Adam R.Brown

Partner

London + 44.20.7039.5292

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Adam Brown focuses his practice on multijurisdictional investigations and has 20 years of experience advising on high-profile litigation, contentious insolvency, and compliance matters. The Legal 500 calls him "one of the finest solicitors around"; "sensationally bright and has phenomenal strategic insight."

Adam has particular experience in matters relating to insolvency claims, fraud, asset tracing, theft of confidential information, and corruption. He is frequently called upon to advise on injunctive relief as well as on major investigations and governmental inquiries. He has acted on the United Kingdom's largest preference claim (Comet), first ever deferred prosecution agreement (involving the first indictment under s.7 UK Bribery Act), largest wrongful trading award (BHS, the highest profile UK retail failure of recent decades that established the new concept of trading misfeasance), and what are believed to be the two largest frauds ever perpetrated on the London AIM market.

Adam has spent time seconded to Goldman Sachs, working within the litigation and regulatory group.

For more than a decade Adam has worked with Ben Larkin, head of the London restructuring team, on the leading contentious insolvency matters of recent times: Legal 500 comments: "If you were putting together the dream team in this area of work then Adam and Ben would be the first names on the list."

Experience

  • Joint Administrators of The Body Shop International Limited (in administration) sell business and assetsJones Day advised Geoffrey Rowley, Anthony Wright and Alastair Massey of FRP Advisory in their capacity as joint administrators of The Body Shop International Limited (in administration), an appointee of the shareholder, Aurelius Investment Advisory Limited, in connection with the trading administration and subsequent sale of the company's business and assets.
  • BHS liquidators win record wrongful trading judgment and establish new "Trading Misfeasance" lawJones Day represented Anthony John Wright and Geoffrey Paul Rowley of FRP Advisory as joint liquidators of SHB Realisations Limited (formerly BHS) in successfully obtaining the largest-ever wrongful trading award since the statutory offence was introduced under the UK Insolvency Act 1986.
  • Macquarie agrees to acquire Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Group for approximately €2.4 billionJones Day advised Macquarie Asset Management in the execution of a put option agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Group for €2.4 billion.
  • Comet liquidator obtains £100m+ judgment on leading Insolvency Act preference claimJones Day represents Geoff Carton-Kelly, liquidator of CGL Realisations Limited (formerly Comet Group Limited), in successfully obtaining a £100m+ judgment against Darty Holdings SAS by way of a preference claw back claim arising from the retail giant's collapse into administration in November 2012.
  • Koch Agronomic & Energy Solutions acquires 50% stake in Jorf Fertilizers Company III from OCPJones Day advised Koch Agronomic & Energy Solutions, LLC (KAES), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., in its 50/50 joint venture with OCP S.A.
  • Macquarie acquires Beauparc Utilities, Ireland’s largest waste management companyJones Day advised Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 6 in the acquisition and financing of Beauparc Utilities, Ireland’s largest waste management company.
  • FRP Advisory appointed as liquidators of Laura Ashley entities to investigate pre-administration mattersJones Day represents the liquidators of certain Laura Ashley entities (who were originally appointed as additional administrators by the Court) in connection with their investigation of certain pre-administration matters and any causes of action stemming from those investigations.
  • BioMarin obtains recommendation after judicial reviewJones Day represented BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. in a judicial review application (as an interested party largely aligned with the claimants) in proceedings against The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ("NICE").
  • BHS insolvency officeholders seek advice relating to investigations arising from company's collapseJones Day is acting for Geoff Rowley and Tony Wright as the insolvency officeholders of UK high street retailer, British Homes Stores ("BHS"), on investigations into the causes of the company's collapse and pursuing avenues of recovery for creditors.
  • Hi-Level Enterprises secures urgent injunctive relief against former employees for misappropriation of databaseJones Day acted on behalf of Hi-Level Enterprises Ltd., an e-commerce vehicle part supplier, by obtaining urgent without notice injunctive relief in the form of "door-step" preservation and delivery up orders against two former employees who had and misappropriated the intellectual property of, and set up a competing business to, the client.
  • Pharmaceutical company obtains injunctive relief to protect commercial information misappropriated by former employeeJones Day advised a pharmaceutical company in relation to urgent injunctive relief and High Court proceedings which led to the delivery up of highly sensitive and very valuable commercial information misappropriated by a former employee following the execution of those proceedings and orders without notice at his address.
  • Wael Khoury litigates significant international enforcement matterJones Day represented Mr. Wael Khoury in connection with one of the most significant pieces of international enforcement litigation in recent years.
  • Private equity group defends £26 million claim brought by investors in bespoke government-backed disaster response centersJones Day acted for a private equity group in its defense of a £26 million claim brought by over 125 investors who had invested in 5 bespoke government-backed disaster response centers.
  • Private equity group successfully defends allegations of misrepresentation, negligence, and breach of statutory dutyJones Day successfully defended a private equity group against a class action brought by over 80 investors in seven separate sets of proceedings.
  • Jones Day advises on UK's first Deferred Prosecution Agreement and closure of U.S. DOJ investigationOn Monday, November 30, 2015, the Right Honourable Sir Brian Leveson (the President of the Queen's Bench Division) approved the resolution of the first UK Bribery Act section 7 proceedings by way of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement, a procedure never before used in the UK.
  • Jones Day London advises charity in relation to VAT dispute with HMRCJones Day acted for Sutton Counselling in successfully challenging Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' ("HMRC") decision that VAT should be paid on amounts received by the charity for providing counselling services to Sutton residents on the basis that these were taxable supplies.
  • Langbar defends Court of Appeal liens success in Supreme CourtJones Day has successfully represented Langbar International Limited ("Langbar") in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in defending an attempt by the law firm Withers LLP ("Withers") to prevent enforcement against funds held in its client account.
  • Bonhams succeeds on £4.5 million judgment against defaulting Qatari buyerJones Day represented the well known auctioneers, Bonhams, in successful proceedings against Sheikh Al-Thani.
  • Leading IT managed services provider successfully resolves joint venture disputeJones Day advised a leading UK managed IT services provider in its successful resolution of an unfair prejudice and employment dispute arising out of a joint venture for the provision of managed services.
  • Goldman Sachs sells stake in DNick to Wickeder WestfalenstahlJones Day provided advice to Goldman Sachs' European Special Situations Group in connection with the takeover by Wickeder Westfalenstahl GmbH ("Wickeder") of DNick Holding plc ("DNick"), a UK corporation traded in the German unregulated market (Freiverkehr), including the subsequent sale of Goldman Sachs' approximately 23% stake in DNick to Wickeder.
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    August 2024 Alert

    Directors Take Note: English Court Awards Substantial Judgment Under New "Trading Misfeasance" Law

    June 2024 Alert

    BHS Liquidators Win Record Wrongful Trading Judgment—and Establish New "Misfeasance Trading" Law

    November 2023 Commentary

    The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act: A New Era for Corporate Prosecutions?

    October 2023 White Paper

    Considerations for Addressing DOJ's Corporate Compliance Guidance on Mobile Devices and Messaging Platforms

    November 2022 White Paper

    Conducting an Effective Internal Investigation: An Overview

    November 2022 Commentary

    UK Corporates at Risk Again? UK Government Announces Plans to Adopt New Offence of Failure to Prevent Economic Crime

    March 2021 Newsletters

    Business Restructuring Review | March–April 2021

    March 2021 Newsletters

    Uphill Struggles in the Sunlit Uplands? The Brexit Deal and UK-EU Insolvencies

    March 2021 White Paper

    A Multifaceted Maze: The FCA's Role and Powers in Distressed Situations

    MARCH 2021 Commentary

    UK Supreme Court Limits Serious Fraud Office's Extraterritorial Powers

    View All

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • June 1, 2017
      Cross-Border Investigations, JD University
    • June 29, 2016
      Brexit: UK votes to leave the EU: What happens next?
    • February 9, 2016
      First Deferred Prosecution in the UK, US Department of Justice agrees to close investigation
    • May 7, 2014
      eDisclosure Costs: Risks and Opportunities for Litigation Lawyers, Law Society with Huron Legal Forum

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