Clerked by: Stephen Loxton Paul Clarke
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Sheikh Mohammed Samiul Karim KC (Sam Karim KC) is dynamic silk who is regarded as a leading practitioner by legal commentators who say that, “When he is on his feet in a courtroom, he is simply captivating.", he is “an outstanding advocate….and one of the leading practitioners”, and that he remains “remarkably calm and in control, he never gets fazed by the complexities of a case”. It is also said that "… His academic understanding of subject matter litigation is incredible.".
He is specialist areas are four-fold:
(a) Domestic and international commercial arbitration in which he acts as counsel and sits as panel or sole arbitrator;
(b) Procurement;
(c) Judicial Review and Human Rights / Civil Liberties; and
(d) Court of Protection
Sam is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and is admitted as a practitioner in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Court.
Year of Call: 2002Year of Silk: 2017
Sam Karim QC is the head of the Administrative Law & Local Government Team at Kings Chambers.
Sam has been consistently recommended in this area as a leading specialist, and had been a member of the Attorney General Panel of Regional Counsel representing central government for almost a decade in cases of significance.
He is a well-known author in this field: (1) 'public law online', and online based legal knowledge database, (2) a book 'Judicial Review: Law & Practice', which is currently in its second edition and the co-author being the late Mrs Justice Patterson, and (3) the chapter on judicial review in Bullen & Leake & Jacob's Precedents of Pleadings.
His experience includes:
(a) Commercial disputes arising from performance of government contracts such as benchmarking,
(b) Market testing and performance issues,
(c) Concessions and part B contracts,
(d) Health service procurement, and outside the EU,
(e) Project finance and PFI/PPP matters,
(f) Regeneration schemes, procurement by EU institutions, and
(g) State aid and procurement and utilities procurement.
Sam is a specialist lawyer in domestic and international commercial arbitration. He acts as counsel and sits as a panel or sole arbitrator. He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and is admitted as a practitioner in the Dubai International Finance Centre Court and the Abu Dhabi Global Markets. He is fully conversant in arbitrations under the AAA, Court of Arbitration for Sport, HKIAC, SIAC, ICC, LCIA, ARIAS, UNCITRAL and ICSID, as well as ad hoc arbitrations pursuant to the Arbitration Act 1996, particularly in the Middle East and Brazil.
Specific areas of Sam’s work includes: (1) Investment Arbitration, (2) Energy Charter, (3) Treaty Arbitration, (4) WTO Arbitration, (5) Construction & Engineering, (6) Energy & Natural Resources, (7) Oil & Gas, Mining, (8) IT & IP, (9) Shipping, (10) Law of the Sea, (11) International Trade, Trade Finance, and (12) Islamic finance.
His expertise is demonstrated and recognised by his invitations to speak at leading global conferences, a few examples include:
Sam is also an author in this area, some examples include:
Sam is the head of the Court of Protection team at Kings Chambers. He has been a specialist in this area since the advent of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and has been at the forefront of developing case law in this jurisdiction since the implementation of the Act, for instance:
As a silk, his practice covers:
(a) All types of disputes regarding the social welfare of incapacitated adults and children and medical treatment issues, and is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, families of patients, CCG’s, local authorities and private care providers.
(b) Urgent applications for life saving medical treatment, non-urgent medical treatment, “end of life” withdrawal of medical treatment, treatment of suicidal patients (including emergency treatment following overdose) and advanced directives, and
(c) Property and affairs. He has extensive in appearing on contested applications for deputyships and on issues arising during deputyship and for registration of lasting powers of attorney (LPAs) and enduring powers of attorney (EPAs), and advising on issues arising for attorneys and in relation to disputed statutory will. His experience also includes advising and appearing in cases relating to the overlap of the Court of Protection and personal injury proceedings.
Sam undertakes urgent advice and representation on applications including declarations on an emergency basis. Please contact his Clerks.
Significant reported cases include:
His is also published in this area, a precise includes: (a) End of life Decisions in ‘Tolley’s Finance and Law for the Older Client’, and (b) 'A human rights perspective on reducing restrictive practices in intellectual disability and autism' (BILD).
Sam Karim QC is the head of the Administrative Law & Local Government Team at Kings Chambers. He is a specialist in coronial law.
He is regularly instructed in inquests and inquiries for, individual interested persons, for public/corporate bodies, and families His experience includes. ‘Article 2’ inquests following deaths in prison, after police contact or in psychiatric detention. Sam has experience of inquests following death in custody, in a health setting, in the work place, in a holiday or leisure setting and transport -related deaths. His recent experience includes a high-profile case involving a man who had committed suicide following significant failures in his psychiatric care, and a patient who died in hospital in which a finding of neglect was made.
In HM Coroner County Durham & Darlington [2014] EWHC 3688 (Admin), Sam successfully made an application by Mr Andrew Tweddle (Senior Coroner for the Coroner area of County Durham Darlington) with the fiat of the Attorney‑General. The question was whether the existence of new information should result in the matter being remitted.
Sam has also advised on:
(a) The adequacy of assessments and care plans for the provision of residential care,
(b) Good practice in the provision of services to vulnerable adults and children in a residential setting,
(c) Health issues in residential care homes, and
(d) Demarcation of responsibilities between local authorities, health care providers and other service providers.
He is also routinely instructed to advise upon and act in public inquiries, in particular inquiries arising from catastrophic health and safety failures in public bodies that have resulted in fatalities and serious injuries.
Sam is a specialist in coronial law.
He is regularly instructed in inquests and inquiries for, individual interested persons, for public/corporate bodies, and families. His experience includes. ‘Article 2’ inquests following deaths in prison, after police contact or in psychiatric detention. Sam has experience of inquests following death in custody, in a health setting, in the work place, in a holiday or leisure setting and transport -related deaths. His recent experience includes a high-profile case involving a man who had committed suicide following significant failures in his psychiatric care, and a patient who died in hospital in which a finding of neglect was made.
Sam is the head of the Administrative Law & Local Government Team at Kings Chambers. He has been consistently recommended in this area as a leading specialist and had been a member of the Attorney General Panel of Regional Counsel representing central government for almost a decade in cases of significance. Sam has been recognised as the “driving force behind the development of administrative law” in the regions.
He is a well-known author in this field, a sample of his publications include: (1) 'public law online', and online based legal knowledge database, (2) Patterson & Karim (3rd Edition) 'Judicial Review: Law & Practice', and (3) the chapter on judicial review in Bullen & Leake & Jacob's Precedents of Pleadings.
Sam is also the administrator and founding member of the Public Law Pro Bono Scheme, which provides free legal advice on public law matters, including representation at renewal hearings at the Administrative Court in Manchester.
As a silk his specialist practice includes:
(a) Commercial judicial review and public procurement. His experience includes:
(b) Regulatory and disciplinary. He has experience in:
(c) Employment: advising local government on disciplinary and employment law compliance issues and Equality Act duties. Sam has provided advice on the implementation and proper conduct of disciplinary and capability procedures in relation to senior managers in local government and advised on the lawfulness and application of voluntary severance and early retirement provisions to senior management team members in local government.
(d) Data protection, freedom of information, human rights issues, privacy and breach of confidence. Sam has advised a wide range of public sector and commercial organisations regarding their use of personal information, and relating the implications of sharing confidential personal sensitive information with other public authorities for the prevention of crime and fraud. He has experience of RIPA at the First-Tier Tribunal, and in appeals from that Tribunal, and also appearing in the county court in proceedings under the DPA 1998 for public and private sector data controllers. Sam was recently a keynote speaker on Data Protection Compliance for the European Fraud Network in Brussels.
(e) Immigration, nationality and prison. His extensive experience derives from representing central government for a decade in this in cases of significance (see below).
(f) Community care and health care law. Sam has also advised on: (1) The adequacy of assessments and care plans for the provision of residential care, (2) Good practice in the provision of services to vulnerable adults and children in a residential setting, (3) Health issues in residential care homes, and (4) Demarcation of responsibilities between local authorities, health care providers and other service providers.
Sam is able to deal with all aspects of licensing work including: premises licences (for sale of alcohol and entertainment), betting shops and bookmakers, gaming (bingo and casinos), street trading, gangmasters, taxis and environmental waste.
Sam recently successfully obtained injunctive proceedings regarding unauthorised traveller encampments on land owned by a Council. Arguments were raised in respect of an alleged unlawful interference of Articles 8 and 14.
He was also involved in the only case involving the Gangmasters Licencing Authority in the Administrative Court, A Company v. Gangmasters Licencing Authority [2014] EWHC 4910 (Admin) where he successfully sought interim relief to reinstate a licence following revocation pending a determination by an Appointed Person.
“he knows his stuff when it comes to judicial review – [one person said] I wish he was a worse opponent."
(Chambers and Partners, 2016)
“... a seasoned hand at representing both claimants and defendants in judicial review proceedings….”.
(Chambers and Partners, 2015)
“[he]... has an excellent public law practice that involves handling judicial reviews for central government and other defendants in the areas of community care and human rights generally.”
“was... a driving force behind the development of administrative law in the North West generally”.
(Chambers and Partners, 2013)
He is a well-known author in this field: (1) 'public law online', and online based legal knowledge database, (2) a book 'Judicial Review: Law & Practice', which is currently in its second edition and the co-author being Mrs Justice Patterson, and (3) the chapter on judicial review in Bullen & Leake & Jacob's Precedents of Pleadings.
i. Commercial disputes arising from performance of government contracts such as benchmarking,
ii. Market testing and performance issues,
iii. Concessions and part B contracts,
iv. Health service procurement, and outside the EU,
v. Project finance and PFI/PPP matters, R
vi. Regeneration schemes, P
vii. rocurement by EU institutions,
viii. State aid and procurement and
ix. Utilities procurement,
i. Professional Disciplinary Hearings, e.g. relating to accountants, solicitors, healthcare professionals (GMC and GDC) and police officers,
ii. Breaches of planning regulations, fly tipping, Medicines Act breaches, trading standards, food standards and environmental offences,
iii. Care Standards Tribunal,
iv. Immigration Services Tribunal,
v. General Social Care Council,
vi. Represented former Primary Care Trusts in hearings before the Family Health Services Appeal Unit (FHSAU), and
vii. Civil penalty regimes, such as the regime for employing illegal migrant workers
(f) Community care and health care law.
Sam has specific expertise in public procurement and State Aid having been involved in Lancashire County Council [2018] EWHC 200 (TCC).
His specialist practice includes:
Sam is a procurement specialist being ideally placed with expertise in public and commercial laws. He specialises in:
Recent cases also include:
Sam is also the author of commercial judicial review & procurement law in the 3rd Edition of Patterson & Karim on Judicial Review: Law & Practice.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA)
Northern Administrative Law Association (NALA), Acting Chair
Founding member and Chair of the Kings Community Care and Disability Rights Association
(1) 'Public law online', and online based legal knowledge database,
(2) 'Judicial Review: Law & Practice', which is currently in its second edition and the co-author being the late Mrs Justice Patterson (Jordans)
(3) Bullen & Leake & Jacob's Precedents of Pleadings, and
(4) 'A human rights perspective on reducing restrictive practices in intellectual disability and autism',
LLB (Hons), LLM (Lond.), PG Dip Law, MCIArb (Intl. Arbitration)
"Sam is a very accomplished advocate."
"Sam is an absolute genius at cross-examination. He immediately brings a calmness to proceedings."
"He is outstanding; fantastic with clients, easily accessible and highly knowledgeable."
"Sam is a smooth operator."
(Chambers UK 2023)
Sam is calm under pressure, very sharp intellectually and is able to quickly analyse issues. He is not afraid to deal with difficult issues.'
‘Sam is an incredibly diligent barrister with a real skill in getting to the crux of the issues in the case swiftly. As an advocate, he is concise, pragmatic and focused in his drafting and as a result has no need to deliver his clear and succinct submissions forcefully or aggressively to aid persuasion. Sam is equally skilled at identifying legal arguments that require adjudication of the court.’
'An outstanding advocate. He has a wonderful bedside manner and is very reassuring to clients.'
(Legal 500 2023)
"A pleasure to be against. He never loses his calm and is trusted by the judges in the Court of Protection." "He has a well-deserved reputation for acting in high-profile and interesting cases."
(Chambers UK 2022)
"Sam is an incredibly diligent barrister with a real skill in getting to the crux of the issues in the case swiftly. As an advocate he is concise, pragmatic and focused in his drafting and as a result has no need to deliver his clear and succinct submissions forcefully or aggressively to aid persuasion. Sam is equally skilled at identifying legal arguments that require adjudication of the court."
(Legal 500 2022)
"He's a very good advocate who makes very focused submissions."
(Chambers UK 2021)
"His advice is always very thorough and his advocacy is very effective." "His softly-spoken manner makes him ideal for dealing with vulnerable clients, and belies a razor-sharp advocacy which is effective and persuasive. He sees the issues with a clarity that compares with few others and is a pleasure to work with." "Excellent on his feet, very knowledgeable and approachable."
"He is a very polished, attractive advocate." "He is calm, methodical and committed to delivering the best result for those instructing him." "He has a good client manner and excellent subject matter knowledge. He is also a quick thinker on his feet."
"He is an articulate, persuasive advocate and has the ability to charm litigation friends."
(Legal 500, 2020)
"Excellent client manner and ability to explain often complex legal points in client friendly terms. Responsive and able to turn work around quickly when needed. Quick thinking, particularly when on feet in Court."
"Has in-depth knowledge in Court of Protection, and is very efficient and proactive in his approach."
"Proactive and knowledgeable."
"An extremely able advocate who can think on his feet."
"His advocacy is clear, concise, accurate and calm under pressure. He's very punctual as well."
"He's unflappable and very good at dealing with people." "He's very dedicated, researches his cases very thoroughly and really gets to grips with the main issues. He's a pleasure to work with." "He's knowledgeable, articulate in court and a very safe pair of hands."
(Chambers & Partners, 2020)
"Sam is an outstanding advocate. He is a pleasure to work with. He is always on hand at the drop of a hat to discuss a case, and he has an ability to put lay clients completely at ease even when dealing with difficult medical decisions."
"He understands the technical points of public law really well." "He is diligent and straight-dealing."
"He has a real breadth of knowledge. He is a measured and careful advocate." "He has a good knowledge of the law and is well-prepared. His submissions are underpinned by a knowledge of the law."
(Chambers & Partners, 2018)
‘An outstanding advocate.’
(Legal 500, 2018)
‘An outstanding advocate, who makes lay clients feel completely at ease.’
"Accomplished new silk”
(Chambers & Partners, 2017)
“When he is on his feet in a courtroom, he is simply captivating."
(Legal 500, 2016)
"He's excellent, and used by all parties - he's very academic in his thought processes." (Chambers and Partners, 2016)
"… His academic understanding of subject matter litigation is incredible."
"He is one of the leading practitioners in the North"
"He is innovative in the way he approaches cases and creative in the way he deals with matters..."
"He's a very skilful advocate who is always remarkably calm and in control, he never gets fazed by the complexities of a case… He puts his points across succinctly and never wavers."
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Stephen Loxton
Paul Clarke
Sam Karim KC involved in ground-breaking case where closed proceedings are used for authorising covert medication
Sam Karim QC instructed in Judicial Review of the Government’s 'no jab, no job’ policy
We are delighted to announce that Sam Karim QC was recently appointed Master of the Bench at Gray’s Inn. We congratulate Sam on this achievement.
What? A Nuisance?
Liverpool Law Society: 2023 Costs Conference (online)
Neurodiversity in the workplace and the Employment Tribunal
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