Samantha is a specialist family law barrister with a corporate law grounding: she qualified as a solicitor at Freshfields before transferring to the Bar in 2006. She has a strong high-net-worth following, and is often brought in for early, tactical advice in high-value financial disputes or children cases. Ranked by the legal directories as a leading individual since 2013, Samantha consistently wins plaudits for her keen intellect and sensitive approach. The Legal 500 notes her ability ‘to empathise with clients in a way which makes them feel completely supported while also making their legal position clear’.

Samantha’s perspective as a barrister convinced her that many separating couples want to access impartial legal advice together, rather than starting in separate legal camps from day one. She took the plunge with fellow barrister Harry Gates, and The Divorce Surgery was born. Clients, judges and practitioners have embraced the ‘One Couple, One Lawyer’ model, which has won a string of industry awards and media attention for its ‘disruption’ of family law.

When off duty Samantha can be found at Barnes pond, coffee in one hand, the lead of her golden retriever in the other, gallantly failing to keep up with her young family.