+44 (0)20 7148 7800
“Sam is a Partner and Solicitor Advocate with broad expertise in high value commercial dispute resolution, technology and finance litigation.”
Sam Roberts
Partner
Tel: +44 (0)20 7148 7824
Email: sam.roberts@cyklaw.com
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Sam specialises in technology and finance disputes. He is frequently instructed on claims involving cryptocurrency and digital assets, software licensing and development, and all manner of financial services disputes, including payment frauds, trading and brokerage claims, loans and guarantees.
Sam also has a strong background in fraud and injunctive relief.
Background
Sam joined Cooke, Young & Keidan in 2012, qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in 2014, and joined the partnership in 2021.
He trained at Herbert Smith LLP, qualifying into its International Arbitration practice in September 2011.
Sam read International Relations at the London School of Economics before obtaining a First Class Degree in Law at the College of Law.
Professional groups
Sam is a co-founder of the Tech Disputes Network
Sam is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales. He is a member of the Society of Computers and Law, and the London Solicitors Litigation Association.
What the legal directories say
Sam is ranked in Band 1 for Crypto-Asset Disputes in the Chambers & Partners 2025 Fintech Guide, for the second year in a row:
“He is very good, very creative in his solutions and a real thought leader in the industry.”
“Sam Roberts has an absolutely brilliant legal mind and is great at instilling confidence in the legal team and client.”
The 2025 edition of Legal 500 says that Sam:
“Sam Roberts – the man is a genius, particularly in respect of crypto disputes. He’s also a lot a fun and is very easy-going.”
“… has a brilliant mind and is always thinking strategically.”
“… a very impressive partner with leading tech and finance focus.”
Sam is a “key lawyer” for Banking Litigation (highlighted for fintech disputes), Civil Fraud, Commercial Litigation: Premium, and Financial Services: Contentious and International Arbitration.
Publications, articles and seminars
‘Channel Islands and statutory fences: obtaining evidence for use overseas’, author, Butterworths Journal of International Banking and Financial Law, May 2024
‘Who owns crypto-assets, and why it matters’, author, Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence, January 2023
‘Cryptos and where to find them’, author, Fintech Magazine, September 2019
‘Going Nuclear: Freezing Orders in Practice’, co-author, Thomson Reuters PLC Magazine, June 2019
Cases of Note
Tulip Trading Ltd v Bitcoin Association for BSV & Others: acting for the 15th and 16th Defendants in proceedings valued in excess of £4 billion for the recovery of bitcoin on four different blockchains. The claim involves novel allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty against software developers and counter-allegations of fraudulent claims to ownership.
Topalsson GmbH v Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd [2023] EWHC 1765 (TCC): acting for a German software development company against the luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce in relation to a software project to deliver a real-time configurator for the Rolls-Royce Ghost.
BPY v MXV [2023] EWHC 82 (Comm): Successfully defending a challenge brought under Section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 to an arbitral award. This case is significant because of the numerous and notable grounds for the challenge, which included: rules applicable to cross examinations in London-seated arbitrations; alleged bias; and treatment of allegedly unlawfully obtained documents.
A and B -v- C, D and E [2020] EWCA Civ 409 and [2020] EWHC 258 (Comm): acting for the successful appellants in the Court of Appeal and Commercial Court in an application under s. 44 Arbitration Act 1996 to compel the evidence of a non-party witness in aid of a New York arbitration.
Morley v The Royal Bank of Scotland [2019] EWHC 2865 (Ch) and [2020] EWHC 88 (Ch): acting for a property developer against the Defendant bank including on successful applications for specific disclosure and to summon two former bank employees to give evidence at trial.
Ang v Reliantco Investments Ltd [2019] EWHC 879 (Comm); [2020] EWHC 2529 (Comm); [2020] EWHC 3242 (Comm): acting for the Defendant in: (i) an application challenging the jurisdiction of the English Court to hear a claim relating to the alleged wrongful close-out of Bitcoin futures; and (ii) at trial.
CMOC Sales & Marketing Ltd v Persons Unknown & 30 others [2018] EWHC 2230 (Comm): acting for international commodities business subject to a sophisticated Business Email Compromise fraud. Obtained first-known reported worldwide freezing injunction against ‘Persons Unknown’.
Representing a minority member of a syndicated lending facility in a claim against the majority lender for breach of contract and conspiracy in relation to a settlement of the underlying debt.
Representing the sellers of a fintech business in a claim by the purchaser for breach of warranty.
Acting for a European software house against an international financial institution for claims of breach of a licence agreement and defending a counterclaim for breach of contract.
Representing shareholders and partners in claims for unfair prejudice, rectification of the shareholder register, and partnership dissolutions.