Chambers and its members are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
In addition to complex finding of fact hearings with allegations including child deaths, sexual abuse, and non-accidental injuries, Sam has experience of cases involving honour-based violence, radicalisation, and fabricated and induced illness.
Sam has gained a significant following for representing vulnerable clients due to his sensitive approach. He represents many clients assisted by an intermediary and tailors his approach to each individual client.
Sam is frequently sought after for reinstruction on cases from beginning to end and is happy to provide tactical advice to solicitors and lay clients throughout the proceedings.
Sam is specifically pursued for instruction on cases involving complex legal arguments, often at High Court level, and has experience of:
– Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)
– Secure accommodation orders
– Forced marriage & FGM protection orders
– Reporting restriction orders (and disclosure of documents from care proceedings)
– Section 34(4) applications to refuse contact
– Transfer of proceedings under Article 15 of Brussels IIa
– Recovery orders Complex disclosure issues.
Sam’s recent caseload include:
- Representing the children, through the instructions of the guardian, at a finding of fact hearing in the High Court in a ‘shaken baby’ case. The children gave live evidence with Sam asking questions on behalf of all the advocates.
- Being led by Kings Counsel in a complex High Court case which included legal argument on disclosing findings of sexual abuse to a GP and an order permitting the refusal of contact, including between siblings.
- Securing findings on behalf of the local authority in a case where a very young baby had serious injuries to his penis.
- Being led in a complex six-week fact finding hearing in the High Court representing a competent child. Separate allegations were sought on behalf of the child which the court found to be true.
- Acting in a finding of fact hearing in a case where an adult had given MDMA to a young baby. This involved cross-examination of an expert toxicologist.
- Representing the mother in a High Court case where the teenage child had made extremely serious allegations of sexual abuse. Following legal argument, the court agreed with Sam’s submissions that it was not necessary for the findings to be determined.
- Representing the mother in a ‘shaken baby’ case. As a result of Sam’s representations on the medical evidence, the local authority removed the mother from the ‘pool’ of potential perpetrators shortly before the trial began.
- Acting for a mother at a final hearing where the local authority sought a placement order for the children to be adopted. Following Sam’s cross-examination of the professional witnesses, the local authority withdrew its application for a placement order and the children remained in foster care and maintained regular contact with their mother.
- Acting in a difficult finding of fact hearing where a child had been left with multiple injuries including a skull fracture. The court made the findings sought by Sam’s client.
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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