ERIMUS CHAMBERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Barrister - Head of Chambers
Karen has extensive experience in general common law practising in London and on the South Eastern and Western circuits (including Exeter, Yeovil, Taunton and Weymouth) over the last 25 years. She has regularly appeared in the Magistrates, Youth, FPC, Crown and County Courts and has had conduct of matters in The High Court and The Court of Appeal.
In the Family Courts she is instructed in Ancillary Relief and Child Arrangement matters. She represents parents, Local Authorities and Guardians in Care / Public Child Law. For Private Child Law she deals with Contact, Residence, Prohibited Steps, Specific Issue, Fact Finding, PR and Child Abduction. Her criminal experience of domestic violence also enhances her experience with restraining orders, injunctions, non-molestation orders and occuptation orders.
In the Civil courts (including Small Claims, Fast track and Multi track) Karen has extensive experience in such matters as Consumer Credit, Personal Injury, Infant Settlements, Road Traffic, Landlord and Tenant, Financial Disputes, both individuals and businesses, Bankruptcy, Application Hearings and Possession Hearings. Written Advice and Opinion is available as well as preparation of Legal Documentation.
Karen has a wide and varied experience of Criminal matters including violence, sexual offences, drugs and fraud, including confiscation hearings (POCA). She has received in house domestic violence training with CPS Dorset and has dealt with a considerable number of such cases over the years. She also has completed the Sexual Offences and Rape courses with the Bar Council and has completed the vulnerable witness course. She has also acquired a particular expertise in road traffic cases, including speeding, excess alcohol, totting and special reasons.
Karen is direct access qualified and can be instructed directly by members of the public.
Job Titles:
- HCA 2000 - Crime, Family, Civil, Immigration
Michael was head of CPS Police Prosecution Unit at CPS London. When attached to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2011, he was lead lawyer in executing HMG Counter Piracy Strategy within the Indian Ocean where he was assistant to the Attorney General of Seychelles . Whilst there Michael prosecuted numerous Somali pirate trials and was instrumental in formulating a coherent and achievable counter piracy legal regime within the Indian Ocean region. He regularly advised government and diplomatic officials in capacity building and forward planning in prosecution case management and strategic delivery of effective and efficient legal administration.
Job Titles:
- HCA 2005 - Crime, Family, Civil, Motoring
Job Titles:
- Crime, Immigration, Motoring, Employment
After reading law at Southampton University and being called to the Bar, Stuart Sampson underwent pupillage at 2 Harcourt Buildings. He served three years as a Magistrates' Court Clerk at Ealing from 1980-1983, from where he moved to Thames Valley Police as a Prosecuting Solicitor.
On the creation of the CPS in 1986 he moved back to London. In 1987 he took charge of the CPS at Marylebone Magistrates' Court. In 1991 he became one of the first Special Casework Lawyers in London, a position he held until leaving the CPS in 2012. As a Special Casework Lawyer he dealt with some of the most sensitive and complex cases in London: murder, drug-trafficking, money-laundering, fraud and others which required special handling.
From the passing of the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986 he took a keen interest in confiscation and restraint matters; he was the lead tutor in POCA matters and was one of the leading lawyers in the development of contempt in restraint cases (R v Adewunmi, and re M). He was also a lead tutor in fraud cases. He has been a Higher Court Advocate for some 10 years.