Speaker details

Biography

Adam Heppinstall KC is described by The Legal 500 as being “very sharp, always finds the best way through a complex situation and very commercial, too. Has an engaging easy manner that makes him a pleasure to work with and great with all clients” and someone who “responds well under pressure and is incredibly bright.” Chambers UK say that he is “a very robust counsel – nothing fazes him. He’s hard-working and gets on top of the detail.” and that “he is extremely calm and knowledgeable and has excellent judgement. He is a terrific team player; he rolls his sleeves up and gets into the detail” and as “tactically astute” and “the ‘very bright’ Adam Heppinstall who provides ‘clear, sensible advice’ and brings ‘a spirited approach’ to his cases”. Representative cases include being instructed by: MHCLG before the Covid Inquiry (having acted for one of the interested parties in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry); Total Energies in respect of a climate change law/judicial review challenge to a LNG plant in Mozambique; Dyson in a modern slavery international group action; the insurers of the Manchester Arena in relation to the 2018 bombing; a shareholder domiciled in London being pursued for compensation for alleged marine environmental damage in South America; several extractive UK based parent companies in relation to alleged environmental damage in African jurisdictions; the claimants in the VW (settled), Vauxhall and Volvo emissions diesel gate scandal group actions; the DHSC/MOD in a range of high-profile commercial claims (including those related to Covid PPE and procurement matters as well as claims relating to Ajax tanks and service family accommodation); the Cabinet Office in relation to the withheld diaries and correspondence of Lord and Lady Mountbatten; and various private clients and government departments in respect of judicial reviews, public procurement, property disputes, fires, housing policy, professional discipline, contractual/commercial claims, EIA/FOIA/DPA, inquests, employment claims, Traffic Commissioner hearings, vaccine damage, product liability (pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer goods), NIHL, ionising radiation, bullying, mesothelioma, TBI, WBV, NFCI and Q Fever. Adam has a wide-ranging ESG advisory practice, relating to the UN Guiding Principles (including OGMs), OECD Guidelines (including NCP complaints), TFCD reporting, Paris Agreement compliance, ASA/CMA Greenwashing complaints and associated civil actions, appeals and judicial reviews. Adam inquired into and reported on the appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC Board on behalf of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.