Professional Practice

Samara has a busy practice in all areas of private family law. Samara’s practice focusses on financial remedies and cohabitation disputes (TLATA and Schedule 1) as well as private children law work. 

Samara is frequently instructed by the same client for both their finance and children disputes and understands the importance of continuity of counsel. Samara is mindful that settlement will often be in a client’s best interests and she provides robust advice where required. She welcomes a collaborative approach with her instructing solicitors and clients and is happy to advise at any stage of litigation. Samara is also available to sit as a pFDR tribunal. 

Samara is recognised for her expertise in the Spear’s 500 Family Law Barristers Index 2025, where she features as a ‘Recommended’ barrister and in the Legal 500 2026 as a ‘Leading Junior’.

Samara is an active member of Resolution. She is a member of the Hampshire YRes committee and the Resolution Cohabitation Committee. 

Financial Remedies: Samara assists clients in all financial remedies disciplines and has a busy matrimonial finance practice. 

Samara’s cases increasingly involve factual disputes, which have recently included third party interests in matrimonial property, inherited wealth and conduct. Samara has increasing experience of dealing with agreements (PNAs, separation agreements or Xydhias arguments) and the litigation strategy required to deal with challenging or upholding agreements.

Samara’s cases often involve an international element. She accepts instructions on Part III matters and is happy to advise on jurisdictional issues. 

Samara is an advocate for NCDR at all stages of proceedings. She also acts as a pFDR tribunal. 

Private Children: Samara represents clients at all stages of private children law disputes. She frequently acts in cases with welfare-only considerations as well as cases with allegations of domestic abuse. 

Samara’s experience of allegations also includes allegations of alienating behaviours. She has acted in many cases with Guardian appointments and has successfully challenged expert opinions in such cases (including ISWs and psychologists).

Samara’s cases increasingly involve health and educational (including SEN) issues, either relating to the child or the parents. She is sensitive to the complexities that cases involving additional needs can bring. 

Samara is an advocate for NCDR at all stages of proceedings. 

Cohabitation: Samara has an increasing practice in cohabitee disputes. She accepts instructions in domestic TLATA claims, Schedule 1 applications, and where the two applications are made simultaneously. Samara has experience of advising at an early stage, including pre-issue NCDR. 

Samara edited a chapter in the 2025 Resolution publication Cohabitation Law & Practice. 

• Recommendations

  'Samara is a strong advocate. She is able to concisely put forward the client's position in an easily digestible manner.'

  Legal 500 2025

• Notable Cases

  • HJB v WPB (financial remedies) (separation agreement – application to show cause)
    [2024] EWFC 187
    
  • Re N (A Child) [2024]
    [2024] EWFC 331 (B)
    
  • Re S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction)
    [2023] EWCA Civ 987
    
  • A v B (Private Law Final Hearing – Application for Non-Molestation Order)
    [2023] EWFC 74
    

• Publications and Lecturing

  • Resolution Working Group on Domestic Abuse in Financial Remedy proceedings – From the Members of the Working Party, Samara Brackley and Stephanie Coker, Family Law Week, 11 November 2024
  • Step-children and half-siblings in family proceedings, Mark Ablett and Samara Brackley, Family Law Journal, July [2021] Fam Law 976
  • Without Notice applications in Children Act and Family Law Act: tips, pointers and warnings, Mark Ablett and Samara Brackley, Family Law Journal, April [2021] Fam Law 553

• Personal Information

  Samara actively contributes to life at Gray’s Inn, particularly in relation to music and performance having achieved Grade 8 Singing, Grade 8 Acting and Grade 8 Musical Theatre. 

  She is a member of the Gray’s Inn Chapel Choir, the Gray’s Inn Songbirds and performs in the Gray’s Inn Miscellany.

  Samara assists with advocacy training at taster days aimed at university students and judges moots for BPTC students. She is a member of the Gray’s Inn Moots Committee. 

  Samara enjoys art, history and politics. Samara is highly proficient in French and Italian, having spent time abroad during her degree in Geneva and Bologna respectively.