Overview
Sam specialises in children law matters, both public and private law. He is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents, children, and interveners in complex care proceedings involving child deaths, sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, and chronic neglect.
Sam is known for his very professional approach and his advocacy is highly skilled. He is now frequently instructed in cases beyond his year of call against senior members of the Bar. He has been praised by instructing solicitors for establishing himself as a formidable advocate who will vigorously defend the interests of his clients.
Sam is well known as a calm and collected advocate when it comes to dealing with the most complex of issues with the ability to grasp new information quickly. He is often chosen by solicitors looking for counsel who will take a forensic approach to voluminous evidence and prepare for trials thoroughly, this was recognised in the Legal 500, where Sam’s attention to detail is described as ‘second to none’.
In 2018, Sam was awarded a prestigious Pegasus Scholarship and worked for eight weeks in India, including time at the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi Commission for Women.
Sam is committed to social mobility and diversity at the Bar. He sits on chambers’ pupillage committee and is a member of the Midland Circuit Social Mobility Committee. He is a mentor to law students and is involved with advocacy training at local universities. Sam also delivers family law training to solicitors’ firms.
Before commencing pupillage, Sam spent three months at the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center in New Orleans where he assisted lawyers defending people facing the death penalty. He joined legal action charity Reprieve for five months as Clive Stafford Smith’s intern and was an intern at JUSTICE, a human rights charity, working to reform the UK justice system with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. He also worked as a paralegal at John Ford Solicitors where he had his own caseload in community care, education, and public law.
Qualifications
LLB (International), University of Leicester & La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Bar Professional Training Course, University of Law, Birmingham
Recommendations
Chambers & Partners 2024 Family: Children – Band 3
“Samuel’s client care and case presentation to the court is exceptional.”
“Sam is a highly skilled advocate, but he has an ability to put his client at ease. He is also always thoroughly prepared.”
“Samuel is great with clients and will always go above and beyond to ensure that clients are cared for.”
Legal 500 2024 Family: Children & Domestic Violence Ranked: Tier 3
Legal 500 2023 – Child Law (Public and Private) Ranked: Tier 3
“Samuel is very good at adapting to the needs of a client and is a very patient person. He makes clients feel that they have been listened to and will make sure every client has understood and is OK before finishing his involvement with them. He is very knowledgeable, and this is always a benefit with clients.”
Legal 500 2022 – Child Law (Public and Private) Ranked: Tier 3
‘Sam’s attention to detail is second to none. He has a very professional and sympathetic approach with clients and his advocacy is highly skilled. I would have no hesitation in recommending him.’
Appointments
Chair, Nottingham Bar Mess
Pupillage Committee & Pupil Supervisor, St Ives Chambers
Committee, Midland Circuit Social Mobility Committee
Mentor for Young Legal Aid Lawyers, University of Nottingham Bar Society & DMU Bar Futures Programme
Committee, Young Legal Aid Lawyers (2018-22)
JUSTICE Working Party ‘Improving Access to Justice for Separating Families’ (2021-22)
Advisory Board, Accent Discrimination and the Bar, NTU & DMU (2021-22)
Junior to the Midland Circuit (2018-19)
Assistant Junior to the Midland Circuit (2017-18)
Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit),
Midland Circuit
Justice
Young Legal Aid Lawyers
Lincoln’s Inn
Awards
Pegasus Scholarship, Pegasus Trust (2018)
International Legal & Professional Development Grant, Bar Council (2016 & 2017)
Continuing Education Bursary, Lincoln’s Inn (2016)
Criminal Bar Association Bursary for Excellence in Advocacy (2015)
Eastham Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn (2014)
Hardwicke Award, Lincoln’s Inn (2011)
Reported cases
Care
Derbyshire County Council v Shannon Marsden & Ors [2023] EWHC 1892 (Fam)
Re H and Others (Children) (Fact Finding: Rib Fractures) [2021] EWHC 2041 (Fam)
Private law
The Mother v The Father and Anor [2024] EWHC 272 (Fam)
Re ABCDEF (Fact Finding: Honour Based Violence)[2019] EWHC 406 (Fam)
Privacy Notice
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