“Every dispute is different, as is each client’s priorities. This dynamic environment enables me to explore, investigate and understand not just the legal issues in play, but also the big-picture outcome that the client wants. Not every dispute is personal, but the service I seek to provide always is.”

Sarah is an experienced specialist in both commercial dispute resolution and property litigation.

Her commercial experience spans numerous sectors and types of dispute, including food- and health-safety, hospitality, oil and gas, corporate/commercial, financial and debt, and contentious insolvency.

She also leads the London property litigation practice, and has advised on a wide range of contentious property and contractual issues, including those involving telecommunications, the Building Safety Act 2022, claims arising from property contracts, landlord and tenant disputes, and title issues.

Sarah assists clients from the outset by providing advice on preventative rather than reactive strategy considerations, pre-action communication and litigation strategy; through to settlement and/or the pursuit of alternative methods of dispute resolution and conducting litigation in the courts and Lands tribunal.

Areas of practice include:

Admitted

2011: Scotland
2015: England and Wales

Relevant experience

Commercial Litigation

Playing a senior key role a High Court Case relating to a dispute between the owners of Sheffield United Football Club, including an s994 Unfair Prejudice Petition.
Providing advice to and acting for LPA-appointed receivers in respect of various commercial, property-based and telecommunication issues.
Acting for a fish processor, his family and the family group of companies in an approx £4 million unfair prejudice petition against its joint venture partner and associated proceedings.
Successfully defending a claim brought by purchasers of a dental practice who sought to claim NHS clawback under a GDS contract from the seller of the dental practice.
Successfully defending a €100 million claim in dishonest assistance and knowing receipt against a leading UK financial institution, and a third-party claim in negligence against a compliance consultant.
Acting in the successful defence of a leading provider of pre-paid funeral plans in High Court proceedings brought by industry competitors for procurement of a breach of contract.
Acting for a mining engineering consultancy in a TCC dispute over the supply of services contract. Advancing proceedings for unpaid invoices and defending a substantial counterclaim for the breach of contract for the supply of the same services.
Providing advice to and acting for LPA appointed receivers in respect of various property-based dispute and telecommunication issues.

Property Litigation

Providing advice to both institutional landlords and tenants in respect of LTA 1954 and property contract dispute, and conducting litigation.
Providing advice and acting for both landlord and tenant clients in respect of dilapidation claims and breach of covenant matters.
Providing advice and acting for landlords in matters of trespass and commencing and conducting litigation in respect thereof.
Acting for prominent telecommunication operator in respect of matters concerning the Electronic Communications Code.

Food and Health & Safety Disputes

Defending food safety proceedings commenced against nationwide food chains arising out of the prosecution of restauranteurs for alleged offences relating to the supply of contaminated food products and personal injuries sustained by patrons of restaurants.
Defending health- and food-safety proceedings commenced against food business operators by local authorities arising out of the prosecution for serious food hygiene offences and 'food fraud' through the illegal provision of goods without authority from the Food Standards Agency.

“I want to express my thanks and admiration for your help on this. It would have been a lot more challenging without S+W on the case and particularly Sarah, a heartfelt thanks to you especially”

LPA receiver client (2023)

Further testimonials

“The Board wish to thank you for all the very hard work and dedication you have put in to pull all the disparate and complex issues to create a robust and well-presented set of pleadings. You have worked incredibly hard to get the job done and that huge effort is much appreciated”

Construction and Property Management client company (2021)