Doughty Street Chambers

Sarah has extensive experience in media and information law litigation, acting for both claimants and defendants and has advised a broad range of clients, including government departments, local authorities, police forces, NHS trusts, professional regulatory bodies, television companies, the national and local press, as well as for individuals. Her practice also includes pre-publication advisory work for national newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and major publishing houses.

Year of call: 1999

"A real star of the junior media Bar." "She is hugely impressive, excellent with clients and very strong in her field.” - The Legal 500 and Chambers UK.

Listed as “up and coming” in the Evening Standard’s 1000 Most Influential People, Sarah practices in all areas of media and information law, including defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, data protection, freedom of information, harassment, negligent misstatement, Articles 8 and 10 related human right law, contempt, election law and reporting restrictions. She also has a strong interest in media regulation. She is recognised by the legal directories as a leading barrister in these areas.

Sarah has appeared in numerous high-profile defamation and privacy actions. She represented Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail, at The Leveson Inquiry and previously acted on behalf of the BBC at The Hutton Inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly. Her significant cases include acting with Andrew Caldecott QC on behalf of the intervening media in the Supreme Court in Spiller v Joseph, an important case in the development of the defence of honest opinion. High profile claimant cases include acting for Mohammed Dahlan (the Palestinian Authority’s former Minister for Security), Neil and Christine Hamilton and Bruce Grobbelaar.