Sam Wysocki

Family, Criminal and Civil Barrister

Year of Call
2020

sam.wysocki@walnuthouse.co.uk

Sam joined Walnut House as a pupil under the supervision of Hugh Cornford in 2020 and was made a tenant at Walnut House in October 2021. Sam is developing a diverse and varied practice. He prides himself on being approachable with clients and offering pragmatic advice. Prior to commencing pupillage, Sam worked as a paralegal in the family department of a regional law firm.

Family Law

Overview

Public

Sam acts for local authorities, parents and guardians in care proceedings. He has appeared in interim and final hearings, in matters involving the instruction of experts and secure accommodation/ DOLS.

Private

Sam represents all parties in private children disputes. He identifies and focuses on the key issues in the case, whilst remaining sensitive to the feelings of the lay client. He is respectable with opponents and litigants in person alike.

Domestic abuse

Sam frequently acts for the applicant in non-molestation and occupation order proceedings. His priority is ensuring the applicant’s, and any relevant children’s safety is guaranteed and the client leaves the court feeling secure in their situation.

Financial

Sam accepts instructions in all matters concerning divorce and the division of assets. Acknowledging that divorce and the division of assets can be one of the most emotionally draining things families go through, he brings a collaborative and pragmatic approach to resolving disputes. Sam has advised professional clients on matters concerning orders for sale of the family home, breach and enforcement of court orders and applications to vary.

Re W: Representing parent in contested final hearing seeking order for no contact, change of surname, restriction of PR and section 91(14) order against other party. Order for no contact, restriction on PR and change of surname made.

Re G: Representing Mother who opposed Father’s application for 50/50 split to contact arrangements, arguing it would be detrimental to children’s education. Court ruled in favour of Mother’s position.

Re F: Representing applicant at NMO final hearing. Following almost one year of compliance with the non-molestation order, the parties agreed undertakings in the same terms enabling both parties to move forward in a safe way.

Re F: Representing parent at IRH and Final hearing in complex care proceedings involving placement in a secure unit and experts.

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Criminal Law

Overview

Prosecuting

Sam is a Level 1 CPS prosecutor. He frequently appears on behalf of the CPS in the Crown Court. As well as appearing for the CPS in the magistrates’ court lists, Sam has been instructed to prosecute more complex trials in the magistrates court.

Defending

Sam represents Defendants in the magistrates’ courts and Crown Court across the South West. He strives to offer realistic advice whilst securing pragmatic outcomes for the client.

Motoring offences

Sam frequently represents Defendants charged with motoring offences and facing disqualification. Sam remains in communication with his instructing solicitors throughout and offers a personal service to the lay client, helping them to feel at ease in what is often a wholly unfamiliar situation.

R v S – Prosecuted a Fraud sentence, involving fraud in the value of £62,000 from the defendant’s employer. Sam spoke with the complainant’s representatives personally before and after each court hearing to take instructions and to explain the results.

R v S and T – Prosecuted a multi-defendant two-day, part-heard trial in the magistrates’ court. Sam secured convictions against both defendants.

R v G – Prosecuted a two day magistrates court trial involving the cross examination of an expert. The Defendant was convicted of all charges.

R v P – Represented a Defendant who had a significant role in a county lines operation. Medical evidence was obtained which proved that the Defendant was especially vulnerable and Sam secured the Defendant a suspended sentence.

R v S – Represented a Defendant who had pleaded guilty to s.20 GBH alongside a co-defendant. Represented the Defendant on a 1 day newton hearing before securing a suspended sentence.

R v H – Represented a Defendant facing 21 points on his licence. Sam successfully argued exceptional hardship and the Defendant was allowed to keep his licence with 21 points.

R v M – Represented a Defendant facing a charge of driving whilst unfit through drink. Successfully persuaded the prosecution to accept a plea to the lesser charge of careless driving meaning the Defendant kept his licence.

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Civil Law

Overview

Quasi-Criminal (police applications)

Sam regularly represents the police in all matters including: dog control orders, closure orders, anti-social behaviour orders and injunctions, sexual risk orders and sexual harm prevention orders, as well as matters of disclosure in family proceedings.

Sam provides realistic advice on the strengths and weaknesses of each case and suggests ways in which the case against the Respondent can be strengthened. Sam also drafts documents to assist the police. He is also regularly instructed to review matters of legal privilege and advises the police accordingly.

Dog Control Orders

Sam has a particular interest in the relatively unknown and ancient Dog Control Act 1871.

Sam accepts instructions to represent the police and dog owners in applications for dog control orders. This is a particular area of interest for Sam, who understands that these proceedings can be highly stressful and alien for the owners involved.

Money claims

Sam receives instructions to act in claims involving personal injury. Sam also acts on behalf of claimants and defendants in credit hire claims.

Police v I – represented police in application for Dog Destruction Order. Sam appeared at multiple hearings and secured a DDO and an order disqualifying the owner from keeping dogs in the future.

Police v B – represented police in long-running dispute pertaining to anti-social and nuisance relating to a nearby town centre. The application was ultimately successful and an injunction was secured excluding the respondent from entering the town centre.

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Civil Law team members

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Mark Treneer

Year Of Call : 1987

The main focus is in ancillary relief (financial remedies) for husbands, wives and children, especially where there are trust and/or business assets and farms. Mark cuts through volume of paper to the core and critical issues and is focussed and blunt with his clients and the Court alike.

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Hugh Cornford

Year Of Call : 1994

Hugh has extensive experience acting for Local Authorities, parents, grandparents, Guardians and proposed special guardians in care proceedings, including representing young and vulnerable parents, clients with learning difficulties and clients with chronic health conditions.

hugh.cornford@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Lara Spencer

Year Of Call : 2000

Lara has represented both Claimants and Defendants in a variety of matters for over 20 years. She has a wide general civil litigation practice, and has given numerous Continuing Professional Development talks and seminars. She is certified to conduct all aspects of litigation, and therefore is certified to carry out all the legal work that not only barristers do, but also those legal activities usually reserved to solicitors.

lara.spencer@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Emma Smith

Year Of Call : 2005

Emma is a practitioner who accepts instructions in both civil and family law. Personable and approachable to clients, Emma has a practical and down-to-earth style both in conference and in court.

emma.smith@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Felicity Payne

Year Of Call : 2010

Felicity is a common law barrister with an established and varied practice in all aspects of criminal and civil law. Felicity is thorough, practical and robust in her approach, whilst remaining personable.

felicity.payne@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Laura Searle

Year Of Call : 2011

Laura is a family barrister with a busy and varied practice acting and advising in public and private law proceedings, applications for injunctive relief and financial remedy proceedings. She is a personable and approachable advocate who prides herself on going the extra mile for her clients. She has studied and worked internationally in France, Brussels, Luxembourg and New Zealand and is a Denning and Eastham Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn

laura.searle@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Evie Dean

Year Of Call : 2019

Evie accepts instructions in both criminal and family law. She regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts where she prosecutes and defends in all stages of proceedings. She also acts for parents in both private and care proceedings from application stage through to contested interim and final hearings.

Since joining Walnut House after successfully completing a twelve-month pupillage in chambers, Evie has continued to enjoy a busy and varied practice. She has been complimented on her pragmatic and personable manner with her clients.

evie.dean@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Sam Wysocki

Year Of Call : 2020

sam.wysocki@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Zoe Kuyken

Year Of Call : 2021

Zoe joined Walnut House in 2021 as a pupil under the supervision of Laura Searle. Prior to pupillage, she worked as a paralegal at a boutique agricultural law firm. During her BPTC, she volunteered as an Appropriate Adult, supporting children in police station interviews, and at Support Through Court, assisting litigants in person with the court process. She has also completed internships assisting a children’s charity with their policy documents, and in the privacy department of an international firm.

zoe.kuyken@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Mark Treneer (1987)
Hugh Cornford (1994)
Lara Spencer (2000)
Emma Smith (2005)
Felicity Payne (2010)
Laura Searle (2011)
Evie Dean (2019)
Sam Wysocki (2020)
Zoe Kuyken (2021)