David Adams

Year of Call 2018

David’s practice focuses on crime, fatal accident and public inquiries, firearms licensing, road traffic prosecutions and road transport licensing.

He also has experience of civil and commercial dispute disputes, insolvency, medical and professional negligence at first instance and on appeal.

David has represented foster carers, police officers, prison officers, and teachers in solemn and summary trials throughout Scotland. 

David also has extensive experience in conviction and sentence appeals, both in the High Court and Sheriff Appeal Court.

David has appeared before local authority licensing boards and the Traffic Commissioner for Scotland in several public inquiries relating to HGV and PSV operator licences as well as driver conduct hearings.

David is a member of the Faculty of Advocates’ human rights sub-committee and is a reporter for Session Cases.

Representative Cases

Criminal Appeals

Counsel for CK in CK v HM Advocate [2024] HCJAC 17

Counsel for the appellant in SS v HM Advocate [2023] HCJAC 48

Junior Counsel for Kevin Miller in Kevin Miller & Lauren Miller v HM Advocate [2021] HCJAC 30

Counsel for Kenneth Thomson in Kenneth Thomson v HM Advocate [2020] HCJAC 49

Health & Safety Prosecutions

Junior Counsel for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland in HMA v Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland (2021)

Fatal Accident & Public Inquiries

Junior Counsel for core participants in The Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry (ongoing)

Counsel for the Prison Officers Association Scotland in the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Sarah Riley (ongoing)

Junior Counsel for the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Scotland in the Fatal Accident Inquiry into a missed 999 call M9 Inquiry, 2023

Junior Counsel for Tayside Health Board in the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Simon James Stewart [2021] FAI 27

Counsel for Anne Darnley, mother of the late Sarah Helen Darnley, in the Sumburgh Fatal Accident Inquiry [2020] FAI 34

Counsel for Mrs Ruth Moss, mother of the late Sophie Anne Parkinson, in the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of Sophie Anne Parkinson [2020] FAI 32

Junior Counsel for Dr Lucy Thomas, fiancée of the late Capt. David Traill, in the Clutha Fatal Accident Inquiry [2019] FAI 46

Public law

Junior Counsel for the Petitioner in a judicial review application by a police officer against the Scottish Police Authority, reported as BD, Petitioner [2019] CSOH 53

 

Contact Us

  • Compass Chambers
    Parliament House
    Edinburgh
    EH1 1RF