Member Article

Barrister at Kings Chambers becomes QC

A highly-respected Kings Chambers barrister Sam Karim has taken silk and become Queen’s Counsel.

Sam Karim QC was sworn-in by the Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss in Westminster Hall at The Palace of Westminster in February.

In a celebration known as the ‘Silk Ceremony’, Sam was among 113 successful applicants to receive silk. He is one of the youngest QC’s to be appointed on the Northern Circuit and in Chambers.

Sam, who was called to the Bar in 2002, is a specialist practitioner in domestic and international public law, court of protection and domestic and international arbitration.

Ranked as leading individual in the Legal 500 and regularly recommended as a leading junior by Chambers and Partners, he has gained his wealth of experience across all levels and types of courts.

Sam Karim QC said: ’‘Becoming Queen’s Counsel is the ultimate honour for any barrister. To be recommended by the Lord Chancellor and ultimately appointed by Her Majesty The Queen is a fantastic achievement. It is a privilege to have had my work recognised at this early stage of my career and I am incredibly proud to have taken silk in my fifteenth year of practise.’’

Bill Brown, chief clerk at Kings Chambers said: ’‘All of our members, clerks and staff are delighted for Sam. It’s been fantastic to watch him develop and hone his skills over the years.

’‘As one of the leading practitioners in the North, his composed and succinct approach coupled with his charisma and creativity shine through in all work that he does, and his ability to captivate a courtroom is undeniable. I have no doubt that Sam has a long and successful future ahead of him.’’

Before taking silk, Sam Karim QC represented central government for more than ten years as part of his membership of the Attorney General Panel of Treasury Council and has been involved in many high-profile cases throughout his career.

Most recently, he successfully resisted an appeal from the Secretary of State for Justice in Secretary of State for Justice v Staffordshire County Council & Anor. This was a landmark case involving the victim of a road traffic accident who suffered severe injuries which affected his ability to make decisions about the care he would receive. The court ruled that, without a welfare order, the State was indirectly responsible for private deprivations of liberty.

To add to his achievements, Sam was appointed as UK Advisor by the Asia Foundation on development of Administrative Reconsideration Law in China.

He recently delivered a keynote speech at the International Symposium on Administrative Reconsideration about the development of administrative law in England and Wales, and the overlapping area of administrative reconsideration.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alexandra Murdey .