Adam Bharmal

Public Children

Adam frequently represents local authorities, parents and children at all stages of public law proceedings. He has acted in matters including:

• Applications to the High Court involving deprivations of liberty safeguards, acting for local authorities and children
• Hearings involving overlap with the Mental Health Act 1983 and concerns about litigation capacity
• Cases involving non-accidental injuries and serious sexual abuse
• Emergency interim removal hearings at short notice
• Urgent interim care order applications
• Contested Part 25 applications for residential and expert assessments
• Private law proceedings that have developed into care proceedings.

Adam has experience of working with and building positive relationships with vulnerable people, particularly those with mental health conditions and neurodiversity, in Mental Health Tribunals and the Court of Protection. He is adept at working with intermediaries and interpreters. He also has experience of working with the Official Solicitor.

Private Children

Adam is regularly instructed to act for parents in private law proceedings. He has been instructed in the full range of hearings, including FHDRAs, DRAs, directions hearings, final hearings, and decision hearings. He has experience of acting in proceedings under the Pathfinder Pilot and the Child Focussed Courts.

Adam has represented parents in a range of cases, including:

• Domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour
• Drug and alcohol misuse
• The making and variation of child arrangement orders
• Determination of findings of fact hearings
• Specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders
• Non-molestation orders and occupation orders
• Domestic abuse protection orders.

Adam welcomes instructions in all areas of the Court of Protection.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Adam worked as a social welfare paralegal for over three years, primarily in the Court of Protection (Health and Welfare). Alongside his Court of Protection caseload representing family members, Adam closely supported solicitors on complex cases involving closed proceedings, fluctuating capacity, forced marriage, covert medication and hoarding. He was entrusted to manage these cases during solicitors’ absences, advise the Official Solicitor, and visit the protected party to take their wishes and feelings.

Notably, Adam assisted solicitors in the following reported cases:

• A Local Authority v X [2023] EWCOP 64
• E (vaccine) v LB Hammersmith and Fulham and W [2021] EWCOP 7
• DP v Hillingdon [2020] EWCOP 45

In addition, as a former member of The Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme, Adam represented exceptionally vulnerable children and adults detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 at Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers’ Hearings, securing multiple hospital discharges. He has experience in matters where Court of Protection proceedings and Mental Health Law overlap.

Adam has observed several FDRs under Timothy Shortt and Daniel Currie and has drafted position statements.

He has observed cases involving legally aided clients and understands the need to ring-fence limited assets to protect welfare benefits. He is keen to accept instructions for hearings at all stages in financial remedy proceedings.

• Bar Course, Inns of Court, College of Advocacy (2024)
• Law LLB, University of Surrey (2021)

• Paul Methven Scholar, Inner Temple (2023)
• Exhibition Scholar, Inner Temple (2023)

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple