Alison McAdams

Alison has advised clients on product liability and safety issues, especially in the healthcare sector, for over 25 years. She has acted in litigation brought under the Product Liability Directive for a large range of corporate defendants and their insurers.

She acted for the successful defendant in Relph v Yamaha, the first case in the UK under the Consumer Protection Act. She has been instructed by defendants in multi-party pharmaceutical and healthcare product liability litigation, including the coordination of the Hepatitis C group litigation for the National Health Service in A & Others v National Blood Authority. This resulted in the most substantive examination of the European Product Liability Directive to date.

Alison was instructed in respect of the Northwick Park Clinical Trial of TGN1412. She has acted for AstraZeneca in respect of insurance recoveries in the Seroquel litigation and for GSK in the MMR Vaccine litigation.

She has been involved in high profile trans-national litigation, including acting on behalf of Rio Tinto plc in the House of Lords case of Connelly. She has also acted in claims where defendant companies have faced legal challenges on jurisdiction and limitation, including the case of Brooks & Others v The Boots Company PLC.

Aside from litigation, Alison often advises on matters of product safety and regulation as well as product recall.

Alison regularly contributes articles and lectures on product liability law. She read Law at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Endorsements  

"Sources highlight Alison McAdams as a very capable product liability defence lawyer. She has played a prominent role in the firm's representation of AstraZeneca over an alleged link with diabetes and its antipsychotic Seroquel, and also in advising NHS Blood & Transfusions on claims concerning contaminated blood products." Chambers and Partners UK 2015 Edition, Life Sciences

"Alison McAdams is held in healthy regard for her understanding of medical and pharmaceutical product liability. Sources say: "She's very bright indeed and has the analytical brain that can achieve results"." Chambers and Partners UK 2015 Edition, Product Liability

"Key partner Alison McAdams has been handling an impressive caseload of late. She is popular in the market, with peers affirming her strong reputation." Chambers and Partners UK 2014 Edition, Product liability, UK Wide

"Alison McAdams is a highly skilled product liability lawyer. Sources praise her "impressive command of the detail"." Chambers and Partners UK 2014 Edition, Life sciences: product liability

"Alison McAdams is 'an extremely knowledgeable exponent of the law who is able to look at unusual problems and find new ways around them'." Chambers UK, Life Sciences: Product Liability, 2012 Edition, UK - wide.

"A 'brilliant strategic thinker' with 'expertise and understanding of healthcare products that is second to none'." Legal 500 UK, Product Liability: Defendant, 2011 Edition, London.