John H. Adams, B.C.S. Attorney At Law

Experienced litigator and trusted advisor handling complex legal matters across Florida and Southern Alabama. Offering a rare blend of litigation experience and financial acumen. Board-certified by The Florida Bar in Civil Trial and Business Litigation.

As the managing shareholder of the GrayRobinson Pensacola office, John Adams is a trusted legal advisor and accomplished litigator serving clients across Florida and Southern Alabama. With dual board certifications in Civil Trial and Business Litigation from The Florida Bar—a prestigious achievement shared by fewer than 70 of over 112,000 members—John handles a wide range of complex legal issues. His practice includes real estate, business disputes, trusts and estates, creditors' rights, non-compete agreements, bankruptcy, tax, contracts, and guardianships. John’s extensive trial experience spans jury and non-jury proceedings in state and federal courts and appearances before the U.S. Tax Court and various U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. While John strives to find the most cost-effective resolution for his clients, his deep experience trying cases in courts throughout Florida and Alabama on a variety of topics positions him to adeptly seek resolution of complicated issues in and outside the courtroom.

In addition to his litigation practice, John provides strategic counsel on real estate and business transactions, trust matters, probate matters, and guardianship proceedings. He has acted as a personal representative and curator for several complex estates and serves as legal counsel to nonprofit organizations across Northwest Florida. A licensed CPA (inactive) with an LL.M. in taxation, John combines profound legal experience with financial and taxation insight, offering clients a comprehensive approach to resolving legal and business challenges.

• Notable Work
  • Successfully defended the trustee and personal representative of an estate and trust in a claim of undue influence involving an estate valued at over $15 million. Subsequently represented the trustee and personal representative in the administration of the trust and estate.
  • Served as curator and personal representative for an estate with assets exceeding $8 million, resolving numerous real property and tax issues to facilitate the estate’s orderly distribution.
  • Successfully represented a taxpayer in litigation before the Bankruptcy Court and U.S. Tax Court to resolve a tax liability claimed by the U.S. government to exceed $32 million. After two tax court proceedings, a tax court trial, and a bankruptcy estimation proceeding, the debt was settled for approximately $3.8 million.
  • Successfully represented nine individuals in a civil case arising from their sister’s murder, obtaining a jury verdict under Florida’s slayer statute in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida.
  • Represented a small business in litigation before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, successfully establishing the existence and breach of a partnership agreement, leading to a $3.3 million jury award.
  • Successfully represented a real estate investor in recovering real estate and other assets worth over $5 million that had been fraudulently transferred.
  • Successfully represented a 100% disabled veteran in a Fair Housing Act claim before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, securing a $350,000 jury verdict against the landlord who denied the veteran the right to have a service dog in his rental property.
  • Successfully represented a judgment creditor in proceedings supplementary, achieving a court ruling to pierce the corporate veil of a medical practice, enabling the collection of a debt exceeding $1 million.
  • Represented a secured creditor in foreclosure proceedings, achieving the foreclosure of a $40 million collateralized loan secured by a shopping center, office building, and hotel. Successfully appointed a receiver and oversaw the sale of collateral assets.
  • Araguel v. Bryan, 343 So. 3rd 1236, (Fla. 1st DCA 2022).
  • Araguel v. Bryan, 334 So. 3rd 604, (Fla. 1st DCA 2022).
  • Emerald Grande West Condominium Association, Inc. v. Emerald Grande, LLC, et al., 290 So. 3d 1057 (Fla. 1st DCA 2020).
  • Breland v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 152 T.C. No. 9 (2019).
  • Bookman v. Irby, 136 So. 2d. 1276 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014).
• Recognition
  • Florida Super Lawyers, General Litigation, 2016-2024
• Media
  • “GrayRobinson adds 5 attorneys to new office in Pensacola,” Westlaw Today, December 6, 2024
  • “GrayRobinson Expands to Pensacola, Opening 16th Office with Team of Board-certified Attorneys,” Business Wire, December 5, 2024
  • “GrayRobinson Opens Office in Pensacola, Marking First New Office Since 2019,” Law.com, December 5, 2024
  • “GrayRobinson Expands to Pensacola, Opening 16th Office with Team of Board-Certified Attorneys,” Market Watch, December 5, 2025
  • “GrayRobinson Opens Newest Florida Office In Pensacola,” Law360, December 5, 2024
  • “GrayRobinson expands to Pensacola, opens 16th office,” Florida Politics, December 4, 2024
• Affiliations
  • Gulf Coast Kids House
    • Board Member 2017–2024
    • Legal Counsel 2017-present
  • Keep Santa Rosa Beautiful, Inc.
    • Legal Counsel 2021-2024
  • Leadership Santa Rosa County, Class 28
  • University of West Florida
    • Adjunct Professor, Legal Studies Program 
• Credentials
  • LL.M., Taxation, New York University School of Law, 2021
  • J.D., University of Florida College of Law, 2005, magna cum laude 
    • Journal of Law and Public Policy
    • Order of the Coif
  • B.S.B.A., Accounting, University of West Florida, 2002
  • Board-certified by The Florida Bar in Business Litigation
  • Board-certified by The Florida Bar in Civil Trial
  • Florida Certified Public Accountant (Inactive)
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • Alabama
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Alabama
  • U.S. Tax Court