Jonathan Sampson KC

Call: 1997 / Silk: 2020

'A lawyer with a great brain, who's brilliant on his feet. Judges hang on his every word as he's a persuasive man who fills one full of confidence.'
Chambers 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

Practice Areas

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.

Notable Public Law Children cases


R & C (Adoption or Fostering) [2024] EWCA Civ 1302

Appeal by local authority against refusal to make placement orders in respect of two young children.


Local Authority v A Mother [2024] EWHC 2680 (Fam)

Local Authority v A Mother [2024] EWHC 2680 (Fam) (23 July 2024): Application by local authority for declarations designed to keep adoption secret to protect Muslim Pakistani mother, the child having been born out of wedlock.


Re N (A Child) (Care Order: Welfare Evaluation) [2024] EWCA Civ 938

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.


W (A Child), In the Matter Of (Inflicted Injury - Delay) [2024] EWCA Civ 418

Appeal by mother against findings in care proceedings that she or the father had inflicted injuries to the child.


Re J (Care Plan for Adoption) [2024] EWCA Civ 265

Appeal by mother against a care order made in respect of her 9 month-old son.


Re AA (Re Children Act 1989) [2023] EWFC 278

Fact-finding hearing in care proceedings concerning a one year old child who had two broken ribs and a history of unexplained marks.


West Sussex County Council v MM & Ors [2023] EWFC 38

Fact-finding in care proceedings, concerning cause of injuries to younger of two children.


T (Fact-Finding: Second Appeal) [2023] EWCA Civ 475

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.


Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council v VW & Ors [2022] EWFC 83

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.


Re Y (A Minor) (No 2) (Brussels II Revised: Jurisdiction after Article 15 Transfer: Welfare) [2022] EWFC 69
A County Council v M [2021] EWFC 35

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.


Re J (A Child: Residential assessment) [2021] EWFC B18 (09 April 2021)

An appeal by a local authority against the case management decision of District Judge.


Re: GC (A Child) (WITHDRAWL OF ACRE PROCEEDINGS) [2020] EWCA Civ 848
Y & X (Children) [2020] EWFC 15, [2020] 4 WLR 47
CD (A Child : Re Hearing of Fact - Finding) [2018] EWHC 2670 (Fam)
Northamptonshire County Council v M & N [2018] EWFC 82
D (A Child), Re (Rev 1) [2017] EWHC 3075 (Fam)
ES (A Child), Re [2017] EWFC B67
D (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 196
M (Children), Re (No 2) [2015] EWHC 2933 (Fam)
N (A Child: Interim Care Order: Interim Removal) [2015] EWFC 40

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.

Notable Private Law Children cases


Father v Mother & Anor [2024] EWHC 2578 (Fam)

Appeal by father against refusal to order that child move from mother to him.


KD v AM & Ors [2018] EWFC 64 (Fam)

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.

Notable International Family Law cases


AA v BB & Ors [2022] EWHC 2322 (Fam) (12 July 2022)

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.

 

What the directories say

'A measured but forceful advocate, and a man with a very sharp mind. He is intellectually engaged at all times and particularly hot on cases with medical issues.' 'A totally approachable barrister, who goes the extra mile.'
Chambers UK Bar 2025

'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 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

Related News

Jonathan Sampson KC in N (A Child) (Care Order: Welfare Evaluation) [2024] EWCA Civ 938

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 in Re W (A Child) (Inflicted Injury – Delay) [2024] EWCA Civ 418

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…

Court of Appeal provides guidance on the application of s.31(3A-B) CA89 and primacy of the ACA 2002 welfare checklist in care proceedings where care plan is one of placement for adoption

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…

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