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Samuel Ponniah

Year of call: 2018

Sam has extensive experience in the Magistrates Court and a busy Crown Court practice. He has acted in cases involving vulnerable parties, youths, and sexual offences.

Sam also has specialist experience in motoring offences and accepts private instructions in this area of law.

Notable unreported cases:


R v J & S (Canterbury Crown Court) – Secured an acquittal for a client accused of leading a conspiracy to transport three Iraqi nationals into the UK illegally, while concealed in a van. The case involved extensive phone evidence, including cell site evidence.

R v M (Teeside Crown Court) – Prosecuted a defendant accused of driving dangerously into a crowd of people.

R v F (Lincoln Crown Court) – Acted on behalf of a defendant alleged to have been involved with ‘county lines’ drug dealing.

R v B (Huddersfield Magistrates Court) – Successfully prosecuted an individual accused of exposure, which was aggravated by hostility towards the two complainants on the grounds of gender identity.

R v H (Barnsley Magistrates Court) – Represented a defendant accused of assault of a child, including cross examination of a further child witness aged 12.

Practice Summary

Sam regularly acts for a number of police forces in civil applications including, but not limited to; Sexual Risk Orders, Gang Injunctions, Licensing appeals, POCA and Police Property Act cases.

Sam also has a distinct specialism in police C2 Applications for disclosure, both to and from family proceedings, and is well versed in the law and procedure concerning this area.

Sam has also been instructed, by a number of forces, as independent counsel. This has included working in a forensically secure environment and in a matter involving over 18,000 items. Sam prides himself on being able to complete independent counsel reviews promptly, while offering practical advice to those instructing.

Practice Summary

Sam is regularly instructed, both on behalf of Local Authorities and Respondents, to proceedings in public family law matters. Sam also has experience acting on behalf of clients with difficulties in giving instructions and those from different cultural backgrounds.

Sam also has great experience in acting on behalf of parents in private family law proceedings, including multi-day contested hearings on Child Arrangement orders. He regularly accepts private instructions in private family law matters.


Notable public law cases include;


In the High Court

Acting in a fact finding hearing for a parent alleged to have conspired to have a drug dealer shot. The parent was found to have no role in the attempted murder.

Acting for a Local Authority in a matter where a Father had murdered a Mother.

Acting for a Local Authority in a case involving alleged parental alienation of such severity that the public law threshold was crossed.


In the County Court

Acting on behalf of a party in the pool of perpetrators for a non- accidental injury to a non-ambulant child. After a nine day final hearing with evidence from two experts, the client was cleared of causing the injury. During this case Sam was commended for his cross examination of an adult with cognitive difficulties, who was later found to be in the pool of perpetrators.

Acting for a Local Authority in a complex matter involving the relocation of a child subject to an interim care order to Scotland.

Sam also has a busy private law practice and a particular specialism in private law fact finding hearings on allegations of domestic abuse. He also accepts instructions on a direct access basis in this area of work.

Public access qualified.

CPS Grade 2 Prosecutor


Awards and Education

  • Middle Temple – Queen Mother Scholarship
  • University of Law – Advocacy Scholarship
  • University of Law BPTC – Very competent
  • University of York – Bachelor of Laws


Voluntary Work

  • Mentor at Vocalise UK – While studying on the BPTC, Sam worked in Feltham YOI and HMP Pentonville, teaching residents debating skills. Sam’s work culminated in organising and facilitating a debate in HMP Pentonville, between inmates and law students at the University of Law.
  • Equality and Diversity Officer – KBW Chambers.

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