4PB

Private Children Law; Finance; Non-court dispute resolution

Overview

Praised by clients, colleagues and the legal directories alike, Samantha specialises in complex and high-value financial disputes and in contentious private law children cases.  She is a fearless advocate with a keen intellect, yet possesses a warm and approachable manner that puts clients at ease.

Samantha is recognised as leader in her field in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Spears, Citywealth and the Tatler High Net Worth Guide.

From her extensive experience representing husbands and wives in the Family Court, Samantha was convinced there was a better way to resolve family change than requiring each spouse, from day one, to seek advice from separate legal teams. In 2018 she, and fellow barrister Harry Gates, set up The Divorce Surgery, which was the first regulated law firm to enable separating couples to share a lawyer on divorce. The Divorce Surgery was named as one of the FT50 most innovative law firms in Europe.

Samantha is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR), for which she has received numerous awards, and appears regularly in print and broadcast media. Samantha and Harry were commissioned by

Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot.

Samantha was appointed to the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in 2024, which is tasked with reform of the pre-court space.

Publications/Training

Samantha is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR), for which she has received numerous awards, and appears regularly in print and broadcast media. She gives regular lectures and seminars on NCDR and the development of family law.

Samantha and Harry were commissioned by Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot. Samantha also co-wrote the relocation chapter in the re-published Rayden and Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters in 2016.

Samantha was appointed to the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in 2024, which is tasked with reform of the pre-court space.

Awards

Shortlisted Family Law Junior of the Year – Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024 Innovator of the Year – Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2024 Women in Innovation Award Winner 2020/2021- Innovate UK Champion of the Year – CityWealth Powerwomen Awards 2021 Individually Commended for work in Access to Justice – Financial Times FT50 Intelligent Business Awards 2019

Appointments

Member of the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee (OPRC) Member of the Single Lawyer Working Group

Conversational French and Spanish

Professional memberships

Middle Temple FLBA

Education & Qualifications

MA Law Cambridge University Qualified Collaborative Lawyer Trained Family Mediator

Skiing, tennis, shopping, socialising. Only joking: all free time entirely taken up with two young children and our golden retriever Teddy.