Sam Barker
YEAR OF CALL 2014
Shortlisted for Crime and Extradition Junior of the Year in the 2025 Legal 500 Awards
‘Sam is an exceptional advocate for his call. He combines excellent knowledge with common sense practical application.’ The Legal 500 2025
Sam Barker prosecutes and defends in the most serious criminal cases. He is regularly instructed in homicide, serious organised crime, and cases of significant legal and factual complexity. He is known for his composure in court, exceptional cross-examination, and mastery of technical case preparation.
Sam frequently appears as leading counsel in serious violence and organised crime. Recent instructions as leading counsel for the prosecution include a gangland attempted murder with anonymous witnesses, the attempted murder of a police officer, misconduct in public office, and several massive-scale drugs conspiracies arising from investigations conducted by specialist police units.
As a junior alone, Sam’s recent cases have included homicides, attempted murder, cases of kidnap and torture, firearms offences, child abuse, rape and sexual assaults, major public disorder, ‘county lines’ drugs conspiracies, gang stabbings, counterfeiting, arson with intent to endanger life, and armed robberies.
As a busy and popular led junior, Sam is regularly led in cases of murder, and is trusted by leaders, judges, and opponents alike to handle significant aspects of the trial.
Sam has a particular expertise in multi-expert cases involving non-accidental head injury to infants, having been instructed in many cases as a led junior, junior alone, and leading junior.
Sam has also provided advice at various stages of criminal and quasi-criminal matters to corporations, private individuals, and political organisations on a wide variety of legal issues. He is calm and reliable in situations of the utmost sensitivity. He is trusted by CPS Complex Casework Units and Organised Crime Divisions to handle highly sensitive, high-volume litigation, often involving covert policing and investigative methods, undercover operations, complex digital evidence, and cases involving multiple anonymous witnesses, and to advise in these cases at early stages. Current advisory work includes cases of Bribery and Corruption and Misconduct in Public Office, child abuse, large-scale mistreatment of care patients, and several drugs operations.
MEMBERSHIPS
CPS Advocate Panel Member, Level 4
Serious Crime Group Specialist Panel Member, Level 4 Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Specialist Panel Member Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law, Panel B
Registered Pupil Supervisor
Direct Access Qualified Member of the Western and South Eastern Circuit
EDUCATION
BA (Hons), Law; Worcester College, University of Oxford
Worcester College Exhibitioner in Law
‘Sam is an excellent lawyer and a naturally gifted advocate.’ The Legal 500 2024