Bryony Adams

Partner

Sydney, Australia

Bryony is a general commercial litigator who works principally with a mix of regulated commercial clients and government entities.

She provides advice on contentious issues and represents clients in large scale court proceedings, alternative dispute resolution processes and regulatory investigations, on a broad range of matters including:

statutory licensing regimes and other regulatory frameworks (particularly in the context of gambling and financial services), including those involving administrative, constitutional and other public law considerations;
regulatory investigations, examinations and enforcement actions, including those involving external audit processes, remediation processes and civil penalty proceedings;
crisis prevention and management;
corporate governance, accountabilities and market disclosure issues;
complex commercial contracts and associated issues;
matters raising concerns in respect of disclosure of sensitive or restricted information, including in the context of confidentiality, privacy and other statutory frameworks.

Bryony has particular expertise in dealing with contentious issues arising in the context of the Australian Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) legislation but has also provided advice, representation and strategic assistance in relation to other regulatory investigations and proceedings involving ASIC, the ACCC, APRA, the OIAC and a range of state-based regulatory bodies.

Her clients have recognised her for being commercial and perceptive and for instilling confidence.

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

Defending Tabcorp and for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in the first two civil penalty proceedings ever brought by AUSTRAC under the Australian AML/CTF legislation.
Defending Commonwealth Bank of Australia in two shareholder class actions brought in the aftermath of AUSTRAC civil penalty proceedings, and in associated appeals brought by the class action applicants, in respect of continuous disclosure and misleading & deceptive conduct allegations.
Defending Crown Resorts Limited in a shareholder class action brought in the context of AUSTRAC announcing an investigation into one of its subsidiaries, in respect of continuous disclosure and misleading & deceptive conduct allegations.
Providing strategic legal advice and support to various listed and unlisted reporting entities, principally across the banking, wagering and consumer sectors, in relation to contentious AUSTRAC matters and associated regulatory processes.
Defending Sydney Water Corporation in proceedings brought against it in the Federal Court of Australia alleging misleading & deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct.
Defending Sydney Trains in an employee underpayments class action.
Defending Bupa in relation to civil penalty proceedings brought by the ACCC in the context of its aged care business, and representing Bupa in an associated judicial review process and the aged care royal commission.
Acting for Tabcorp in numerous matters (including at State, Federal, Appellate and High Court levels, tribunal processes, and alternate dispute resolution processes) involving constitutional, regulatory and statutory interpretation issues relating to its wagering businesses, complex contractual and other disputes with key stakeholders, and broadcasting rights disputes relating to its media business.
Acting for White Energy Company in a complex multi-jurisdictional joint venture dispute.