Samantha Cook

Samantha is a Partner specialising in child care proceedings. Samantha graduated from Newcastle University and completed her Post Graduate Studies at the College of Law, York in 2004 before training with a firm in Yorkshire.  She qualified in 2008 and has been an accredited member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since August 2013. Samantha joined Hanne & Co. in 2009 prior to which she worked in private practice and for a charity.

Samantha has a wealth of experience acting for parents and children in care proceedings, adoption proceedings, special guardianship applications, emergency protection applications, recovery and collection applications as well as advocating for families pre-proceedings. Samantha has expertise in proceedings involving substance misuse, fictitious and induced illness, non-accidental injury, forced marriage, neglect, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, emotional harm, mental health, physical abuse, parents with physical or cognitive disabilities and placement abroad. Samantha is experienced in assessing children’s capacity within proceedings and separately representing competent children.

Samantha is well known for her sympathetic and calm approach and her ability to deal with clients in a thoughtful and sensitive manner at a very difficult time. She has particular expertise in representing children who are both distressed and challenging as a result of their involvement in court proceedings.

Out of work she enjoys travelling, socialising and following the fortunes of her favourite football team, Liverpool Football Club.