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Samantha is a partner and head of the California family law practice.
She has 20 years of litigation experience representing high net worth and high-profile clients in diverse fields including the entertainment and sports industry, executives, entrepreneurs, doctors and attorneys, as well as their spouses. She represents clients in all aspects of family law, concentrating much of her practice in the areas of complex financial issues, custody disputes and parenting issues.
Samantha also provides legal services in the area of cohabitation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She works with each client to prepare an agreement that is tailored to meet their individual needs and ensures that they understand how the agreements impact their rights and responsibilities under California law. Samantha's practice also includes mediation services, working with both sides to find common grounds for settlement.
Samantha received notable recognition within the legal profession being named to Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers list for divorce in both 2018 and 2022. In addition, she has been listed in Chambers and Partners as a leading lawyer in 2023, 2024 and 2025, as a Super Lawyer in Family Law for 2021-2026, and as a Best Lawyer in 2025 and 2026. Samantha's earlier career achievements include being recognized as a Rising Star in Family Law. In addition to her legal practice, Samantha serves on the Executive Committee of the Beverly Hills Bar Association - Family Law Section, and in 2019 joined the Board of Directors of C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California. She continues to volunteer as a mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court, Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel. Samantha also participates in continuing education programs as both a lecturer and a panelist.
In this video interview, Samantha discusses her professional history and explores key moments in her family law career and practice.
Recent recognition
Me in a minute
I will tell you what you need to know, not what you want to hear
I always tell prospective clients that lawyers are not one size fits all. You can be smart and skilled, and not be the right lawyer for a particular client or case. In family law, your lawyer will know more about your life than even the most trusted family members and friends. The lawyer you chose must be someone that you can trust to have the hard conversations with you in a frank and reasonable manner.
Many lawyers will tell you what you want to hear; I will tell you what you need to know whether the information is positive or poses a challenge in your case. At our best, family law lawyers are strategic thinkers and solution oriented. I use my experience to achieve settlement when feasible, and when it is not, I utilize the court process to achieve your goals.
Experience
Track record
Protecting child's safety
Acting for a parent who had significant mental health issues and ensuring that measures were in place to protect the child's safety while in that parents care so that she could continue to spend time with her children while focusing on her mental health.
Privacy concerns
Acting for a high-net-worth high-profile client with significant privacy concerns to settle her matter before filing for divorce.
Prenuptial agreements
Drafting and negotiating prenuptial agreements where the main concerns of the client is protecting existing family wealth from any claims by a future spouse.
Domestic violence
Defending clients from meritless domestic violence allegations.
Developing professional relationships
Developing relationships with opposing lawyers, and mental health and other professionals to better serve clients and their children.
Talks
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'Family Law,' Appraisers Association of America 2024 Art Law Day - November 8, 2024, speaker
- 'Trust begets trust - does a trust still work when a relationship breaks down? An international perspective,' Withers modern families navigating through trustplanning and tax codes event - October 1, 2024, presenter
- 'Planning Ahead Prenuptial, Postnuptial and Cohabitation Agreements,' Surgent Webinar - January 25, 2024, speaker
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'Marriage in Distress – do international prenuptial or postnuptial agreements and family trusts actually work to protect family wealth from division?,' Withersworldwide Hong Kong Family Office Conference 2023 – September 12, 2023, speaker
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'Marriage in Distress - do international prenuptial or postnuptial agreements and family trusts actually work to protect family wealth from division?,' Withersworldwide Singapore Family Office Conference 2023 – September 6, 2023, speaker
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'Direct Examination Family Law series,' Beverly Hills Bar Association - May 3, 2023, moderator
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'Direct Examination Family Law series,' Beverly Hills Bar Association - April 12, 2023, moderator
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'Direct Examination Family Law series,' Beverly Hills Bar Association - February 1, 2023, speaker
- 'Breaking into Family Law,' Beverly Hills Bar Association - June 15, 2022, speaker
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‘Withers talks: Leveling the playing field with Michael Rueda | Ep 7 - Family Matters - Navigating the turbulent waves of change,' Withers podcast - January 18, 2022, speaker
Insight
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are now more widely used and accepted around the world as couples enter into marriage. We show the position in California, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong, and why it’s important to have joined up, global advice.
External publications
- 'The ‘All’s Fair’ Guide to Modern Divorce,' The New York Times - November 5, 2025, quoted
- 'Samantha Klein: Finding a Path Forward Together,' Attorney at Law Magazine - July 7, 2025, featured
- 'Is it time for divorce? Therapists and attorneys weigh in,' CNN - March 4, 2025, quoted
- 'The Beverly Hills Bar Association in conversation with Samantha Klein: Family law,' Withers Insight - April 4, 2023, authored
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'From couch surfing to wine making: How US tech founders’ lives and families evolve,' Withers Insight - February 1, 2024, co-authored
- 'How Calif. Court Reporter Shift Will Impact Family Law Cases,' Law360 - September 23, 2022 , quoted
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'New ‘no-fault' divorce laws may stimulate rise in amicable splits among the wealthy,' Financial Times - June 27, 2022, quoted
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'I'm the owner of a business. What happens if my marriage breaks down?,' Withers article - January 20, 2022, co-authored
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'Joining the Firm,' Daily Journal - August 23, 2021, mentioned
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'On the Move: Tracking the Ins and Outs of California Lawyers,' The Recorder - August 20, 2021, mentioned
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'Withers Taps Hollywood Divorce Lawyer To Lead New Practice,' Law360 Pulse - August 19, 2021, quoted
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'Revolving doors: Withers makes global splash with four partner hires as Curtis opens in Saudi Arabia,' Legal Business - August 19, 2021, mentioned
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'Daily Docket,' Thomson Reuters Westlaw - August 17, 2021, mentioned
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'Withers hires Hollywood divorce lawyer to launch US family law practice,' The Global Legal Post - August 17, 2021, mentioned
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'Withers launches US family law practice with addition of partner Samantha Klein,' Withers Insight - August 16, 2021, quoted
Admissions
California, 2002
Education
Tulane University, J.D.
University of California, Berkeley, B.A.
Languages
- English
Memberships
Board Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Family Law Executive Committee, 2006 - Present
Volunteer Mediator (DSO), Alternative Dispute Resolution Panel at Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Law, 2010 - Present
Board Member, C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California, 2019 - Present
Board Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Executive
Key dates
- Year joined: 2021
- Year became partner: 2021