Profile

Samantha leads our products law and life sciences team. She has over 22 years of experience and became a partner in the London office in 2015. She advises on recalls, public inquiries and product liability claims (including group litigation orders), with a focus on the pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer sectors. The claims she handles are often of a commercially sensitive nature.

She represents insurers and manufacturers in some of the largest and most high-profile matters, overseeing claims in the UK and internationally. Notably, Samantha has led hugely significant cases which have shaped the development of product liability law in Europe. She has headed not only the team which successfully defended the DePuy ULTAMET Metal on Metal Hip Litigation, a complex product liability group action culminating in a landmark judgment in the High Court (Gee & Others v DePuy International Limited) but also the team which successfully defended medical device manufacturers in the UK Supreme Court in the case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd (1) and Stryker UK Ltd (2).

Sam Silver brings a wealth of experience in large-scale and high profile product litigation with a stable of premier clients. She exudes common sense and tactical nous. She is really a top player in the field.

Qualifications and admissions

  • Qualified in England and Wales in 1999

Market recognition

  • Notable practitioner (Band 1) for 'Life sciences: product liability (UK-wide)'
    "Samantha Silver is decisive, thorough and a great team leader."
    "I could sing her praises for days. Samantha has excellent judgement and achieves fantastic results."
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Notable practitioner for 'Product Liability: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Leading individual and recommended lawyer for 'Product liability: defendant (London)'
    "Newly in charge, Sam Silver, brings a wealth of experience in large-scale and high profile product litigation with a stable of premier clients. She exudes common sense and tactical nous. She is really a top player in the field".
    The Legal 500 UK 2023
  • Notable practitioner for 'Product Liability: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    "She is very efficient, a savvy operator."
    Chambers UK 2022
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Product liability: defendant (London)'
    "Samantha Silver has know-how in medical devices, consumer products and pharmaceuticals cases."
    The Legal 500 UK 2022
  • Notable practitioner for 'Product Liability: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    "She is a terrific lawyer - very insightful and strategic."
    Chambers UK 2021
  • Recommended lawyer for 'Product liability: defendant (London)'
    "Samantha Silver is well versed in group litigation"
    The Legal 500 UK 2021
  • Notable practitioner for 'Product Liability: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    "Samantha Silver enjoys an established reputation for her product liability practice, which centres primarily on large-scale disputes and product recalls, particularly for medical device manufacturers."
    Chambers UK 2020
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Product liability: defendant (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2019/20
  • Notable practitioner for 'Product Liability: Mainly Defendant (UK-wide)'
    "Absolutely fantastic, loved by clients, and completely on top of the law."
    Chambers UK 2019
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Product liability: defendant (London)'
    The Legal 500 UK 2018/19
  • Recommended Lawyer for Product Liability (defendant).
    The Legal 500 UK 2017

Work highlights

  • Successfully defended the DePuy ULTAMET Metal on Metal Hip Litigation, a complex product liability group action culminating in a landmark judgment in the High Court (Gee & Others v DePuy International Limited [2018].
  • Successfully defended medical device manufacturers in the UK Supreme Court in the case of Hastings v Finsbury Orthopaedics Ltd (1) and Stryker UK Ltd (2) [2022].
  • Successfully represented the defendant insurance market in the reported Outokumpu Stainless Ltd v (1) AXA Global Risks (UK) Ltd and ors [2007], a High Court case regarding an insurance coverage dispute arising from a multi-million pound radioactive contamination claim.
  • Acted on behalf of Beko Plc in litigation in respect of fridge-freezer fire which resulted in the tragic death of Mr John Wilson.
  • Providing strategic management of manufacturers’ international portfolios of product liability claims.
  • Acting for interested parties in public statutory Inquiries including the Infected Blood Inquiry.
  • Advising pharmaceutical companies in relation to claims arising from clinical trials.