Mark Adams
Legal DirectorMark Adams is a Legal Director in our Onshore Litigation group, advising on a broad spectrum of healthcare and risk management matters. With nearly 30 years' experience in various legal roles, including over 23 years specialising in healthcare law and risk management. Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and practical understanding of the legal complexities facing healthcare organisations and professionals.
Mark has a proven track record in litigation, regulatory and strategic legal advisory services. Having worked as General Counsel in one of the largest private hospital groups in the UAE and in Southern Africa, he is able to advise healthcare clients on implementing effective risk strategies, resolving disputes and managing complaints, claims and regulatory proceedings optimally.
Mark provides counsel to a range of clients, including healthcare organisations, health professionals, insurers and brokers.
EXPERIENCE
- Advising as an integral member of the legal team which successfully defended one of the largest medical malpractice claims (AED 205 m) in the UAE.
- Defending a hospital before the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa and created precedent case law relating to the evaluation of expert medical evidence by the Courts.
- In his capacity as General Counsel for a healthcare company he has managed hundreds of professional regulatory complaints and medical malpractice claims in the UAE and Southern Africa, including having managed inquests, civil, criminal, commercial and construction arbitration cases.
- Managing one of the largest medical malpractice claims (USD 10m) in South Africa where a child suffered brain damage following an inguinal hernia repair.
- English
- Afrikaans
- UNISA, LLB, 2001
UNISA, B. Proc, 1999
UNISA, B. Juris, 1996
Prior Experience
Mark started his legal career as a Public and Regional Court Prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Cape Town, South Africa between 1996 and 1999.
In 2001 he worked as a paralegal in the professional regulatory group for a law firm in UK, being solicitors to the General Medical Council in London.
Thereafter he moved to Cape Town, South Africa to complete his admission as an admitted attorney whilst working for lawyers specialising in the defence of medical professionals.
In 2004 he joined a large international hospital group in South Africa where he started as a legal adviser, later becoming the legal general manager for a team of in-house lawyers. In 2019 he was transferred to the group's Middle East division in Dubai and appointed as General Counsel. He joined the DLA Piper team in December 2024.
