Sam is an experienced litigator and adviser on judicial review and regulatory matters involving both central and local government. Before joining Sharpe Pritchard, Sam gained extensive experience at a leading New Zealand firm, acting as a junior counsel in the Court of Appeal, High Court, and New Zealand’s largest inquiry, the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care.
Sam advises on public law, with a focus on energy, environmental, and climate change matters, and regularly handles cases involving judicial review and local government issues. He also supports clients through legislative changes and law reform.
In 2024, Legal 500 recognised Sam as a “key lawyer” for his contribution to high-profile cases and expertise in public law.
Sam is known for his careful, strategic approach and dedication to understanding his clients’ objectives from the outset. He has a reputation for delivering clear, practical advice in plain English and is highly valued by his clients for his pragmatic outlook and reliability.
31 January 2025
In a decision issued this month, the Court of Appeal in Natural England v Cooper[1] ruled that Natural England (“NE”) has the power (and standing) to obtain injunctions to secure compliance with regulations that govern the use of uncultivated land. The regulations concerned are the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2006 (SI…
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