Tori Adams

Wills and Probate

Tori has a growing practice in 1975 Act, contentious probate and will challenge cases, as well as proprietary estoppel claims. She has successfully acted as sole counsel in 1975 Act trials and made multiple appearances in the High Court, as well as gaining regular and varied experience in the County Court and by way of mediation. In addition, Tori has been led in complex proceedings worth over £10m with multiple potential claims including Proprietary Estoppel, capacity and allegations of undue influence.

Tori has significant experience of drafting pleadings and providing advice and representation in relation to the validity of wills, will trusts, removal of executors and estate mismanagement, including in complex cases such as those involving mutual wills and parties with significant vulnerabilities.

Tori has also acted in committal proceedings, including in the High Court, one such example being the case of Totton & Anor v Totton [2022] EWHC 2345 (Ch) in which Tori represented the Claimants.

Property

Tori also has a busy property practice. She regularly provides advice, drafting and representation in claims under TLATA, in which she has a particular interest, and has successfully represented clients in multiple TLATA trials. In addition, Tori often acts on behalf of intervenors in financial remedies proceedings.

Tori has experience in claims relating to boundary disputes, the sale of property, leasehold disputes, service charges, adverse possession, easements, enfranchisement, trespass and nuisance.

Financial Remedies

Tori regularly acts in family finance proceedings, including applications pursuant to TLATA 1996. Tori has experience of successfully representing clients at all stages of proceedings, including against litigants in person, and has dealt with complex issues such as those with an International element, for example having been led in an advice for use in the High Court in India, cases involving multiple high-value assets both in and out of the jurisdiction and disputes involving pre- and post-marital assets. In addition, Tori provides advice and representation in enforcement proceedings.

Children Act/Family Law Act Proceedings

Tori accepts Instructions in private children cases and injunction proceedings, and regularly acts in cases involving applications for Prohibited Steps Orders, Non-Molestation Orders, and Child Arrangements Orders, including those made without notice.

Her experience includes fact-finding hearings involving vulnerable individuals and serious allegations of domestic abuse, including sexual assault, paedophile rings and honour-based violence. One such example is a case in which allegations were made that a child was at risk of honour-based violence at the hands of the mother and her family. Tori represented the mother against very senior Leading Counsel and obtained findings that the father had deliberately and maliciously made up the allegations in order to obstruct contact.

Tori has a particular interest in cases with an International dimension and has appeared in the High Court in respect of disputes on jurisdiction.

Public

Tori has experience in all stages of public law children cases, having acted in cases relating to applications for Interim Care Orders, Care Orders and Supervision Orders and has experience of representing vulnerable clients. Recent cases include significant allegations of neglect, drug and alcohol use and domestic violence. Tori has recently appeared in the High Court in relation to complex issues surrounding jurisdiction and has an interest in Hague convention cases. She welcomes Instructions on behalf of parents, Guardians and Local Authorities.

Tori regularly advises on cases involving human rights breaches, including unlawful detention claims and claims under the Equality Act 2010, by virtue of which she has assisted in securing settlements for a number of Claimants. These cases generally involve vulnerable individuals who often suffer with issues relating to both their physical and mental health. As well as work under the Equality Act and Human Rights Act, Tori has experience in cases relating to the provision of social care services, data protection and inquests.

Tori also has experience of advising on, drafting grounds for, and appearing in court in Judicial Review proceedings relating to prisons and licence conditions, as well as in immigration cases, and welcomes instructions in this area.

Tori also has experience in general civil cases, including those involving contract disputes and claims in negligence, and she welcomes work in these areas. Tori has experience in dealing with cases involving unjust enrichment, fraud and misrepresentation.

In addition, Tori is regularly instructed by the Appropriate Authority in cases involving police misconduct.

Tori has had work published in Counsel magazine, New Law Journal and the Family Law Journal. This includes articles relating to recovering fees in 1975 Act Claims (with Chris Bryden), youth courts and youth justice (with Kirsty Day), unlawful detention of immigration detainees (with Killian Moran, solicitor) and a review of remote hearings in a family law context.