YEAR OF CALL 2014

‘Sam is an exceptional advocate for his call. He combines excellent knowledge with common sense practical application.’ The Legal 500 2025

Sam is a calm and confident barrister who has quickly built a busy and successful criminal practice. He regularly acts in cases years ahead of his call, and is now regularly instructed as leading counsel. He appears in London and on circuit, and combines outstanding advice and legal knowledge with an excellent courtroom manner and powerful advocacy.

Sam is frequently instructed as leading counsel in both serious violence and gang-based and international organised crime. Recent instructions as leading counsel for the prosecution include a gangland attempted murder with anonymous witnesses, the attempted murder of a police officer, misconduct in public office, and several massive-scale drugs conspiracies.

As a junior alone, Sam’s recent cases have included homicides, attempted murder, cases of kidnap and torture, firearms offences, child abuse, rape and sexual assaults, major public disorder, ‘county lines’ drugs conspiracies, gang stabbings, counterfeiting, arson with intent to endanger life, and armed robberies.

As a busy and popular led junior, Sam is led in trials of gravity and complexity. Recently these have included murders, major drug conspiracies, slavery, gangland shootings, immigration fraud, and multi-expert cases involving non-accidental head injury to infants. He has handled the PII, LPP, and disclosure challenges presented by those types of cases, and is trusted by leaders and judges alike to handle important aspects of cases alone.

Sam has also provided advice at various stages of criminal and quasi-criminal matters to corporations, private individuals, and political organisations on a wide variety of legal issues. He is trusted and reliable in situations of the utmost sensitivity.

Sam is able to accept instructions directly from members of the public in appropriate cases.

sbarker@2hb.co.uk