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Sarah is the Head of the Housing and Social Welfare Team.

Sarah Steinhardt specialises in housing and community care, education, discrimination and equality law, and public and administrative law.

Sarah is particularly noted for her expertise in discrimination in housing and other discrimination outside of the employment field, and she enjoys working proactively and imaginatively to achieve positive outcomes for clients. She is astute to public funding issues and costs and always happy to discuss strategy at an early stage.

Sarah has been ranked in Chambers and Partners for Social Housing since 2016. The current edition (2026) identifies her as a ‘Star Individual’ and says: “Sarah Steinhardt is an effective, accomplished advocate with pronounced expertise in mental capacity and Equality Act issues in the context of social housing. Her impressive practice takes in homelessness cases and challenges to allocation schemes. She regularly handles disability discrimination matters as part of her diverse practice.”

Her strengths are reported as follows:

  • “Sarah is a brilliant housing lawyer across the board, with phenomenal knowledge. She is able to break down technical issues and identify their practical impact quickly and clearly.”
  • “A brilliant mind combined with a practical approach; she gets the best result for the client.”
  • “She fights really hard for her clients and is inspirational on her feet. Her advocacy is thorough, clear, authoritative and persuasive.”
  • “Sarah provides extraordinary focus on the clients, and particularly homeless vulnerable women.”

Previous editions of Chambers and Partners commented that “Sarah is a very experienced and impressive practitioner who is able to handle complex matters and take inventive and novel points.” “Her advocacy is exemplary, she is very personable with clients, and her advice, drafting and help generally in progressing a difficult case are second to none.” “Sarah is a real authority on Equality Act 2010 issues and also a really clear communicator, breaking down complex technical issues with ease.” She is “sharp, brave, has a real eye for detail and is an exceptionally persuasive and authoritative advocate. She’s also practical and pragmatic.” “Sarah Steinhardt is immensely hard-working, knowledgeable and also a brilliant communicator, breaking down complex technical issues with ease.” ”Sarah is a highly intellectual, dynamic and fierce advocate. She thinks outside the box, is committed to her clients and is keen to continue to advance the law to protect their rights.” “Sarah is a first-class advocate, very approachable and super-reliable in getting across the points you want made during a hearing." Other comments noted that Sarah is ”one of the best Equality Act lawyers I have worked with.” “Her knowledge is second to none. Clients are blown away by her and are comfortable and reassured having Sarah on their case.” ”Sarah is very knowledgeable, works at an impressive pace against deadlines and gives clear advice on legal and practical issues.” “She is so clever and is a go to on the Equality Act”.

Sarah has also been ranked as a Leading Junior in Legal 500 since 2016. The current edition (2026) ranks her in Social Housing (band 2), Education (band 3) and Public and Administrative Law (band 4) and reports that;

“Sarah is straight-talking and a superb communicator both with instructing solicitors and with clients. On her feet she is at her most impressive. Her advocacy is really clear, sharp and focused. Even when arguing dry, deeply complex points of law, she manages to keep her advocacy compelling, interesting and engaging.”

Previous editions of Legal 500 commented that: “Sarah is a first-rate advocate, ardent yet acutely plausible, and utterly compelling. Outside the courtroom, her advice and drafting are scrupulous and intelligent. She is courageous in the face of difficult cases and possessed of a very patient, reassuring manner with clients.” (Social Housing); and, “Hardworking with great attention to detail and with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Equality Act. Easy to work with and persuasive on her feet with a clear crisp advocacy style” (Education).

Sarah is also a Deputy District Judge.

Housing and Social Welfare

Sarah practises in the full range of housing matters from possession proceedings and disrepair, to anti-social behaviour injunctions, homelessness and allocations, and unlawful evictions.

Sarah is particularly experienced at dealing with discrimination in housing and has had considerable success in claims concerning discrimination arising from disability, reasonable adjustments, Article 14, and the public law equality duty. She is passionate about representing vulnerable people, and committed to building a good rapport with clients and enabling positive and engaged decision making.

Sarah frequently delivers seminars and training on housing. She is the co-author of the Housing title of Atkins Court Forms and of the Ninth edition of Defending Possession Proceedings. She takes a keen interest in the developing law and welcomes the opportunity to explore novel approaches.

Some recent examples include:

Equality and Discrimination

Sarah’s practice encompasses discrimination law in housing, education and goods and services. It is the common thread running through her practice and as such she is able to employ innovative arguments by reading across practice areas. 

Sarah edits the Legal Action Discrimination Quantum Reports column.

Examples of recent cases include:

 

Land and Property

Sarah acts in cases including orders for sale, proprietary estoppel matters, boundary disputes, trespass and adverse possession, and nuisance. She has acted for both leaseholders and residents’ management companies in service charge disputes in the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) and in the County Court.

Administrative and Public Law

Sarah is frequently instructed in judicial review matters, in particular those relating to local government including homelessness, education and community care, and in relation to equality and discrimination. 

Sarah is recommended as a Leading Junior in Public and Administrative Law in the Legal 500.

Examples of recent cases include: 

Education Law

Sarah represents parents, students, schools and local authorities in public law education appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal, disability discrimination cases in the FTT and the County Court, and in related judicial review proceedings. She has appeared in cases involving maintained and independent schools, academies and colleges, and in matters involving school transport, EHC Plans, exclusions and admissions, and discrimination.

Sarah is ranked as a Leading Junior in Education law by the Legal 500.

Examples of recent cases include:

Community Care and Health

Sarah frequently acts in cases involving sections 17 and 20 Children Act 1989 support and accommodation, provision to care leavers and looked after children, and in Care Act 2015 matters.

She has particular experience and expertise in discrimination law and public/private cross over cases including public law claims with associated damages claims.