manager and a property fund: HIMML v R (July – September 2020)