Samantha Lake Coghlan

Goodwin mourns the passing of London-based partner Samantha Lake Coghlan, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Sam faced her illness with extraordinary courage and resolve, not only during her fight to overcome it but also when it became clear that she could not prevail. Her thoughts were always for those around her rather than for herself and consequently at times it was possible to forget the challenges that she faced.

Sam passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her loving husband and her two teenage sons.

It is difficult to capture in words Sam’s indelible impact on Goodwin. In late 2011, she was an integral part of the team that opened and built from scratch the firm’s London office and, subsequently, a thriving U.K. platform.

Goodwin’s commanding presence in the United Kingdom today would never have come to be were it not for Sam’s ambitious vision and her tireless dedication to making this vision a reality. When Sam co-chaired the office from 2017 through 2021, Goodwin London became the talk of the town – a rapidly ascending firm, an underdog who made it, an upstart who would become The British Legal Awards’ 2023 Law Firm of the Year.

None of this would have been possible without Sam. A deeply empathetic leader, a talented lawyer, and – always and unconditionally – a kind and caring soul to those who were lucky to call her a colleague or a friend. Sam had woven herself into the very fabric of Goodwin. Her commitment to the firm’s community was enduring. Her presence is and will be forever felt.

Goodwin is incredibly grateful to Sam for all that she built, for her dedication and grit, for her indomitable spirit and radiant smile, and, above all, for her unwavering friendship to so many of us.

May Sam’s memory be a blessing.