Sarah is joint head of the firm's dispute resolution department with Duncan Crine. She has a broad based practice, but with particular expertise in dealing with professional indemnity and contentious trust and probate disputes. She is recognised as a leader in Chambers and recommended in Legal 500.
Sarah also leads the contentious probate team working for private clients on matters relating to disputed wills, estates and trusts.
Sarah also has extensive experience of dealing with claims made against professionals to include solicitors, accountants, engineers, surveyors, architects and brokers. She also advises insurers on coverage disputes to include dishonesty issues and successor practice issues.
Some examples of Sarah’s significant cases include:
- Re Servoz-Gavin deceased [2009] Ch D (Leeds): Validity of an oral will made by a merchant seaman in service with a foreign vessel
- Representing the widow of the deceased in a complex, multi party and multi-jurisdictional claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975
- Successfully resisting a claim for £165m made against a City firm in relation to an alleged failure to obtain appropriate licences for change of use when granting leases of London offices.
- Acting for an architect in arbitration proceedings arising out of the development of a site in Oxford. The claim was dismissed with costs in the architect's favour.
- Advising upon the scope of cover for a solicitor acting in a quasi partnership, arising out of a £2m mortgage fraud.
Sarah trained at Lovells in the City of London and qualified in 1994. She joined Henmans in 1999 and became a partner in 2003. She was appointed as joint head of the dispute resolution department in 2007. Her paper on e-disclosure can be read here. Her paper on undue influence can be read here.