23ES

Barrister

Sarah Thorne has been in practice for over 25 years.  Over the last decade she has been employed in-house exclusively defending.  She is in the process of applying for CPS grading.

She has built up an excellent reputation in Sussex as counsel who is always well prepared and able to efficiently and expeditiously conduct cases at the highest level.  Sarah routinely deals with cases of the utmost seriousness.

Sarah is well known as counsel who is excellent at sensitively handling clients and witnesses in cases involving allegations of sexual assault and rape.  She has many years of experience in questioning child and vulnerable witnesses and has dealt with s.28 cases.

She has conducted a number of murder trials as a junior, the most recent of which involved dealing with one of the largest phone downloads seen by either the OIC or the trial judge.

Sarah is regularly instructed in complex drugs cases and the resulting POCA disposals and has recent experience dealing with Civil Asset Freezing Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Sarah has been described by a senior Judge as: ‘a highly practical and effective advocate’ as well as ‘energetic and forceful, perfectly capable of dealing with the most truculent of clients’ and able to ‘cross-examine with both subtlety and vigour’.  Sarah is not afraid of giving straight advice where necessary but will passionately fight for her client without fear.  Another senior Judge has commented that Sarah is: ‘always well prepared and clearly has a great rapport with clients and opponents alike.  She is able to assist on procedural issues and makes realistic and persuasive arguments.  Sarah comes across as hardworking and a team player’.

Sarah is very proficient in dealing with the technology necessary for a successful practice in the 21st century.  She is fully computer literate and able to quickly learn the necessary skills to deal with new technological developments as they arise.

Having trained at ICSL I qualified in 1996 on completion of pupillage at Westgate Chambers Lewes where I remained for 18 years until accepting an in-house position as criminal defence barrister.  At this time I also qualified as a duty solicitor so was licensed to represent clients at the police station.  I worked for Harrington’s Solicitors in Brighton, then Mulrooney  Craghill (Tuckers) until starting at Horsmans in Lewes in 2016, remaining there until 2022 when I accepted a tenancy at 23es.

English

Vulnerable Witness Training ICCA 2018

RASSO training as defence counsel

Accredited Police Station Representative (2016 - 2022)

Member CBA

Member SE Circuit

Member Sussex Bar Mess

CPS Grade 2

1993 - University of London LSE LLB (Hons) - 2:1

1994 - ICSL Bar Vocational Course - Competent

2012 - Cardiff University Police Station Accreditation

I live in Brighton with my family

I enjoy running (have run 1 marathon), cycling, cooking, art and reading.