Introduction
Sarah came to the Bar after a successful first career in the public sector, culminating in Assistant Director posts in three London boroughs. She has also managed procurement for a multi-academy trust and worked for HM Treasury. Informed by her first career, Sarah has a wealth of practical knowledge and a pragmatic approach to litigation.
Sarah accepts instructions across the full range of employment law, including High Court business protection work. She also has an interest in Sports Law.
Employment
· Drafting opinions and advices. Examples include opinions on whether foreign-based employees of an international organisation could claim employment rights in the UK and on holiday pay.
· Drafting pleadings. Examples include a strike out application in a discrimination case and a defence in contract case.
· Preparing for hearings. Examples include preparing submissions for a CMC. I also undertook a pro bono case on unpaid wages in the absence of a contract of employment.
Employment Tribunal
| · Drafting opinions and advices. Examples include an unfair dismissal claim, including whether and at what level the client should seek to settle and whether a claimant was disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act.
· Drafting pleadings. Examples include lists of issues and agendas, a strike out application in a harassment case and further and better particulars in a discrimination case.
· Preparing for hearings. Examples include drafting opening submissions for a strike out application or deposit order in a discrimination case. |
High Court Employment Work
· Drafting opinions and advices. Examples include the interpretation of the Grenada Employment and Labour Relations Acts and merits on a point of law (the Jhuti principle) for an EAT appeal.
· Drafting pleadings. Examples include a request for further information (team moves case), a pre-action letter (team moves case), opening submissions re an interim relief application and a defence (breach of restrictive covenant case).
· Preparing for hearings. Examples include an XX for a disability discrimination case.
Restrictive covenants, sports and commercial law
| · Drafting opinions and advices. Examples include the ET’s power to draw inferences in unfair dismissal/disability discrimination cases and a shareholder dispute re loss of directorship and shareholding, including potential remedies.
· Drafting pleadings. Examples include an amendment to a Particulars of Claim to include a new cause of action (conspiracy) and a notice of appeal (discrimination case re recruitment).
· Preparing for hearings. Examples include closing submissions for a sports arbitration case (breach of contract) and a chronology and cast list for a speedy trial (restrictive covenants case). |
General Employment Work
· Drafting pleadings. Examples include a skeleton argument for a CMC, a Particulars of Claim for a restrictive covenant case and a case summary for a contract case re the non-payment of invoices.
· I also undertook my own cases, including a full two-day trial on redundancy unfair dismissal (I won the case in spite of multiple disclosure issues) and a trial in an unpaid bonus case.
Education
BPTC: BPP London – Very Competent (2019)
Lee Essay Prize (Gray’s Inn) – 2nd Prize (2019)
GDL (London Metropolitan University) – Distinction (2018)
GDL Prize for Outstanding Achievement (2018)
Gray’s Inn Scholarship (Albion Richardson Award, 2018)
Finalist in the Inner Temple Mooting Competition (January 2018)
Won the Lady Oliver Cup (London Metropolitan mooting competition – June 2017)
Reached the semi-finals of the ESU National Mooting Competition (June 2017)
Student Adviser at the BPP Housing Clinic
Modern History (Oxford University, 2:1, 1991); Dixon Prize for Finals Results, Michel Scholarship and Major Benefactor’s Prize · · S Level German (Distinction) · Diploma in German Translation (2001)
CIPFA accountancy qualification (1999)
