Sarah is ranked as a leading silk in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Recently, she has been instructed in a number of significant and high profile cases, including allegations of systemic corruption at Liverpool City Council, a challenge to the legality of the CPS charging guidance on consent and deception, and the defence of the comedy writer and journalist Graham Linehan.
Sarah’s economic crime practice involves not only trial work but also pre-charge challenges to investigatory powers. An ability to be pro-active from the inception of an investigation is something she regards as essential in the context of any modern criminal defence practice, but particularly those involving professional and corporate suspects.
Sarah’s exceptional skill with vulnerable witnesses and defendants was recognised by the fact that she was selected as a facilitator to train other advocates under the ICCA’s Advocacy & the Vulnerable programme.
Her published work includes case updates for Taylor on Appeals, and consultation responses on behalf of the South Eastern Circuit and the multi-disciplinary organisation Legal Feminist. She is currently writing a series of articles for publication by the Criminal Law Review. Sarah regularly advises Parliamentary parties on foreseeable legal and human rights risks arising from prospective legislation.
A focus on her clients’ bespoke needs, often from the very early stages of a criminal investigation, means that Sarah is rarely now available to conduct publicly funded work save in exceptional cases. She believes that achieving the best outcome for a client involves her having the time available to give to their cause. As a consequence, those who instruct Sarah usually do so at an early stage.
2025
Legal 500: ‘Sarah is extremely intelligent and prepares thoroughly. She is a first class advocate and her clients are fortunate to have her leading the team.’
Chambers & Partners: ‘Sarah is tenacious, full of enthusiasm for the cause and works really hard. She puts in the time, prepares cases well all the way through and offers constant attention.’
‘She is quite simply a natural in silk. She has dealt with a sensitive case with the utmost skill and ease. She is easily the most competent person in the courtroom.’
2024
Legal 500: ‘Sarah is a very serious player. She has a great courtroom presence, is a brilliant cross-examiner and a very humane and funny individual. She has served time defending in the most difficult and unpopular cases so she is as tough as they come and has seen it all.’
Chambers & Partners: "A truly wonderful advocate. Both her written and oral advocacy are unquestionably excellent."
“Her emotional intelligence with juries is there for all to see.”
2023
Chambers & Partners: “An outstanding and fierce advocate whom you want in your corner.”
Legal 500: ‘It is difficult to express the relief one feels with Sarah by your side on a tricky case. She has the ability to really identify the key issues and plan to deal with them one by one.’
"Sarah is an incredibly hard worker, and diligent in her preparation. Her use of English in her written pleading phenomenal, which makes any written argument succinct and effective. Sarah also has an easy and affable charm which puts clients at their ease, which professional clients love her for. "
Sarah is also instructed to resist applications for protective orders (account freezing, restraint, cash forfeiture)
Sarah is recognised as an expert in the field of sexual offending, and her practice has encompassed allegations ranging from minor sexual assaults to serial rape (involving social situations, professional contexts and between strangers), sadistic abuse and familial sexual harm. She has extensive experience dealing with neurodivergent clients, and understands well how the stresses arising from sexual allegations can impact an accused’s ability to participate in his or her own case.
Notable cases include the following:
Sarah is also instructed to resist applications for protective orders (Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Sexual Risk Orders; Notification Orders/Requirements)
Sarah is currently instructed in a challenge to the CPS’s charging guidance for rape and sexual offences where consent is alleged to be vitiated by deception.
Sarah has advised both individual and corporate clients on pre-charge strategy, reputational threats, protecting privacy rights and police use of ‘common law disclosure’ against an accused. This early input frequently results in matters being resolved in the client’s favour without any publicity.
