Samantha Castle
“What stands out about Sam is that she is intelligent, hardworking, and really cares about her clients. She is level-headed and is someone who will always strive to obtain the best result for her client.”
– Legal 500 2027
Samantha is a Partner at Barcan and Kirby and heads the firm’s Employment and Personal Injury departments. She is an experienced solicitor with a broad practice encompassing employment law and personal injury. She advises both businesses and individuals, bringing a wealth of experience, sound judgement and a practical, straightforward approach to the matters she handles.
Samantha has particular expertise in dealing with complex and contentious situations. She quickly gets to grips with complicated circumstances, identifies the key issues and establishes the best way forward. She believes in giving clients clear, honest and realistic advice, taking into account both the legal position and the practical implications of a case.
Building strong relationships with clients is central to her approach, and she takes pride in making clients feel comfortable, supported and confident that their matter is in capable hands.
Employment law expertise
Samantha advises both employers and employees on a wide range of employment law matters, with experience in both contentious and non-contentious work.
She works closely with businesses, providing practical employment law and HR advice to help them manage workplace issues, navigate difficult employee relations situations and deal with employment disputes. She understands the challenges employers face and recognises the importance of advice that is not only legally sound but also commercially sensible and workable in practice.
Her employer-side work includes:
- Providing day-to-day employment law and HR advice to businesses
- Advising on disciplinary, grievance and performance management procedures
- Drafting, reviewing and advising on employment contracts and workplace policies
- Drafting, advising on and negotiating settlement agreements
- Advising on contentious employee relations issues and workplace disputes
- Advising and representing employers in employment tribunal proceedings
Samantha also represents employees in employment disputes, including:
- Unfair dismissal claims
- Constructive dismissal
- Discrimination (in particular sex, disability and pregnancy/maternity)
- Other contentious employment matters
She advises employees on their rights, available options and the practical considerations involved in resolving workplace disputes, including negotiating settlement agreements and pursuing employment tribunal claims.
Having acted for both employers and employees, Samantha brings a valuable understanding of the different perspectives involved in employment disputes. She anticipates potential arguments, assesses the position’s strengths and weaknesses and develops a strategy that reflects her client’s objectives.
Personal injury expertise
Samantha is an experienced claimant personal injury lawyer who represents individuals seeking compensation following accidents and injuries caused by someone else’s negligence.
She has extensive experience handling a broad range of personal injury claims, including complex and disputed cases, serious injuries and higher-value claims. She is particularly experienced in investigating and establishing liability, dealing with difficult evidential issues and pursuing claims where responsibility for an accident or the extent of the injuries is disputed.
- Cycling accident claims
- Accidents at work
- Occupier’s liability claims, including slips, trips and falls
- Highways and public liability claims
- Complex and disputed liability claims
- Serious injury and higher-value personal injury claims
Samantha takes a strategic and analytical approach to claims, identifying the key issues and building the strongest possible case for her clients. She is experienced in dealing with insurers and defendant solicitors, negotiating settlements and pursuing court proceedings where necessary.
She recognises that suffering an injury can have a significant impact on someone’s life, often at an already difficult time. She places great importance on understanding each client’s individual circumstances, providing clear advice and support throughout the claims process.
Experience and recognition
Samantha joined Barcan and Kirby in 2006 and qualified as a solicitor in 2008. She became a Partner in 2018.
In 2017, she was awarded Bristol Law Society’s Lawyer of the Year.
Samantha is recognised in Chambers and Partners UK for her personal injury work and has been ranked in successive editions from 2024 to 2027. She is also recognised in the Legal 500, with clients and peers highlighting her analytical ability, pragmatic approach, hard work and commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients.
“Samantha is very responsive, and her analytical and pragmatic approach makes her a pleasure to work with.”
She is a member of:
Qualifications
- Legal Practice Course from the University of the West of England
- Law and Politics (LL.B.) from the University of Swansea
Hourly rate
- £400 plus VAT