Withers

Family

Partner

She has over 20 years’ experience in litigation and uses her commercial litigation experience to provide a unique perspective to family law cases. Samantha has an established team and a particular interest in the law concerning prenuptial agreements, an evolving area in Hong Kong both in law and procedurally. She has acted for a number of high-net-worth individuals in divorce proceedings where she has sought on their behalf an order in terms of pre-nuptial agreements signed by the parties.

Samantha is currently the Chair of the Hong Kong Family Law Association (‘HKFLA’) and has recently been appointed by the Chief Justice as a Practising Solicitor Member of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal Panel. She was previously the Honorary Secretary of the HKFLA from 2016 to 2018.

Samantha has worked on a number of cases where she had to advise on multi-jurisdictional corporate issues, which has meant advising on international trust structures involving the jurisdictions of Cayman, the BVI or Jersey. With her commercial litigation experience she is able to obtain worldwide injunctive relief if required.

Although Samantha is a tenacious litigator, she is a strong advocate for mediation. She assists a number of parties through the mediation process in order to avoid contested proceedings and often attends mediation sessions for complicated legal issues in an effort to reach amicable solutions.

Samantha has brought a number of cases to a successful conclusion at the Financial Dispute Resolution stage. She also advises on children issues and attends Children’s Dispute Resolution hearings. At times, she has to deal with acrimonious and highly contentious cases where no issues can be agreed upon.

Prior to moving to Hong Kong, Samantha worked as a solicitor for the Metropolitan Police Service. She was solely responsible for an action that was to be the largest jury trial ever to be held in a County Court in London. She was awarded a police Commendation for her legal advice and case management skills in handling that action. Whilst with the Metropolitan Police she had a special role within the department dealing with children and wardship issues.

 

English

Hong Kong Family Law Association, Chair (Present)Hong Kong Family Law Association, Honorary Secretary (2016 - 2018)Hong Kong Collaborative Practice GroupInternational Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (HK network)Mentor on the TWF Mentoring Programme for Women Leaders 2015-2016Prosecution Panel for Disciplinary Tribunal Proceedings for the Hong Kong Law Society

College of Law, 1996Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, 1995