Samantha Wilson

Profile

Sam specialises in family law. She acts for clients in a wide range of disputes, and has particular experience in complex relationship property claims, spousal maintenance, trusts and Hague Convention proceedings.


Sam appears regularly in the Family Court and High Court, as well as representing clients in mediations. She has appeared as junior counsel in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.


Before joining Shortland Chambers, Sam worked as an employed barrister for Vivienne Crawshaw KC. Prior to that, she practised for a number of years in the commercial litigation and international arbitration team at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP in London, where she acted for clients on a broad range of commercial and investment treaty disputes.


Sam is a regular presenter of seminars for the legal profession.

Profile

Sam specialises in family law. She acts for clients in a wide range of disputes, and has particular experience in complex relationship property claims, spousal maintenance, trusts and Hague Convention proceedings.


Sam appears regularly in the Family Court and High Court, as well as representing clients in mediations. She has appeared as junior counsel in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.


Before joining Shortland Chambers, Sam worked as an employed barrister for Vivienne Crawshaw KC. Prior to that, she practised for a number of years in the commercial litigation and international arbitration team at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP in London, where she acted for clients on a broad range of commercial and investment treaty disputes.


Sam is a regular presenter of seminars for the legal profession.

Profile

Sam specialises in family law. She acts for clients in a wide range of disputes, and has particular experience in complex relationship property claims, spousal maintenance, trusts and Hague Convention proceedings.


Sam appears regularly in the Family Court and High Court, as well as representing clients in mediations. She has appeared as junior counsel in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.


Before joining Shortland Chambers, Sam worked as an employed barrister for Vivienne Crawshaw KC. Prior to that, she practised for a number of years in the commercial litigation and international arbitration team at Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP in London, where she acted for clients on a broad range of commercial and investment treaty disputes.


Sam is a regular presenter of seminars for the legal profession.

Additional information

Case History
  • Successfully defending judicial review proceedings brought against lawyer for child in the context of Care of Children Act 2004 litigation, led by Vivienne Crawshaw KC (Newton v Family Court at Auckland [2022] 3 NZLR 846; [2022] NZCA 207, leave to appeal to Supreme Court declined)
  • Junior counsel for successful appellant in High Court appeal against Family Court decision declining to allow an inter-country adoption of half-sisters between New Zealand and Sudan (Solomon v Attorney-General [2021] NZFLR 113, [2020] NZHC 2521)
  • Junior counsel for successful respondent in Supreme Court appeal in relationship property proceedings involving the setting aside of disposition to a trust (Sutton v Bell [2023] 1 NZLR 150, [2023] NZSC 65)
  • Junior counsel for France-based client in successful appeal involving the return of children to France under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction provisions of the Care of Children Act 2004 (Roberts v Cresswell [2023] NZFLR 364; [2023] NZCA 36; leave to appeal declined) and subsequent enforcement orders (Cresswell v Roberts [2023] NZHC 1970)
  • Lead counsel for appellant in successful appeal (in part) to the High Court against an award of interim spousal maintenance (Jones v Thomas [2023] NZLFR 496, [2023] NZHC 2024)
  • Junior counsel (led by Matthew Harris) in appeal for Ngāti Te Ata against the Crown for breach fiduciary obligations and claims in contract

Documents
  • Successfully defending judicial review proceedings brought against lawyer for child in the context of Care of Children Act 2004 litigation, led by Vivienne Crawshaw KC (Newton v Family Court at Auckland [2022] 3 NZLR 846; [2022] NZCA 207, leave to appeal to Supreme Court declined)
  • Junior counsel for successful appellant in High Court appeal against Family Court decision declining to allow an inter-country adoption of half-sisters between New Zealand and Sudan (Solomon v Attorney-General [2021] NZFLR 113, [2020] NZHC 2521)
  • Junior counsel for successful respondent in Supreme Court appeal in relationship property proceedings involving the setting aside of disposition to a trust (Sutton v Bell [2023] 1 NZLR 150, [2023] NZSC 65)
  • Junior counsel for France-based client in successful appeal involving the return of children to France under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction provisions of the Care of Children Act 2004 (Roberts v Cresswell [2023] NZFLR 364; [2023] NZCA 36; leave to appeal declined) and subsequent enforcement orders (Cresswell v Roberts [2023] NZHC 1970)
  • Lead counsel for appellant in successful appeal (in part) to the High Court against an award of interim spousal maintenance (Jones v Thomas [2023] NZLFR 496, [2023] NZHC 2024)
  • Junior counsel (led by Matthew Harris) in appeal for Ngāti Te Ata against the Crown for breach fiduciary obligations and claims in contract

Professional Activities
  • Employed Barrister, Vivienne Crawshaw KC, 2020-2024
  • Consultant, Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP (Auckland), 2018-2020
  • Associate, Joseph Hage Aaronson LLP (London), 2013-2017
  • Judge’s Clerk, High Court Auckland, 2011-2012

Qualifications

LLB (Hons, 1st class), University of Otago

Year admitted: 2012 (New Zealand)

Barrister sole: 2024

Samantha
Wilson
swilson@shortlandchambers.co.nz
+64 21 198 2526
+64 9 360 3523
Shortland Chambers