About Charles Samek KC
Charles Samek KC is a highly experienced English barrister and King's Counsel (KC, or Silk). He has been at the Bar since 1989, and has been a KC since 2009. He is recommended in the major legal directories as a leading KC in the following practice areas: (1) commercial dispute resolution; (2) civil fraud; (3) banking and finance; (4) offshore litigation. Charles Samek KC is first and foremost an advocate, whose expertise lies in presenting a client's case to the court, whether at first instance or on appeal, and in cross-examination of factual and expert witnesses at trial.
He has been shortlisted (one of three) by Chambers & Partners for '2025 Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year', and by Legal 500 as ‘2019 Commercial Litigation Silk of the Year'.
Charles Samek KC advises clients with regard to commercial disputes. He appears regularly as an advocate in London's High Court, principally the King's Bench Division (Commercial Court), and he has appeared as an advocate over 25 times in the Court of Appeal.
As a self-employed barrister, Charles Samek KC may accept instructions from solicitors based in England & Wales, and from foreign legal representatives, for advice, drafting and representation in court. He is also able in some cases to accept instructions directly from clients, typically to advise in relation to actual or possible legal proceedings.
Charles Samek KC was educated at St Paul's School, London and Oriel College, Oxford University where he read Classics ("Mods & Greats"). He then took a law conversion course at the City University (now part of the University of London) before commencing pupillage at what is now Littleton Chambers.
He speaks excellent Italian; decent French; and some Russian.
A snap-shot of Charles Samek KC's 2026 work as a barrister and King's Counsel
- Acting on behalf of a Russian individual resisting an appeal in the UK Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of a bankruptcy order against him (to be heard in June 2026);
- Acting on behalf of a company in hard-fought unfair prejudice proceedings being litigated in the BVI commercial court;
- Advising an offshore shareholder as to the prospects of a claim against it by a foreign European tax authority;
- Acting on behalf of a financial services company in its claim for damages for breach of restrictive covenants against a former director and shareholder;
- Advising a group of minority shareholders in a “quasi-partnership” dispute being fought in the Jersey courts and in England;
- Advising an LLP member as to his rights and entitlement on the sale of interest in the LLP to a third-party;
- Acting for an ex-wife resisting in enforcement of Russian judgments in England in the context of bitter divorce proceedings;
- Acting on behalf of a member of the Mittal family in proceedings brought in the BVI by a foreign liquidator for the recovery of assets;
- Acting on behalf of a Cayman company in proceedings brought against it in the Cayman Islands by a Brazilian liquidator for the recovery of assets.
Bar legal directories - Charles Samek KC testimonials
Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for 2026:
- "He is a fearsome advocate, combining determination and focus with enough elegance to get the point across in an effective way.” Legal 500 2026 – Fraud: Civil
- “Excellent advocacy, tenacious and clear minded.” Legal 500 2026 – Commercial Litigation
- “Charles is a strong advocate, who is not afraid to run difficult points.” Legal 500 2026 – Banking and Finance
- “Charles Samek is a man with an extraordinary brain … A really strong advocate who is very good at cross-examination. He is very effective at persuading a judge to move from his or her original position … Charles is a terrific advocate who is really great in difficult situations. He has a fantastic ability to engage with judges.” Chambers & Partners 2026 – Commercial Dispute Resolution
- “Charles Samek KC is a very good advocate who is experienced in commercial and civil fraud matters….. He is very good. He has an extraordinary brain.” Chambers & Partners 2026 – Civil Fraud
Charles Samek KC is also described by the Lexology Index: Asset Recovery 2026 as a "thought leader" at the Bar.
He has also received judicial compliments for his hard work, submissions and cross-examination from trial judges in two recent high-profile cases:
- Robin Knowles J in the "Vatican case" singled out his "mastery of detail": Athena Capital Fund Sicav-Fis Sca & Ors v Secretariat of State of the Holy See [2025] EWHC 355 (Comm)
- Cockerill LJ in the "PPE Medpro" case referred to his "merciless" cross-examination of the Department of Health's biological sterility expert: Secretary of State for Health and Social Care v PPE Medpro Ltd [2025] EWHC 2486 (Comm)
Charles Samek KC's experience in foreign law and appearing as an barrister in overseas courts
Charles Samek KC has done many cases involving foreign law. For example: Russian (civil, family and procedural codes), Iranian, Saudi (Hanbali school) (wrongs and damages), Icelandic, Italian, Luxembourg, Vatican, Canon, UAE, US, Lebanese, Ukrainian, New York, Brazilian, Cayman, Jersey & BVI law.
He is called to the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and regularly appears in the BVI Commercial Court, including having acted in trials and before the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal (and in what is now the leading case on Section 125 Evidence Act 2006 relating to the admissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence - Capital WWW Investment Limited (in liquidation) v Tall Trade Limited). He has appeared ad hoc in the Cayman Islands and has also acted assisting Isle of Man advocates and Jersey advocates. He also has rights of audience in the Astana International Financial Centre and is currently instructed in financial services litigation there.
why choose and instruct charles samek kc?
Strategic thinking
Strategic thinking
Strategic thinking
With over 36 years experience as a practising barrister, 17 of them as a King's Counsel (formerly Queen's Counsel), Charles Samek KC believes in establishing at the earliest stage possible the client's objectives and then mapping out a strategy to achieve them.
Mastery of detail
Strategic thinking
Strategic thinking
Strategy is nothing without meticulous planning. There are no shortcuts in preparation, whether for the purpose of advice, pleading out a case or preparation for trial. Charles Samek KC will spend whatever time is required to ensure that no-one in the courtroom has a better knowledge of the law and facts than him.
Client-focused
Strategic thinking
Fearless advocacy
Too many lawyers forget that they serve their client. Charles Samek KC is not one of those. He believes in establishing a close rapport with the client and is happy to have as much engagement with the client as they want and as the case demands.
Fearless advocacy
Strategic thinking
Fearless advocacy
This is why Charles Samek KC does what he does. Since an early age, he only ever wanted to be an advocate. He would describe himself as a commercial advocate, coming to presentation in court with a commercially-minded approach, and fearless in submissions to the court and, when necessary, merciless in cross-examination.