A leading associate and trusted adviser in high-value and complex disputes
Sam Baxter
Senior Associate, Disputes
Sam is ranked as a “Leading Associate” in the firm’s Disputes team, as recognised by the Legal 500 2026.
He advises businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals on complex and high-value disputes in the High Court. Most of his cases involve urgent strategic issues and business-critical litigation, and often with multi-jurisdictional elements.
With extensive experience of High Court litigation, clients value Sam’s calm and pragmatic approach. He combines strong technical expertise with commercial judgement, helping clients navigate difficult situations with clarity and confidence.
Before qualifying as a solicitor, Sam held management roles within the leisure industry. That experience gives him a practical understanding of the commercial realities clients face and informs his straightforward, solutions-focused advice.
Sam is focused on achieving the best possible outcome while making the process as clear and manageable as possible.
Case studies
Sam is a key member of the Disputes team, having trained with the firm. He has been ranked as a “Leading Associate” in Legal 500 (2026) and as a “Key Lawyer” in the 2024 and 2025 editions.
Prior to joining Greenwoods, Sam studied Geography at the University of Sheffield, before completing the Graduate Diploma in Law, spending a year gaining experience with a national law firm as a paralegal, and then completing the Legal Practice Course. He received the Cambridge and District Law Society prize for his performance in the Legal Practice Course in 2019 and finished top of his year.
Having trained with the firm, Sam has grown with and alongside the disputes team, developing a reputation as a dependable adviser whom clients, colleagues and counsel enjoy working with. He is known for his attention to detail, responsiveness and ability to remain focused on achieving the right outcome in complex and often high-pressure situations.
Sam regularly works on substantial and strategically important disputes in the High Court, on claims involving significant financial and reputational risk, many involving cross-border matters
He is part of a disputes team that is regularly instructed on complex matters where specialist expertise, commercial judgement and trusted relationships are critical to achieving successful outcomes.
Sam has an impressive list of cases that he has been involved in:
- Obtaining urgent injunctive relief for a client in the defence sector and bringing complex underlying proceedings including for conspiracy and breach of contract.
- Defending a high-profile High Court claim in respect of a purported team move case in the insurance sector relating to breach of restrictive covenants and conspiracy, said to be valued in excess of £100m.
- Advising the principal creditor (based in Monaco) of their rights in an administration of a UK-based company that they loaned an eight-figure sum to, including a strategy to recover the sums and potential enforcement.
- Advising and acting for an FCA-regulated global payments company regarding claims arising from the purported maladministration of its UK subsidiaries in the High Court (circa £30m).
- Defending high-profile proceedings against a political party in relation to multiple data privacy claims in the High Court. Elements have included an application for pre-action disclosure and Norwich Pharmacal relief (in the High Court) and subsequently the Court of Appeal. The claims were regularly reported in the national press.
- Advising a US-based company regarding a complex multiple jurisdiction claim relating to the recovery of an eight-figure sum and underlying enforcement action, including in respect of a freezing order over assets held internationally. The entities involved were based internationally, including Africa, the Middle East, America and Europe.
- Defending claims arising out of a share purchase agreement (circa £58m) for breach of contract, breach of warranty, and conspiracy issued in the High Court.
- An appeal to the Court of Appeal in relation to a High Court costs order made against a Defendant who won at first instance but had an indemnity costs award made against them, as well as a separate appeal by the Claimants.
- Successfully defending a reported High Court injunction against a political party relating to an application for disclosure of sensitive and confidential information.
- A successful (and reported) application on behalf of a political party to the High Court for a Civil Restraint Order against a litigant conducting continued and persistent litigation.
- A circa £100m tax dispute against HMRC in relation to unpaid capital allowances by a partnership in the energy sector whereby capital allowance related losses could be set off sideways against the general income of the individual members.
- A tax appeal to the Court of Appeal from the Upper Tribunal (Tax), with an onward application to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal.
- Advising on a senior-level employee exit and the enforceability of restrictive covenants, including in relation to potential injunctive relief regarding the return of proprietary information and data.
Outside of work, Sam is a keen skier (his technique has been described as more “enthusiastic” than “expert”).
Will the proposed changes to the enforcement of court judgments really make a difference?
Disputes / 12 August 2025
What is the future with tech, AI and disputes?
Disputes / 3 October 2024
The King’s Speech: Arbitration on the Agenda
Disputes / 24 July 2024