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Anna Adams
Barrister
Anna Adams is a distinguished Barrister at Bankside Chambers with an extensive background in litigation, public law, health law, governance, public policy, and regulatory systems.
With experience dating back to 1996, Anna has a profound understanding of legal risk management, inquiries, investigations, and large scale advisory work to proficiently navigate complex legal landscapes.
Anna's educational journey includes a Master of Laws (LLM) from Yale Law School, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honors, and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Politics from The University of Auckland.
She further honed her leadership skills by attending the Global Women's Leadership Forum at Harvard Business School Executive Education.
Anna's career spans both New Zealand and New York, showcasing her versatile approach to practicing law in different jurisdictions.
Having served in various capacities at reputable organizations like Meredith Connell, Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, and prestigious law firms, Anna has a proven track record of delivering exceptional legal services.
Her expertise includes managing legal risks, conducting large-scale advisory work, and representing clients in high-stakes litigation cases.
Anna Adams is a highly regarded professional known for her strong legal acumen, strategic thinking, and deep understanding of intricate legal matters.
Highlights
Today was a poignant day in this Supreme Court criminal appeal for the six brave survivors and their parents, who have given so much to establish greater public accountability for serious sex offenders. I was proud to act as their counsel with Laura Fraser and Emily James of Chapman Tripp, supported by Ruth Money MNZM. The Supreme Court declined name suppression for LF, the young man sentenced in 2022 to 12 months’ home detention for multiple sexual offences against these young women. The Court ruled that while youth justice principles (including rehabilitation and vulnerability to harm from social media) are given significant weight in considering suppression for young offenders, the presumption of open justice remains – and the seriousness of the offending and views of the victims are of key importance.
The Court found that LF’s offending was serious, not simply that of “a teenager who has made some terrible mistakes”, and recognised that “in these circumstances, there is obviously a public interest in knowing of LF’s character”. The Court stated that public identification of an offender is an important part of the accountability required in criminal justice in addition to the formal sentence and convictions. This was in line with the survivors’ affidavit evidence given directly to the Supreme Court. The Court noted the survivors’ accounts of how the offender’s ongoing name suppression meant that their own recovery was incomplete, how they should be able to organise their lives without worrying about suppression, how there was a prospect that other victims might come forward if the offender was named, and how they were troubled that they could not warn other young women about LF’s previous offending.
For unrelated reasons suppression of LF’s name will lapse on 14 June, however the Supreme Court was unanimous in its decision against permanent name suppression. In my view this case demonstrates the law’s increasing understanding of the acute harm suffered by victims of sexual crime, affirms an open justice system as the best response to this harm, and recognises the way in which suppression can impede both the recovery of victims and justice itself.
I am delighted to announced that I will be joining Bankside Chambers, Auckland as a barrister on 1 July 2023.
Bankside is a vibrant and progressive chambers and a natural next step for me, after 20 wonderful years at Meredith Connell. I very much look forward to assisting private, public and international clients solve problems and navigate disputes strategically and constructively, drawing on my 25 years’ experience in New Zealand and the United States.
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