Dr Sam Fowles

Sam has provided legal and policy advice at all levels of government, from the Council of Europe to parish councils.

He applies this experience to provide clients with highly practical advice and representation. He is developing a broad practice in all areas of Chambers' work, and has a particular interest in Planning and Environmental law, Freedom of Information, and Data Protection. Sam will be available to take instructions from 2 April 2018.

Sam applies his background in public policy, social entrepreneurship, and academia to connect with clients from all backgrounds. He provides advice and representation that is focused on the practical needs of those who instruct him. Sam has been involved with numerous pieces of legislation, including the EU Withdrawal Bill, Trade Bill, and Data Protection Bill 2018, and has first-hand experience of running a range of public sector organisations; sitting on the boards of a leading university, major public-sector body, and grassroots political campaign. Sam continues to provide legal and public policy advice to a wide range of MPs and NGOs.

Sam has a particular interest in information law and he was appointed Standing Counsel to the Request Initiative on 3 April 2018.

Sam is a Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre, where he specialises in information governance, data protection, environmental law and policy, trade and investment, constitutional law, and Brexit. He has taught at the University of London Institute in Paris, the Centre for Commercial Law Studies University of London, and the University of Birmingham. He was a formerly a Visiting Scholar at the University of Sydney.

He regularly appears in national and international media including The Guardian, The Independent, New Statesman, Huffington Post and Al Jazeera.

Sam holds an MA in History from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in Law from the University of London. While a PhD candidate Sam founded the Rule of Law Project, a non-profit initiative using drama and debate to engage young people with legal issues. Sam's contribution as a social entrepreneur was recognised with election as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Sam enjoys rugby, squash, and musical theatre. He has acted and directed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and on London's West End.

Sam's publications prior to coming to the Bar include:

1st March 2018

• "Associate EU Citizenship: A Brief Assessment", Foreign Policy Centre, (forthcoming)
• "The Free Market Case for Renewables", Foreign Policy Centre, (2017)
• "How to Fix the Great Repeal Bill", Another Europe is Possible, (2017)
• "A Decimation of Rights: The Consequences of the Great Repeal Bill", Global Justice Now, (2017)
• "The Impact of Investment Treaties on Human Rights", Foreign Policy Centre, (2017)
• "The Great Repeal Bill: Addressing Unaccountable Power", Another Europe is Possible, (2017)
• "Failure to evaluate introduction of Female Genital Mutilation mandatory reporting" (2016) 101 Archives of Disease In Childhood 778 (with Felicity Gerry QC and Professor Andrew Rowland)
• "In Defence of Europe" (9 March 2016) UK Constitutional Law Blog
• "A 'Failure to Protect' Offence for FGM: An Initial Assessment" (2015) 79 Journal of Criminal Law 344 (with Theodora Christou)
• "The Subtle Revolution: TTIP, Sovereignty and the Rule of Law", Mishcon de Reya, (2015)
• "Report of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales on Female Genital Mutilation", Bar Human Rights Committee, (2014), (with Kirsty Brimelow QC, Dr Theodora Christou, Dexter Dias QC, Felicity Gerry QC, Courtney Perlmutter, Charlotte Proudman and Zimran Samuel)
• Report of the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales on Violence Against Women Bar Human Rights Committee, (2014) (with Kirsty Brimelow QC, Dr Theodora Christou, Dexter Dias QC, Felicity Gerry QC, Courtney Perlmutter, Charlotte Proudman and Zimran Samuel)

Media

Blogs and Articles

• "Britain's Feud with The European Courts: This is Not Taking Back Control" (September 29 2017) The Conversation
• "Can Post-Brexit Trade Deals Protect Individual Rights?" (12 May 2017) The Independent
• "You Should Be More Worried About The Great Repeal Bill Than Brexit" (27 April 2017) The Independent
• "The Great Repeal Bill Will Give Government An Unrestrained Hand" (1 April 2017) The Guardian

Television

• Comment on the 2nd reading of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (12 September 2017) Al Jazeera
• Interview on the protection of individual rights in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (14 July 2017) RTUK
• Interview on the publication of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill (27 March 2017) RTUK
• Evidence to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (October 2016) Council of Europe