Sam Wallace

Sam Wallace


BarristerCall 2004

Sam practices predominantly in the field of public law childcare and has a broad experience representing local authorities, parents and children at all levels from the family proceedings court through to the high court. His experience includes lengthy and complex cases where non-accidental injuries or allegations of sexual abuse are a feature, cases involving parallel criminal proceedings, and cases with an international dimension including cases involving the international abduction of children in care and placement of children permanently outside of the jurisdiction. He has experience acting for local authorities and parents in contentious adoption proceedings.

Sam also undertakes private law children work and applications for injunctive relief under Part IV of the Family Law Act 1996.

Sam regularly delivers lectures to lawyers and childcare professionals in respect of developing issues in the field of family law.

“Sam is always trusted by clients.”

“Sam is calm, precise, erudite and always focused on getting the best result for the client.”

Chambers & Partners 2025

“Sam is a highly polished and thoughtful advocate who always has the ear of the court. His advocacy is second to none, and his case preparation is always meticulous and thorough. He is a highly effective and robust cross-examiner.”

Legal 500 2025

“A really good advocate, who’s very well prepared and has a calm manner in court. His confidence, experience and understanding of the issues always shine through, such that the court has faith and trust in what he’s saying.”

“Always has the ear of the court because he’s fully conversant with his client’s case. He absolutely understands the legal principles and judges listen to him. He has this persuasiveness about him in court, which is amazing to see.”

“A real gentleman who speaks powerfully and is so intellectually able. He’s calm, super-bright and empathetic.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

‘Sam is a kind and thoughtful advocate who always prepares his cases to the highest standard. He is always completely in control of the evidence, no matter how complex. He is always calm and measured in his approach. His advocacy in court is excellent.’

Legal 500 2024

“He always gets to grips with his clients’ cases and puts them really well.”

“Sam Wallace is a very competent barrister who is easy to work with.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Sam is calm, realistic and straightforward and his advocacy is well paced, delivered and persuasive.”

Legal 500 2023

An experienced junior noted for his expert handling of complex children law cases involving serious non-accidental injuries. He is regularly instructed in matters concerning forced marriage, FGM, child death, fictitious illness, and allegations of abuse. His varied client list includes children, parents, and local authorities.

“His calm demeanour is invaluable in cases involving challenging personalities.”

“He is respectful of parent respondents and builds a good rapport with teenagers.”

“Sam is compassionate, focused and understated but effective in court.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“Sam’s calmness in a crisis is admirable, a very steadying hand and his legal brain is extremely agile and capable.”

Legal 500 2022

An experienced junior noted for his expert handling of complex children law cases involving serious non-accidental injuries. He is regularly instructed in matters concerning forced marriage, FGM, child death, fictitious illness and allegations of abuse. His varied client list includes children, parents and local authorities.

“He is like a swan in the way he glides through a case, proving as cool as a cucumber.”

“He is a pleasure to work with because he is dedicated, he responds to clients brilliantly and he works so hard.”

Chambers & Partners 2021

“Is an excellent barrister who is well prepared, persuasive and in the field of public law care proceedings has a deserved reputation for excellence. Local Authorities are very pleased when he represents them in cases involving the most serious allegations of abuse concerning children.”

Legal 500  2021

“An experienced junior, noted for his expert handling of complex children law cases involving serious non-accidental injuries. He is regularly instructed in matters concerning forced marriage and allegations of abuse and parental alienation. His varied client list includes children, parents and local authorities.”

“A very experienced advocate and a safe pair of hands.” “He is skilled and articulate.”

Chambers & Partners 2020

“A measured and thoughtful advocate who is calm under pressure, and presents things in a straight and fair way.”

Chambers & Partners 2015

LLB (Hons) Law, London School of Economics

Family Law Bar Association

PRIVACY POLICY FOR SAM WALLACE

 

Data Controller

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, London EC4Y 9BE and my registration number is Z9039704.

 

Data Collection

All of the information that I hold about you is provided to or gathered by us in the course of your case and/or proceedings.  I will tell you why I need the information and how I will use it.

 

Lawful Basis for processing your information

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires all organisations / individuals that process personal data to have a Lawful Basis for doing so. The Lawful Bases identified in the GDPR are:

·      Consent of the data subject
·      Performance of a contract with the data subject or to take steps to enter into a contract
·      Compliance with a legal obligation
·      To protect the vital interests of a data subject or another person
·      Performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
·      The legitimate interests of ourselves, or a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests, rights or freedoms of the data subject.

 

Examples of legitimate interests include:

  • Where the data subject is a client or in the service of the controller;
  • Transmission within a group of undertakings for internal administrative purposes;
  • Processing necessary to ensure network and information security, including preventing unauthorised access;
  • Processing for direct marketing purposes, or to prevent fraud; and
  • Reporting possible criminal acts or threats to public security.

 

My Lawful Basis is:

·      Your consent
·      To protect the vital interests of a data subject or another person
·      Compliance with a legal obligation

 

My Legitimate Interest is:

·      You are a client
·      The processing is necessary for administering justice
·      The processing is necessary in relation to legal proceedings, for obtaining legal advice, or otherwise for establishing, exercising or defending legal rights

I use your information to:

  • Provide legal advice and representation
  • Communicate with you about services, updates and events

 

I do not use automated decision-making in the processing of your personal data.

 

I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the GDPR. This includes:

 

Client data

  • Name;
  • Email;
  • Phone number;
  • Address;
  • Date of birth;
  • Location details;
  • Medical history and current medical health;
  • Criminal convictions;
  • Social work involvement;
  • Ethnic origin;
  • Religious background.

 

I may share your personal data with:

  • Instructing solicitors;
  • Pupil or mini pupil, under my training;
  • Opposing Counsel, for the purposes of resolving the case;
  • My Chambers management and staff who provide administrative services;
  • My regulator or legal advisors in the event of a dispute or other legal matter;
  • Law enforcement officials, government authorities, or other third parties to meet our legal obligations;
  • Any other party where I ask you and your consent to the sharing.

 

Transfers to third countries and international organisations

I store some of my case files on OneDrive  which is a cloud hosted environment based in the US.

OneDrive relies upon a variety of legal mechanisms for its international transfer of personal data from the EU to the United States. OneDrive is certified under the EU-US and Swiss US Privacy Shield Programs regarding the collection, use and retention of personal data and its transfer from the EU and Switzerland to the United States.

In addition to the Privacy Shield, OneDrive also provides strong contractual guarantees around the privacy of its services and relies on the EU Model Contract Clauses to cover its international transfers of data.

I am satisfied that such transferred data is fully protected and safeguarded as required by the General Data Protection Regulation.

 

Retention of data

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:

  • There is an unresolved issue, such as claim or dispute;
  • I am legally required to; or
  • There are overriding legitimate business interests, including but not limited to fraud prevention, protecting customers’ safety and security and any processing that is necessary in relation to legal proceedings, for obtaining legal advice, or otherwise for establishing, exercising or defending legal rights

 

Your Rights

The General Data Protection Regulation gives you specific rights around your personal data. For example, you have to be informed about 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 us to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, you can ask us to stop sending you direct mail, or emails, or in some circumstances ask us to stop processing your details. Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data you can seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred. You can find out more information from the ICO’s website http://ico.org.uk/for_the_public/personal_information and this is the organisation that you can complain to if you are unhappy with how I dealt with you.

 

 


 

Data Protection Policy available on request.