Coram Chambers

Children (public law and private law proceedings), international and mediation.

An accomplished and energetic family law barrister, Sarah specialises in acting for children, vulnerable parents and local authorities in public law proceedings. There is an international dimension to her work; she regularly handles leave to remove cases and Hague and non-Hague child abduction cases. A founder member of Coram Mediation, she is qualified to mediate in all civil disputes.

Called 2001, Sarah’s involvement in and enthusiasm for  children’s issues dates back to her time as a researcher in the House of Commons where she advised an MP and developed in him an interest in legislation relating to the care and wellbeing of children. She was responsible for the drafting of the ‘Regulation of Childcare Providers Bill’ which subsequently became law on its incorporation into the Children Act.

In addition, her experience of carrying out legal protection work for the United Nation High Commission for Refugees in Iran and Afghanistan and her time spent teaching English as a foreign language to children in China, Japan and Taiwan has given her valuable insight and understanding of the rights of children in diverse cultures, which she brings to the benefit of her current work.

Today she also has a thriving practice in private law proceedings and acts for parents and children separately represented through their guardian,

She has experience of acting at all levels of court, regularly appears in the High Court and has successfully brought a number of cases to the Court of Appeal. Described as creative and a keen fighter, she’s direct in her manner, straightforward and feisty.

An approachable ‘people person’, Sarah has tremendous rapport and empathy with clients from all walks of life. She draws on the skills she learned as a teacher to explain complex legal issues in simple language to vulnerable clients, those with learning difficulties, and those from different ethnic backgrounds. She truly understands the responsibility she bears to help people face traumatic family issues at a challenging time in their lives; she works long and hard, regularly going the extra mile for clients.

Sarah is very IT literate and uses technology to enhance the high levels of service she provides, creating and processing documentation quickly and efficiently, and carrying out in-depth internet research in support of her cases.

As a committed member of Coram Mediation, and having successfully mediated agreements in Iran, Sarah is a firm believer in the power of the mediation process to provide the best outcomes for clients.

Basic Japanese and Chinese.

The Family Law Bar Association; The South Eastern Circuit; Honorary life member of Liverpool University Students Guild in recognition of services to student welfare; Association of Lawyers for Children.

Liverpool (BA Hons); Harmsworth Scholarship (Middle Temple); Blackstone Entrance Exhibition (Middle Temple).