Samuel was educated at Oxford University and began work as a barrister in 2007. He prosecutes and defends in the most serious and complex criminal cases.

Samuel’s recent caseload involves murder, terrorism and high-value, international fraud.

Samuel has expertise prosecuting and defending in corruption cases, and cybercrime.

Samuel retains a niche practice advising commercial firms on civil/criminal crossover cases.

Samuel advises on complex and unusual areas of criminal and regulatory law. He also provides training in these areas. He has advised the Revenue and the police on matters relating to independent counsel, disclosure and search warrants. Samuel acts for Trading Standards departments and advised Birmingham City Council on its powers under the criminal law to prevent the spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. He has also advised national government about criminal infringements of medicines law.

CPS Panel appointments

General Crime Level 4
RASSO Level 4
Serious Crime Level 3
Fraud Level 3

Key cases & testimonials

R v Mills – murder – Samuel Skinner, leading Matthew Rowcliffe, instructed by CPS East Midlands, prosecuted the murder trial of R v Mills at Leicester Crown Court. The defendant stabbed his victim to death on the street following an argument. After a 3-week trial, the jury unanimously convicted the defendant of murder and he received a life sentence. Click here.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-64516029

Operation Tinge – conspiracies to steal and rob – Samuel Skinner, instructed by CPS CCU East Midlands, prosecuted the Portland Tiara heist case – the theft of a priceless national treasure from the Harley Gallery in Nottinghamshire click here, along with the prosecution of the offenders who broke into the professional footballer Ashley Cole’s home whilst he and his family were present click here.

R v Pipe – 1960s sexual abuse – Sarah Knight, leading Samuel Skinner, instructed by CPS CCU East Midlands, prosecuted Nigel Pipe a former housemaster in the 1960s at Skegby Hall in Nottinghamshire, for offences of historical sexual abuse against boys under his care. Click here.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-58904641

Serious Fraud Office v X – Samuel has been instructed by the Serious Fraud Office, in relation to an investigation into a multi-billion dollar bribery and corruption investigation involving a FTSE100 listed corporation.

R v X – terrorism – Autistic Spectrum Disorder Defence – Samuel Skinner defended in a terrorism trial at Leeds, instructed by Kiran Mehta at Hodge Jones and Allen. It was said to be the largest collection of s.58 terrorist material ever prosecuted in the UK. The trial judge accepted the defence argument that autistic spectrum disorder is capable in law of contributing to a defence of ‘reasonable excuse’ under the Terrorism Act 2000.

An absolute star in the making.SIO East Mids 2023
Samuel has a thorough and assured grasp of law and procedure. He has excellent judgment and an unerring sense of the key issues in a case. He is meticulous in his preparation, and his courtroom advocacy is fluent and robust. He is always polite and respectful with opponents, colleagues, judges, and court staff. Ambitious and astute lawyer with excellent judgement.Legal 500 2023
He is the complete package. I have worked with exceptionally gifted counsel and in my view Sam Skinner is one of the best juniors at the bar.Legal 500 2022
A very technical and bright barrister with an ability to grasp information very quickly and apply that in the context of the case.Legal 500 2021

Further information

MA (Oxon), Jesus College, University of Oxford

Bar Vocational Course – Inns of Court School of Law

Graduate Diploma in Law- BPP Leeds

Memberships

Appointed to the Serious Fraud Office Panel of Junior Counsel B

Appointed to the CPS General Panel of Advocates at Level 4

Appointed to the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel at Level 4

Appointed to the CPS Serious Fraud Panel at Level 3 Appointed to the CPS Serious Crime Panel at Level 3

Member of the Midland Circuit

Member of Gray’s Inn

Lord Justice Holker Award holder, Gray’s Inn.

Exhibitioner of Jesus College, University of Oxford.

Viscount Sankey scholar, Jesus College, University of Oxford.

Samuel is a pupillage and new practitioner advocacy trainer for the Midland Circuit and Gray’s Inn. He also trains barristers (Including Silks) to become advocacy trainers. In 2019 the CCP of the East Midlands CPS awarded Samuel a ‘Chief Crown Prosecutor’s Commendation’

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