Sam Robinson KC

Year of Call: 2002 | Year of Silk: 2021

Sam is a highly regarded silk. He is regularly instructed in murder, serious violence, complex conspiracy and fraud cases. He was appointed as a Recorder to the Crown Court in 2019.

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Sam has transitioned seamlessly into Silk, having been acquitted of 3 murders and a multi-handed fraud in his first year.

Sam believes the approach to any case involves hard work and meticulous preparation. He prides himself on knowing not only the strengths and weaknesses of his own case but in being equally well versed in that of his co-defendants. This makes him particularly effective in multi-handed ‘cut-throat defences’.

He sees the way through a case remarkably quickly. He knows where he needs to be in the defence case and ensures that each decision is taken to ensure that he gets there.

Sam is well known for his easy and engaging manner, allowing him to represent the most demanding clients effectively. He builds trust and rapport quickly with clients and their families.  

Sam is consistently asked for his opinion by Chambers and Legal 500 in ranking other barristers. However, he does not apply to be ranked himself. Sam would prefer you to judge him by his reputation, both with those who instruct him, those who have co-defended and prosecuted him and those whom he has represented. He would say that it speaks for itself.

Sam was appointed to sit as a recorder in the Crown Court in 2019.  

Criminal Defence

Overview

Sam is instructed regularly as leading counsel in cases with difficult defendants and particularly challenging defences. He is well regarded for his thorough and imaginative approach to both legal argument and tactics. 

He is well known for his excellent witness handling (both in cross-examination and evidence in chief) and his imaginative and persuasive closing speeches. He has an excellent rapport with lay clients and is often instructed as a result of him being requested by defendants who have observed him in court.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

Notable Cases - In Silk

R v E and other (2024) - Conspiracy to murder at the CCC. Press coverage in the Daily Mail.

R v K (2024) – Murder at Snaresbrook CC  

R v H and others (2024) – Multi-handed murder at CCC

R v L (2023) – Murder at Croydon CC

R v T-P (2023) – Murder at CCC

R v M (2023) – Murder at CCC

R v M and Others (2023) – Multi-handed murder at the CCC

R v T (2023) – Attempted Murder at Inner London CC

R v O (2022) – Murder at Inner London CC

R v R – (2022) - Multi-handed murder at Reading CC

R v P (2021) – Murder at Wood Green CC

R v G (2021) – Multi-handed murder Croydon CC

Notable Cases - As Junior Counsel

R v K (2020) – Murder at the Central Criminal Court 

R v B and another (2020) – Murder at Kingston Crown Court 

R v A and others (2019) – Leading counsel in conspiracy to supply class A at Blackfriars Crown Court 

R v S and others (2019) – Leading counsel in controlling prostitution, supply of class A and possession of weapons at Harrow Crown Court 

R v R and another (2018) - Murder at the Central Criminal Court

R v T and another (2018) - Murder at Central Criminal Court

R v M and Others (2017) - Leading counsel in conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at Manchester Crown Court

R v T and Others (2016) - Murder at the Central Criminal Court

R v E-S and Others (2016) - Murder at the Central Criminal Court

R v O and Others (2015) - Three counts of conspiracy to murder at the Central Criminal Court

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Financial Crime and Confiscation

Overview

Sam is increasingly instructed as leading counsel in ‘paper heavy’ serious and complex fraud cases. 

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
 

Notable Cases - In Silk

 

R v L and another (2022) – Fraud at Mold CC

R v S (2021) – Multi-handed Fraud at Southwark CC

Notable Cases - As Junior Counsel
 

R v S and others (2018) – Multi-million pound fraud at Southwark Crown Court 

R v G and Others  (2018) - Multi-million pound fraud at Kingston Crown Court

R v E and others (2017) - Leading counsel in multi-million pound 'boiler room' fraud at Southwark Crown Court

R v L and Others (2016) - Multi-million pound MTIC fraud at Inner London Crown Court

R v L and Others (2014) - Conspiracy to defraud at Blackfriars Crown Court

R v OT and Others (2014) - £1m defrauding of the Santander Bank at the Central Criminal Court

Contact Sam

Notable Cases & News

Garden Court Chambers revises policy on Stratford Magistrates' Court

23 May 2024

Garden Court Chambers statement on security searches at Stratford Magistrates' Court

8 May 2024

Sam Robinson KC and Helen Butcher secure acquittal for conspiracy to murder

Our Sam Robinson KC led Helen Butcher of the Garden Court Crime Team on behalf of the defendant, instructed by Keshina Bouri of Russell Cooke.

26 April 2024

Sam Robinson KC secures acquittal of murder and manslaughter at Croydon Court

Sam Robinson KC of the Garden Court Crime Team acted for the defendant, leading Tom Mayall of GT Stewart, instructed by Clare Dissington of GT Stewart.

3 November 2023

Sam Robinson KC secures acquittal in Haringey shooting

Sam Robinson KC of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team successfully represented the defendant.

30 March 2023

Sam Robinson KC secures acquittal in attempted murder case

Sam Robinson KC of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team acted successfully for the defendant.

30 March 2023

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North remember Ian Macdonald QC

Garden Court Chambers and Garden Court North were honoured to host a memorial event for Ian Macdonald QC 1939-2019 at Middle Temple Hall on Tuesday 7 February 2023.

17 February 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 2023

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500.

30 September 2022

Members of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team support escalating proposed CBA action to include days of action

17 June 2022

Stephanie Harrison QC, Chair and Joint Head of Garden Court Chambers, comments on the Nationality and Borders Bill receiving Royal Assent

29 April 2022

Garden Court Crime Team statement on no returns action

30 March 2022

Defendant found not guilty of murder at Wood Green Crown Court

Sam Robinson QC, of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team, led Jodie Hitchcock from 3 Temple Gardens. They were instructed by Helen Da Silva of Da Silva Solicitors.

20 December 2021

Garden Court secures number one rankings in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2022

21 October 2021

Garden Court Chambers Crime Team shortlisted for Crime Set of the Year by Chambers Bar Awards 2021

We are delighted to announce that the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team has been shortlisted by the Chambers Bar Awards 2021 for Crime Set of the Year.

27 August 2021

Anya Lewis and Sam Robinson of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team to be appointed Queen’s Counsel

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to announce that Anya Lewis and Sam Robinson of the Garden Court Chambers Criminal Defence Team will be formally appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2021.

17 December 2020

Defendant found not guilty of murder at Kingston Crown Court

James Scobie QC led Sam Robinson, both members of Garden Court Criminal Defence Team and were instructed by Vanessa Wiggins of Bark and Co Solicitors.

17 November 2020

Garden Court barristers secure collapse of murder trial against UK Grime star CBiz

Michael Ivers QC, Michael Turner QC, Martin Huseyin and Sam Robinson are all members of the Crime Team.

18 January 2017

Garden Court wins Legal 500 crime set of the year award

The winners in these awards are chosen by the Legal 500 as a result of thousands of interviews with firms, sets and counsel.

8 October 2015

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Background

Prior to joining Garden Court Chambers in October 2013, Sam practised at Tooks Chambers. Before being called to the Bar, Sam was a speech writer and regularly briefed and wrote speeches for a number of government ministers including Gordon Brown, John Prescott and David Blunkett.

Education

  • LLB (Hons)

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