Sam Longworth

Spear’s Review

As a long-standing member of Stewarts’ family team, partner Sam Longworth knows the importance of moving quickly on complex divorce cases. ‘My goal is to put clients in a position to make fully informed decisions as to their next steps – and do so from the very first meeting,’ he tells Spear’s.

New cases always begin with a realistic assessment of the factors really driving the dispute – whether they are emotional, financial or something else entirely. ‘We need to work out whether these issues will act as a potential barrier to a negotiated settlement,’ he explains. ‘If a settlement is unlikely to be reached without going to court or launching arbitration, then those processes should begin as soon as possible.’

Adviser Profile

Sam is a leading lawyer in international, complex and high-value divorce and family law cases. He is recognised across the private wealth industries as a leader in his field and acknowledged as one of the leading lawyers of his generation. 

Sam’s clients range from the sports and entertainment industries to the City and international community, with clients based across the world (Monaco, Switzerland, USA, South America, Asia, the Middle East). 

Sam is known for his complete discretion, commercial advice and ability to achieve swift, best-outcome solutions for his clients. He also has extensive experience in ‘private court’ based arbitration for family disputes. 

Sam holds reported decisions in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Most recently, Sam led the team acting for the husband in Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA 567 in which the wife’s award was reduced by £20m (45%) in what is believed to be the largest-ever reduction to a divorce award by the English courts. Other notable cases include: 

• In the matter of C (Children) [2018] UKSC 8 (Supreme Court decision regarding the international relocation of children following separation) 
• Kelly v Pyres [2018] EWCA Civ 1368 (Court of Appeal decision on divorce jurisdiction and forum shopping) 
• Baker v Baker [2022] EWFC 15 and [2023] EWFC 136 (High Court – financial remedy proceedings against non-disclosing husband of international family) 
• WG v HG [2018] EWFC 84 (High Court – financial provision from non-matrimonial assets) 
• U v J (No.2) (Domicile) [2017] EWHC 449 (Fam) (High Court – multi-jurisdictional divorce forum dispute) 
• J v U [2016] EWHC 2481 (Fam) (High Court – forum shopping in private law children’s case)