Samuel Marks specialises in children law, with a particular focus on representing children with neurodiversity, special educational needs, and disabilities.
Samuel is frequently instructed in multi-day trials, including in the High Court, involving allegations of sexual abuse, perplexing presentation and fabricated or induced illness, NAI, alienating behaviours, and coercive and 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, and acted at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal.
In 2025, Samuel was appointed as Co-Chair of the Luton Family Justice Board.
Samuel graduated from Oxford with a BA in Classics, where he was also JCR President of his college, before going on to study for a MA in History of War at King’s College London. Converting to the law, he took the GDL at the University of Law and the BPTC at BPP. During the former, he was awarded the prize of best individual mooter in the final of the annual mooting competition, held in the Royal Courts of Justice; in the latter, he received the highest mark in the Family Law module in his cohort.
Prior to pupillage, Samuel worked at several pro bono organisations and charities, including Advocate, assisting applicants seeking representation in family law matters; the City of London Appeals clinic, advising on a route of appeal for a conviction of murder to the Criminal Cases Review Commission; and IPSEA, appearing on behalf of parents, families, and young people before the First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability).
Samuel represents all parties and interveners in public law proceedings, with a particular emphasis on representing children with neurodiversity and additional needs.
Samuel is frequently instructed in multi-day trials, including in the High Court, involving allegations of sexual abuse, deprivation of liberty, perplexing presentation & fabricated or induced illness, and non-accidental injury.
In a recent and reported judgment, whilst representing a local authority in complex proceedings an application to remove permanently children from the jurisdiction to a non-Hague Convention country, Samuel was commended by the judge for his “calm ability to respond to all the demands that are put on Local Authority counsel in a long and complicated case.”
Samuel gives frequent training to local authorities and solicitors on these areas of 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.
Samuel acts for parents and children in matters involving international adoption, international child abduction, and permanent and temporary leave to relocate with a child.
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.
Samuel advises and represents families and adoption agencies. Samuel has appeared before the President in a leading case involving foreign surrogacy arrangements:
Local Authority Team Manager
“Firstly thanks for getting Sam Marks on this case – really goes to bat for the LA.”
Judicial Feedback
“He was just brilliant.
When he speaks, he holds the attention of the Court room, he is clear, so well prepared, and was able to deal with my interventions with real skill.
Sometimes I have advocates before me and I am just made to feel ‘safe’ because I know they know their stuff. He was just that advocate.”
Judicial Feedback
“The respondent mother was represented by Mr Marks. I tried to explain my great concerns at the inchoate nature of its planning to the applicant and the significant issues identified having regard to the existing caselaw and the new and rigorous guidance in care proceedings.
The experienced advocates present gave no indication of understanding what I was saying. Mr Marks, on the other hand, took the points I was making and adjusted his arguments to persuade me not to make the orders. He was far better informed and prepared than the much more experienced advocates against whom he was appearing.
I found him professionally mature beyond his experience, fully prepared and bluntly he was leaving the local authority advocate in his wake.”
Opposing Guardian
“Mr Marks is currently representing the LA in a final hearing which is very complex and lengthy.
I have read many documents prepared by Mr Marks including position statements and skeleton arguments for the court of appeal and I am extremely impressed by his work.
I am currently witnessing him cross examine witnesses (before it’s my turn for him to cross examine me!) and his work / knowledge of the case / professionalism and conduct is exceptional.”
Samuel Marks, Barrister
New Court Chambers, Temple, EC4Y 9BE, London
ICO Registration Number: A9014218
Date: 27th May 2023
Policy became operational on: 27th May 2023
Next review date: 27th May 2025
In order to provide legal advice and representation, I need to collect and hold personal information. This may be your personal data or information relating to other parties involved in the matter. I will take all possible steps to protect personal information. I will ensure that I do not do anything that may infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This privacy notice describes the information I collect about you, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
I, Samuel Marks, am a member of New Court Chambers. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is New Court Chambers, Temple, EC4Y 9BE, London, and my ICO registration number is A9014218. If you need to contact me about your data or this privacy notice, you can reach me at smarks@newcourtchambers.com.
The vast majority of the information that I hold about you is provided to, or gathered by, me in the course of your case and/or proceedings. Your solicitor and/or I will tell you why we need the information and how we will use it. In addition to the information you may provide to me or your solicitor, I also obtain information from other sources as follows:
Depending on the type of work, I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the UK GDPR. This may include:
Where relevant, I may also need to process special category personal data that reveals your:
On occasion, I may also process personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.
In order that I can provide legal services and representation for you, I must process your personal data. The UK General Data Protection Regulation (the UK GDPR) requires that where I process personal data, I must have a lawful basis for doing so. The lawful bases identified in the UK GDPR that I seek to rely upon are as follows:
Examples of legitimate interests include but are not limited to:
The UK GDPR specifies that where I process special category data, I must rely upon certain exemptions in order to do so lawfully. The following exemptions are applicable in my practice:
On occasion, I process data relating to criminal offences where it is necessary for:
I use your personal information for the following purposes:
In the course of processing your information to provide legal services to you, I may share your personal data with:
I do not transfer any personal data to third countries or international organisations.
I retain your personal data while you remain a client unless you ask me to delete it. My Retention and Disposal Policy (copy available on request) details how long I hold data for and how I dispose of it when it no longer needs to be held. I will delete or anonymise your information at your request unless:
I will typically retain case files for a period of 6 years following the conclusion of a case/matter or receipt of final payment, whichever is the latest. This reflects the period required by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund relating to potential limitation periods.
Where various pleadings and documents have been drafted, they may be retained for learning purposes and legal research. Where this is the case, I will anonymise the personal information/redact information which may identify an individual/risk assess the continued retention of the documents.
The UK GDPR gives you specific rights in terms of your personal data. For example, you have the right of access to the information I hold and what I use it for;
you can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you.
You can ask me to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, and you can ask me to stop sending you direct mail or emails or, in some circumstances, ask me to stop processing your details.
Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data, you can complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how I have processed your information or dealt with your query. You may also seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred.
You can find out more information from the ICO’s website:
https://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information
You may request access to, correction of, or a copy of your information by contacting me at smarks@newcourtchambers.com.
You may opt out of receiving emails and other messages from my practice by following the instructions in those messages.
I will occasionally update my privacy notice. The updated policy will be found here, on my chambers’ website profile.
New Court Chambers has forged its reputation on a commitment to provide consistently high standards of advice, representation and clerking services.
An excellent set with talented practitioners.
A set with substantial strength in public and private children law matters, and the further capability to handle financial proceedings.
Well versed in highly sensitive matters involving non-accidental injury, child death, sexual abuse, FGM, fictitious illness and child trafficking.
The barristers at New Court Chambers distinguish themselves from others due to their hands-on handling of cases.
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