Sarah specialises in defending and has a strong reputation for winning unusual, complicated and demanding cases. Sarah knows the enormous stress and difficulty legal proceedings cause to clients and those close to them, and is skilled at dealing with the issues that arise with firmness and sensitivity.
The successful defence of the former Director-General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Obtaining acquittals on multiple counts of rape and administering a noxious substance.
A significant reduction on sentence on appeal to the Court of Appeal for familial consensual sexual offending.
Sarah is a ranked individual Silk in Chambers and Partners 2024 who say:
"She is a stand-out practitioner and a fearless and superb advocate."
"She is a phenomenal advocate and fantastic with judges and the jury. She pays close attention to detail, is very thorough in preparation and is user-friendly."
"Sarah works relentlessly with clients and has exceptional communication skills. Her advocacy is second to none and she commands the respect of judges and has a very sharp analytical mind."
"She is the best cross-examiner and is fantastic dealing with vulnerable witnesses in high pressure cases. She is very collegiate, makes amazing speeches and wins the unwinnable cases."
Solicitor sources for previous editions have said:
"Talented defence silk Sarah Elliott KC has a plethora of experience of appearing in high-profile general crime cases. She is particularly sought out by solicitors for matters concerning complex homicide and rape."
"She is fearless when it comes to taking on difficult cases and running difficult defence. She works phenomenally hard and is an extremely gifted trial advocate."
"A fantastic trial lawyer – one of the very best cross-examiners of tricky witnesses". "She lives breathes and sleeps her cases and is an arch strategist."
"Produces brilliant cross-examinations and amazing closing speeches. She is both great on the detail and good at stepping back and looking at the wider perspective."
"Sarah is a fierce advocate who understands juries impeccably" "She is a tough opponent and takes the right points firmly."
"One the most wanted listed for heavy weight crime."
"Sarah Elliott is hugely well prepared for every case she does. She knows the case better than anybody else in court. She’s developed a specialist sex practice. Without a doubt, she’s absolutely top notch."
Sarah is recommended as a Leading Silk in the Legal 500 who say:
“Her manner and skill before a jury are a master class”. “The go-to silk for sex cases”
“Her core strengths are having an incredible attention to detail; but also an ability to step back from a case and provide overall strategic advice. Her cross-examination of witnesses perceived as being vulnerable is incredibly skilful. It is an incredibly difficult art; but Sarah is a master of it.”
“Sarah is a superb cross-examiner. She is forensic in her approach to examining witnesses and she is brilliant at exploiting points that may assist the defence case. Sarah knows how to make the pitch perfect closing speech - she is exceptional at presenting her client’s case to a jury. She is also a very sensible tactician and her approach strategic approach to cases is invaluable.”
"Sarah is a brilliant cross-examiner, particularly of vulnerable, un-cooperative or reluctant witnesses. She is brilliant before a jury and makes truly exceptional speeches. She is also adept at presenting complex legal arguments in a persuasive and attractive manner."
The current edition says:
"Sarah is the best trial advocate around. She is totally on top of evidence and the issues in the case as well as fearless in the face of tough judges and aggressive prosecutors. Juries enjoy her grilling of those who come to the witness box with an agenda and with something to protect."
She has also been described in the directories as:
“A superb jury advocate, who knows the law from back to front.” "one of the very best trial advocates around."
“leaving clients reassured by her manner and juries persuaded by her arguments.”
Sarah is available for advice at all stages of criminal proceedings and regularly provides consultations for individuals and their families at the very earliest stages of an investigation, pre-police interview and pre-charge.
She also is available for advice in criminal appeals or potential appeals and ‘second opinion’ work.
Consultations can either be in person or via video conferencing/Skype.
Sarah accepts both privately and publicly funded instructions and accepts cases under the Public Access scheme.
She is also available by private instruction for a wide variety of criminal work and at all stages of proceedings.
Please contact Matt Butchard from our practice management team for further details.
Sarah specialises in defending the most difficult and demanding of homicide cases which require a particularly careful approach.
In 2025 her instructions include acting in a 20 year old double murder leading Jake Taylor and co-defending with James Wood KC and David Rhodes.
Recent homicide and related grave offences cases include:
In 2024 she defended a nursery nurse accused of unlawfully killing a nine-month-old baby in her care, leading Jake Taylor. Read more here.
In 2023 she secured a verdict of diminished responsibility for a teenager accused of murdering his grandmother, (leading Kate O’Raghallaigh). Read more here.
In 2022 she defended a 19-year-old student of good character accused of participating in a London gang related killing (leading Kate O’Raghallaigh) and acted for a vulnerable defendant with serious cognitive impairment accused of murdering a fellow resident in a hostel (leading Maryam Mir).
In 2019 she represented a woman accused of beating a man to death, (leading David Rhodes) and secured a suspended sentence for a woman accused of the attempted murder of her 3 month old baby.
In 2018 she secured a manslaughter conviction by reason of diminished responsibility for a client charged with murdering his grandmother by trying to behead her, leading Daniella Waddoup.
In 2017 she represented a man accused of causing brain damage to his flat mate by beating him and making a video of drinking the victim’s blood.
Also in 2017, she secured a manslaughter conviction for a man accused of the incredibly brutal killing of a criminal solicitor.
In 2016 she secured an acquittal for a man accused of the ‘mercy killing’ of his father.
Also in 2016, she defended a man extradited from Ireland for the murder of his landlord and concealment of his body. The accused was a convicted child sex offender who alleged the landlord asked for sex in lieu of rent.
Sarah is one of the leading silks at the Bar for defending sexual allegations. She is counsel of choice for solicitors and those accused of sexual offences because of her proven track record in achieving successful outcomes in all types of cases, from multiple rape allegations to possession of indecent images, and at all stages of proceedings from pre-charge to appeal.
She is known for her tactical skill and determination in achieving positive results for clients while providing them with a sympathetic and sensitive approach.
Sarah is regularly asked to provide pre-charge advice and can assist solicitors and clients through all of the early stages of proceedings. She is able to advise on the consequential effects of allegations of sexual offending and on reputation management. She is available for post-trial appeal advice and ‘second opinion’ work.
A senior Rabbi accused of sexual assault.
A GP accused of inappropriate conduct towards a patient.
A man accused of multiple sexual assaults of clients in the beauty industry.
Secured the acquittal of the former Director General of the IOPC on charges of historic allegations of child rape.
Secured the acquittal of a man accused of repeatedly raping and drugging his partner, leading Erim Mushtaq.
Secured the acquittal of a man accused of a filmed date rape.
Successfully represented a teenage boy accused of repeated flashing on the Finchley Road.
Secured the acquittal of a successful businessman accused of a historic sexual relationship with his niece when she was a child.
Successfully represented a national captain sportsman accused of discreditable conduct by the governing body for that sport through relationships with younger competitor.
Successfully represented a leading insurance broker accused of sexually assaulting an employee at the industry awards dinner (leading Liam Walker KC).
Secured the acquittal of a man accused of sexual assault of his daughter on CCTV in the Israeli embassy.
Ensured the discontinuance of the prosecution of one man in a married couple both charged with indecent images and negotiated an acceptable plea to substantially reduced charges for his husband.
Successfully represented the appellant in R v BQC [2021 EWCA Crim 1944] in the Court of Appeal resulting in the quashing of 26 convictions (leading Farrhat Arshad KC).
Successfully defended a young man with Asperger’s accused of the rape of a woman he met on a dating app.
Successfully negotiated pleas to fewer charges and a less restrictive SHPO for a middle-aged man charged with multiple serious sexual offences against a 15-year-old.
Successfully defended a religious minister accused of historic sexual allegations.
Secured the offering of no evidence against a young foreign student accused of rape where the complainant was highly intoxicated, after pursuing pre-trial disclosure issues.
Obtained a suspended sentence for a man who had pleaded guilty to arranging to meet a 13-year-old for penetrative sex.
Secured the acquittal of a man on allegations of sexual touching of his stepdaughter.
Persuaded the CPS to accept a plea to common assault rather than the sexual assault charge, thereby avoiding the notification requirements of the sexual offences register.
