Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Family

Sarah is a partner in the Payne Hicks Beach Family department and head of Modern Family Law.

Sarah has extensive experience in all children law matters, often with an international and public law dimension, and a Court of Protection practice concerning vulnerable and incapacitous individuals.  Sarah also has expertise in all aspects of modern family law, encompassing matters such as domestic and international surrogacy arrangements, adoption, donor conception and issues concerning parentage. Her practice operates at the cutting-edge of family law and, as such, often intersects with matters of public policy and human rights. Sarah is ranked in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 and is an integral member of the team which won Family Law Team of the Year at the Chambers High Net Worth Awards 2024. She is recognised in Chambers & Partners as having an “encyclopaedic knowledge of the law,” “being one of the most highly respected lawyers … spearheading applications of the law to new and emerging family forms”, by The Legal 500 as “Next Generation Partner”, a “stand out individual” and recommended by Spears.

Sarah advises on complex, ultra-high net worth, high profile, multi-party sensitive children law matters with serious welfare considerations including, domestic abuse, coercive controlling behaviour, high-conflict disputes, alienating behaviours, abduction, international and domestic relocation of children and health and welfare disputes concerning vulnerable individuals, including those concerning capacity, gender and decisions regarding serious medical treatment.

Sarah is prolific legal commentator. Sarah is shortlisted as Family Law Commentator of the Year 2024 at the forthcoming LexisNexis Family Law Awards. In 2023, Sarah was a finalist for both Family Law Partner of the Year and Family Law Commentator of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards. She has recently being invited to speak at a European Chapter meeting for the International Academy of Family Lawyers, The Law Society and at international forums. She is an annual contributing author for the International Comparative Legal Guide (Family Law), regularly contributes to esteemed domestic and international family law journals, the legal press and is a University Guest Lecturer on Family Law and Ethics.

Sarah spent the first decade of her career as a practising private and public family law Barrister at a leading set of chambers representing parents, children, guardians, Local Authorities and the Official Solicitor in complex and sensitive children law cases. Sarah’s practice included those concerning serious medical issues such as FII, non-accidental injuries to children, international adoption, international abduction, enforcement of foreign orders, international and domestic relocation of children and cases involving vulnerable adults. Appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown.

2024 Speaking engagements:

American Bar Association, Boston, USA: How Far can a Hague Treaty get us?

26th Annual Family Law Conference, in conjunction with the University of Western Cape, South Africa. Trans matter in the family court

Guys and St. Thomas’ Medical School: Family Law and Ethics: Parentage, Capacity and Consent

2024 Publications:

International Comparative Legal Guide: (Expert Chapter)

Spear’s: Why (U)HNW families should think twice before moving abroad for tax reasons https://spearswms.com/law/why-hnw-families-should-think-twice-before-relocating-for-tax-reasons/

Spear’s: English family law is failing to keep up with changes in society https://spearswms.com/law/english-family-law-is-failing-to-keep-up-with-changes-in-society-cohabitation-surrogacy/

TV interview: BBC London News: Pitfalls of overseas surrogacy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm528vv490go

The Financial Times – Is ‘birdnesting’ the answer for divorcing parents https://www.ft.com/content/3edfe4c0-df3e-4848-baa1-490a4f8e740a

Tatler: Thinking about surrogacy? Here’s why you need legal help https://www.tatler.com/article/importance-of-surrogacy-lawyers

Today’s Family Lawyer: New fertility provision proposals for LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV champion equality. Co-authored with Evelyn Collins of Payne Hicks Beach https://todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk/new-fertility-provision-proposals-for-lgbtq-people-and-people-living-with-hiv-champion-equality/

Family Law Week: Proposals for greater equality of fertility provision for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV. Co-authored with Evelyn Collins of Payne Hicks Beach https://www.familylawweek.co.uk/articles/proposals-for-greater-equality-of-fertility-provision-for-lgbtq-people-and-people-living-with-hiv/

2023 Notable reported case: Re S (Inherent Jurisdiction: Transgender Surgery Abroad) [2023] EWHC 347. Acting Pro Bono for the primary carer in this case of significant public interest before The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane. The case concerned the validity of an adolescent’s consent to transgender surgery, wardship, competing medical and legal positions here and in an anonymised foreign jurisdiction, issues of human rights and domestic public policy and the appropriate engagement of the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court. https://www.phb.co.uk/article/inherent-jurisdiction-transgender-surgery-abroad-2023/

2023 Speaking engagements:

The Law Society Cross Border Event: New Challenges for Private Clients in Europe – Modern Families (co-presenter)  https://learn.lawsociety.org.uk/product/modern-families-new-challenges-for-private-clients-in-europe/

Guys and St. Thomas’ Medical School: Lectures on Family Law and Ethics and Parentage, Capacity and Consent

Podcast with My Surrogacy Journey ‘Family Building via Surrogacy for those in the Public Eye’.

2023 Publications:

International Comparative Legal Guide: (Expert Chapter)

Family Law Journal. Lifting the Veil: Donor Identification. Co-authored with Jennifer Lee, Barrister  Lifting the veil: donor identification (familylaw.co.uk)

Revista (Numero 83, Espana): La gestación por subrogación en Europa: situación jurídica y enfoque comparativo entre Inglaterra y Gales, Francia, Italia y España. Co-author  https://www.sepin.es/revistas-digitales/familia-y-sucesiones/info-revista.asp?cde=54

2022 Notable reported case: R v S [2022] EWFC 65

Acting for the mother in response to an “unprecedented” application by the father for the disclosure of internal CCTV footage from mother’s home. The application raised grave issues concerning competing ECHR Art 6 and Art 8 rights. The father’s Application was successfully dismissed.  https://www.phb.co.uk/article/inherent-jurisdiction-transgender-surgery-abroad-2023/

2022 Speaking engagements, include:

International Academy of Family Lawyers, European Chapter Meeting, Athens ‘Modern Family Law Developments’

Guys and St. Thomas’ Medical School: Family Law and Ethics in 2022

Guys and St. Thomas’ Medical School: Addressing Issues of Capacity in 2022

Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Medical School: The Changing Face of Motherhood in 2022

An Examination of Modern Family Creation and Family Forms in 2022: Comparative European Approaches to Parentage, Payne Hicks Beach International Legal Event

2022 Publications, include:

International Comparative Legal Guide: (Expert Chapter)

International Family Law Journal: The Legal Status of Surrogacy in Europe – co-author. https://www.libra-avocats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pages-from-IFL_2022_01_SWilliams.pdf 

STEP Journal: ‘Legal Conceptions’ (Issue 2) - file:///I:/028000/0135/Docs/Private/PublicMarketing/OldWebsite/www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/legal-conceptions-surrogacy-and-modern-family-law-expert-sarah-williams-article-features-in-issue-2-of-step-journal.html]

AJ Famille, France: Le statut Légal de la gestation pour autrui en Europe – co-author.https://www.libra-avocats.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ARTICLE-SURROGACY-FR-VERSION-DEFINITIVE.pdf

My Surrogacy Journey blog: What's in store for international surrogacy? file:///I:/028000/0135/Docs/Private/PublicMarketing/OldWebsite/www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/whats-in-store-for-international-surrogacy.html

2021 Speaking Engagements, include:

‘High-Conflict Parenting Disputes – new approaches’. In association with OurFamilyWizard - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/our-family-wizard-high-conflict-parenting-disputes/

Informa Middle East: ‘What Constitutes a Family: Working with non-traditional family structures relating to children’  https://www.phb.co.uk/article/informa-connect-cross-border-planning-international-2021/

Informa Bermuda: ‘Working with non-traditional family structures’

Informa Cross Border Planning: Europe/International: ‘What constitutes a family?’ - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/informa-connect-cross-border-planning-international-2021/

Chair of International Movement of Children Event, following the Supreme Court Decision G V G UKSC2020/0191 https://www.phb.co.uk/article/international-movement-of-children-child-abduction-asylum-regimes-relocation/

TL4 Private Client: Succession Planning for Modern Families- https://www.phb.co.uk/article/thoughtleaders4-privateclient-succession-planning-for-modern-families/

Guy’s & St Thomas’ Medical School: Family Law and Ethics in 2021

Guy’s & St Thomas’ Medical School: Addressing Issues of Capacity in 2021

TL4: Sudden Incapacity: Legal Implications under the Prevalence of Covid https://www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/thoughtleaders4-privateclient-sudden-incapacity-legal-implications-under-the-prevalence-of-covid-sarah-williams-and-jessica-henson

MSJ: Surrogacy in the USA: Where to Start? https://www.phb.co.uk/article/surrogacy-in-the-us-where-to-begin-and-who-can-help/

Men Having Babies European Conference in Brussels: Parenting Options from an English Perspective: [file:///I:/028000/0135/Docs/Private/PublicMarketing/OldWebsite/www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/parenting-options-for-men-november-6-7-2021.html]

2021 Publications include:

International Comparative Legal Guide: (Expert Chapter)

Family Law: Covid-19 vaccination: Capacity and Best Interests – the first reported Court of Protection Judgment https://www.phb.co.uk/article/covid-19-vaccination-capacity-and-best-interests-the-first-reported-court-of-protection-judgment-sarah-williams-for-family-law/

Family Law: Childhood vaccination disputes in the era of COVID 19 https://www.phb.co.uk/article/childhood-vaccination-disputes-sarah-williams-for-family-law/

Capacity and sexual relations. Co-author. TL4  https://www.phb.co.uk/article/thoughtleaders4-privateclient-capacity-sexual-relations-a-radical-re-assessment/

Tatler: The Heir and the Spare: or are they? Co-author - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/top-lawyers-explain-everything-you-need-to-know-about-surrogacy-and-peerages-sarah-williams-for-tatler/

ThoughtLeaders4PrivateClient magazine February 2021 Issue 3: Capacity & Sexual relations - a radical reassessment - co-author https://www.phb.co.uk/article/top-lawyers-explain-everything-you-need-to-know-about-surrogacy-and-peerages-sarah-williams-for-tatler/

Future Lawyer blog lawbore: Surrogacy during a global pandemic - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/surrogacy-during-a-global-pandemic-interview-with-sarah-williams-for-future-lawyer-blog-lawbore/

Podcasts: Winner Gold Award CityWealth Best Podcast - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/payne-hicks-beach-is-delighted-to-be-the-winner-of-best-blog-podcast-of-the-year-at-the-2022-citywealths-brand-management-reputation-awards/

A series of award winning Modern Family Law Podcasts:

International Surrogacy: A Guide to New York  file:///I:/028000/0135/Docs/Private/PublicMarketing/OldWebsite/www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/international-surrogacy-new-york.html -]

International Surrogacy: A Guide to Florida - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/international-surrogacy-florida/

International Surrogacy: A Guide to California - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/californian-surrogacy-arrangements-what-all-uk-intended-parents-need-to-know/

International Surrogacy: An Intended Parent’s Perspective - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/surrogacy-a-parents-perspective/

The Truth behind Egg Freezing - The truth behind egg freezing - Sarah Williams and Professor Joyce Harper - file:///I:/028000/0135/Docs/Private/PublicMarketing/OldWebsite/www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/the-truth-behind-egg-freezing-sarah-williams-and-professor-joyce-harper.html]

Donor Gametes: Where to start? - https://www.phb.co.uk/article/how-to-find-the-right-donor-egg-sperm-and-gestational-surrogate-in-order-to-start-your-family/

2000 Publications include:

STEP Journal: The Parentage Trap. Co-author.  https://www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/the-parentage-trap-jessica-henson-sarah-williams-for-step-journal]

Family Law: Surrogacy in Unusual Circumstances: X, Re [2020] EWFC 39 https://www.phb.co.uk/legal-updates/the-parentage-trap-jessica-henson-sarah-williams-for-step-journal and https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/surrogacy-in-unusual-circumstances-x-re-2020-ewfc-39 ]

Family Law Journal: Eyes Wide Open: Transparency in the Family Courts https://www.phb.co.uk/article/eyes-wide-open-transparency-in-the-family-courts-sarah-williams-for-the-family-law-journal/

Family Law: Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v AB [2020] EWCOP 40

The Times: Landmark ruling restricts puberty blockers for children

2020 Speaking Engagements, include:

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Professional Development Conference: The Changing Face of Motherhood

2020 Press interviews/comments include:

The Guardian: ‘Parents fight in Court over whether children should return to school in England’ https://www.theguardian.com/law/2020/jun/02/parents-fight-in-court-over-whether-children-should-return-to-school-in-england

Financial Times: Navigating the lockdown causes stepfamilies further stress: https://www.ft.com/content/c464f112-82ff-11ea-b872-8db45d5f6714

Awards

Winner of the ‘Best blog/podcast of the Year’ for her podcast series - Citywealth Brand Management and Reputation Awards 2022

French

Professional Memberships include:

Family Law Bar Association

Association of Lawyers for Children

Franco-British Lawyers Society

American Bar Association

International Bar Association

Careful Child Relocation

Chair, Bar Liaison Committee, Inner Temple

Executive Committee, Inner Temple

Family Ambassador Board, Support Through Court

Bristol University: History BA (Hons)

The University of Law

Inns of Court School of Law