John Adams

John is a specialist insolvency and civil fraud partner with significant experience in domestic and cross-border insolvencies across a range of sectors including financial services, technology, retail and music. He is recognised in the legal directories for being skilled in advising on fraud-related insolvencies, particularly where there are concurrent criminal investigations and cases involving the tracing and recovery of digital assets.

He advises on all aspects of asset investigation and recovery, including in relation to both corporate and personal insolvency. John has successfully assisted in the recovery of diverse asset types, from digital currencies and overseas properties to racehorses.

He acts for a broad range of clients including insolvency practitioners, companies or individuals in financial distress, directors, shareholders, creditors, litigation funders and other stakeholders.

John is an active member of the professional insolvency and asset recovery community and is regularly invited to speak at leading industry events, including the INSOL Europe Annual Congress and the International Symposium on Economic Crime at Jesus College, Cambridge.

John is ranked in Band 3 by Chambers & Partners for Restructuring/Insolvency: Litigation and recommended in the Legal 500. He also serves as a committee member of the INSOL International Small Practice Group.

Case Highlights

• Acting for Irving Picard, the trustee in bankruptcy of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC and the estate of Bernard L. Madoff, including the provision of ongoing advice to the trustee in relation to his U.S. and global claims.
• Advising the trustees in bankruptcy of Michael John Stanley and the liquidators of the bankrupt’s four companies to recover substantial assets including Bitcoin, silver bullion, cash, UK and Spanish properties and 23 racehorses.
• Advising a creditor of Allied Wallet, on the challenge to its £2.5m proof of debt.
• Advising trustees in bankruptcy on an application for disclosure from a crypto exchange.
• Advising an investment company on the investigation and strategy for the recovery of substantial funds misappropriated by a payment services provider, including obtaining a Norwich Pharmacal order.
• Acting for the board of Paperchase in relation to putting the company into administration.
• Advising on the purchase of HMV from the administrators.
• Advising the winding-up board of Landsbanki Islands hf (now LBI hf) on various matters including a £4.5 billion claim submitted by the FSCS; claims in the sum of £905 million submitted by the administrators of Heritable Bank (a Scottish subsidiary) and an appeal to the Supreme Court in relation to the set-off of the administrators’ claims and the applicability of Icelandic law.

Directory Quotes

“John Adams showcases significant experience acting in both domestic and cross-border insolvency-related disputes. He is adept at advising on both personal and corporate insolvency, with particular expertise in digital asset recoveries.” - Chambers 2026

“John Adams is very hard-working and committed. He is a big-picture thinker who plans for the longer term. He has a very strong practice that sits nicely on the line of an insolvency-fraud cross-over.” - Chambers 2026

“John Adams is a calm and reassuring presence in difficult matters. He doesn't get flustered, and clients like him for his cool head and ability to explain things in an accessible manner.” – Legal 500 2026

“John Adams is creative in his approach, very knowledgeable, calm and measured. He has good technical knowledge and is good at strategising.” - Chambers 2026

“John Adams is very client-focused, very calm, composed and thorough.” - Chambers 2026

“John Adams provided timely, sensible advice.” – Legal 500 2026