Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Client Satisfaction

Lawyers

Sarah Ellington

Sarah Ellington

Work Department

Dispute Resolution

Position

Sarah is a solutions-focussed disputes lawyer, who has been resolving disputes using both formal and informal mechanisms for multinational corporations, governments, governmental agencies and international organisations for over 15 years. She leads teams of lawyers and experts to resolve large and complex multi-jurisdiction litigation and arbitration. Sarah is particularly known for her work on environmental, social and governance (including human rights) disputes, IT and outsourcing disputes and fraud investigations and asset recovery, as well as ESG and impact advisory.

She is one of only a few lawyers to combine experience on complex and high-profile group litigation with advising on complaints to non-judicial mechanisms, such as OECD National Contact Points, UN Special Procedure mandates and private, sector-based accountability mechanisms. She also has experience drafting and developing novel non-judicial grievance mechanisms.

Sarah uses this experience to advise clients on managing liability and dispute risks in the context of compliance and regulatory advice and works with clients across several sectors on related risk management and governance issues in corporate transactions, commercial contracts, project development and financing.

Sarah is recognised by Legal 500 UK 2025 for ESG. She is described as “a standout ESG expert” with a “great strategic mindset” and “huge experience and expertise in this area”.

Memberships

IBA Business and Human Rights Committee Society for Computers and Law, ESG Committee Legal Innovation for Sustainable Investment (LISI), Co-creator. Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), UK Regional Board member

Education

2005 – 2006 · College of Law, Legal Practice Course (Distinction) 2004 – 2005 · College of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction) 2000 – 2004 · University of Leeds, BA (Hons) History-Spanish (First)

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