Practice Overview
Samuel specialises in children law, with particular focus on representing children with neurodiversity, special educational needs, and disabilities.
Samuel is instructed in multi-day trials, including in the High Court, involving allegations of sexual abuse, perplexing presentations / fabricated or induced illness, non-accidental injury, alienating behaviours, domestic abuse, and coercive & controlling behaviour.
Samuel’s expertise lies in the cross-examination of experts and vulnerable witnesses, whom he also represents, including through the Official Solicitor. He has completed training in witness handling of vulnerable persons and children.
Samuel advises on cases which interplay between jurisdictions – the Family Court, the Court of Protection, and the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
Samuel regularly appears against more senior counsel and silks without a leader. He has appeared before the President of the Family Division in a leading case involving foreign surrogacy. He has acted at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal.
In 2025, Samuel was appointed as Co-Chair of the Luton & Bedfordshire Family Justice Board.
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Children (Public Law)
Samuel represents all parties and interveners in public law proceedings, with particular emphasis on representing children with neurodiversity, special educational needs, and disability. Samuel is frequently instructed in multi-day trials, including in the High Court, involving allegations of sexual abuse, perplexing presentations / fabricated or induced illness, non-accidental injury, alienating behaviours, domestic abuse, and coercive & controlling behaviour.
Samuel in experienced in representing all clients in applications for deprivation of liberty safeguards.
Samuel provides training to local authorities, solicitors, and social workers on these areas of law.
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Children (Private Law)
Samuel is frequently instructed to represent parents and children through their r.16.4 guardian. He has expertise in cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours, a subject on which he has also delivered training, and applications for external and internal relocation.
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International Family Law
Samuel acts for parents and children in matters involving international adoption, and permanent and temporary leave to relocate with a child.
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Surrogacy, Adoption & Fertility Law
Samuel advises and represents families and adoption agencies. Samuel has appeared before the President in a leading case involving foreign surrogacy arrangements.
Re Z (Unlawful Foreign Surrogacy: Adoption) [2025] EWHC 339 (Fam)
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Court of Protection
Samuel has both professional and personal experience of the Court of Protection.
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Domestic Abuse & Injunctions
Samuel has made and resisted applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996, and in cases concerning forced marriage protection orders, and injunctions under the inherent jurisdiction.
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Education
Samuel advises and represents clients on education law matters, including cases in the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
- Notable Cases
