Thomas Adams is an Australian-qualified associate in Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan's Paris office and is part of the firm's leading international arbitration team.
His practice focuses on complex international commercial and investment arbitration, with deep expertise in energy disputes, particularly in the oil, gas and LNG sectors. Thomas frequently serves as lead associate, managing the day-to-day conduct of large-scale international arbitrations, including disputes arising out of long-term gas supply agreements, LNG price reviews, delivery and supply disputes, breach of contract claims, M&A-related arbitrations and expropriation and treaty-based claims. He also advises on disputes in the aviation, mining, infrastructure, banking and international trade sectors.
Thomas has worked on arbitrations conducted under the rules of the world’s leading arbitral institutions, including the ICC, LCIA, ICSID, SCC, SIAC, and CIMA, and has experience across a range of governing laws.
In addition to his practice, Thomas regularly writes and speaks on international arbitration issues and has taught arbitration-related courses at the Faculty of Law of Sciences Po in Paris.
- College of Law
(Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, 2019) - University of Notre Dame Australia
(LL.B., 2018)- Australian Law Students’ Association Sir Laurence Street Negotiation Competition:
- Winner
- Australian Law Students’ Association Sir Laurence Street Negotiation Competition:
- University of Notre Dame Australia
(B.Comm., Economics, 2018)
- Solicitor, New South Wales, Australia
- Admitted in Australia only (practicing under the direct supervision of a member of The Paris Bar)
- English
- French
- Paris Arbitration Week 2026, The European Energy Crisis and The Future of Gas/LNG Disputes, with Michael Polkinghorne (Partner, White & Case), Thomas Voisin (Partner, Quinn Emanuel) and Patrick Hébréard (Partner, HKA), 24 March 2026.
- Corporate Disputes Magazine, Price Review Arbitrations - Historical development, recent trends and future disputes, with Radu Giosan (Senior Associate, Quinn Emanuel), April-June Issue 2026.
- Kluwer Blog Post, French Senate reform on confidentiality of in-house legal advice and implications for international arbitration, with Sophie de Sevin (Associate, Quinn Emanuel), March 2026.
- ICC Australia Conversation Series, APAC LNG Disputes: Emerging Flashpoints and Commercial Insights, with Phillip Solomon (Managing Director, Berkley Research Group), 25 February 2026.
- Interview with the Paris Baby Arbitration featured in its Monthly Arbitration Bulletin, No. 83, February 2026.
- ICC YAAF House Debate Series: Advocacy in Action, 7 October 2025.
- Non-compliance of Security for Costs Orders, Journal of International Arbitration, Volume 41 Issue 6 (December 2024).
- Occasional teacher of the Advocacy in International Arbitration course to LL.M students at the Faculty of Law at Sciences Po in Paris.
- Feature article in the Australian Financial Review, “International law courts are Adams’ Paris match” dated 2 August 2024.
- ICC Australia Member
- ICC YAAF Member
- ACICA45 Member
- CFA40 Member
- Young ICCA Member