Our work covers all areas of family law, with particular expertise in the following areas:
Call: 1997 / Silk: 2020
'Jonathan is an exceptional advocate. He is sharp-minded with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and procedure. He has the ability to grasp the facts quickly and process them, enabling him to command respect from both judges and clients alike.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
Jonathan is widely recognised as one of the leading advocates at the Family Law Bar. With over twenty years of experience in children and financial work he is known for his intellectual rigour, clarity of his advocacy and approachable manner, he has been consistently ranked for many years in both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK.
Jonathan has appeared in numerous reported appeal and first-instance cases. His ability to assimilate complex facts and to marshal arguments under pressure and his determination to pursue his clients’ cases are hallmarks of his approach to the intellectual and emotional demands of this area of litigation.
To instruct Jonathan or for more information…
Call: 020 7353 6961
Email: clerks@harcourtchambers.co.uk
Jonathan specialises in cases involving serious injuries, child death and litigation involving abuse overlapping with criminal investigations and proceedings. Jonathan has extensive experience of successfully challenging medical expert evidence through cross-examination. He is known for his meticulous preparation and breadth of knowledge in the field. He has lectured with leading medical experts and provided advice to New Scotland Yard on investigation of child death cases. He is also regularly instructed as a single joint expert in public law cases withan international dimension as well as advising and appearing on judicial review and Human Rights Act claims overlapping with public law proceedings.
Local Authority, supported by the mother and the Guardian, appealed a care order which provided that a child, currently living in foster care in England, should move to live with his father in Italy.
Appeal by mother against findings in care proceedings that she or the father had inflicted injuries to the child.
Appeal by mother against a care order made in respect of her 9 month-old son.
Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings concerning a one year old child who had two broken ribs and a history of unexplained marks.
Fact-finding in care proceedings, concerning cause of injuries to younger of two children.
Second appeal by LA from decision by circuit judge allowing an appeal against findings made by a deputy district judge in care proceedings involving 4 children.
Represented local authority in care proceedings. Judgment considering which threshold issues remained in dispute and whether they should be litigated at a final, contested hearing.
Order of Judd J authorising a local authority to proceed with an adoption favoured by the parents without first assessing the paternal grandmother as a potential carer.
An appeal by a local authority against the case management decision of District Judge.
Jonathan’s private law work covers the spectrum of private law work, from those involving intractable disputes between parties to those where international or internal relocation is the key issue. A tenacious negotiator and advocate, Jonathan combines this with a sympathetic and accessible manner with clients, earning him repeat instructions for many years from leading firms where the complexity of the issues has resulted in lengthy litigation. His approach to this work ensures that he is on hand to assist in steering the approach to litigation out of court as well as at contested hearings.
Jonathan regularly appears in the High Court in wardship and abduction cases, as well as those involving recognition and enforcement of orders across borders. He has lectured in, and regularly receives instruction as a joint expert on international issues within care proceedings.
An application under the Hague Convention 1980.
Jonathan’s experience in this field over two decades has led to a specialism in high net-worth cases, particularly those involving substantial company assets, complex pension arrangements, offshore finances and family trusts. He has substantial experience in a range of ancillary issues, including contested issues over non-matrimonial assets, applications to set aside, and international enforcement of orders.
‘Jonathan is a fantastic advocate who provides great support to solicitors when dealing with difficult or unusual issues.’
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2025
"Excellent with evidence and in cross-examination, he has great presence in court."
Chambers UK Bar 2024
"His mind is like a top-grade, super computer and his knowledge is encyclopaedic; you can't help but be amazed at his ability to pull arcane but helpful points from the labyrinthine annals of the law."
"Jonathan Sampson is brilliant with difficult clients and has exceptional knowledge and skill."
"A very good advocate, he's someone who asks the right questions in court and works out how to put his client's case in the best possible way."
"Excellent with evidence and in cross-examination, he has great presence in court."
"Clever, strategic and someone with strong cross-examination skills."
Chambers UK Bar 2024
'Jonathan is one of the most intelligent advocates. His grasp of expert evidence, in particular, is extremely impressive.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
'Jonathan is assiduous in his preparation and has a great eye for detail.'
The Legal 500 UK Bar 2024
“He's clever, he knows his papers and he has an eye for the technical detail in a case.”
Chambers UK Bar 2023
Jonathan Sampson KC, instructed by Hogans Solicitors, led Natasha Johnson, 7 Harrington Street Chambers, in N (A Child) (Care Order: Welfare Evaluation) [2024] EWCA Civ 938; an appeal by a local…
Jonathan Sampson KC, instructed by Waldrons Solicitors, led Kristina Brown of No5 Barristers Chambers in Re W (A Child) (Inflicted Injury – Delay) [2024] EWCA Civ 418; an appeal by the…
In Re J (Care Plan for Adoption) [2024] EWCA Civ 265 Jonathan Sampson KC, leading Vicky Reynolds, was instructed by Shazia Rana of Duncan Lewis Solicitors for the Appellant mother…