Withers Worldwide

Overview

Sarah advises on general commercial litigation in the High Court, as well as arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. She particularly focuses on contractual disputes, insolvency, financial services litigation, and professional negligence.

"Sarah is deemed to be 'extremely dedicated' to her clients and wins praise for her work defending barristers." (Chambers and Partners 2012)

Highlights

• defending a German individual against a claim by a bank under a personal guarantee, where the security for the principal loan has been lost (Barclays Bank v Kufner [2008] EWHC 2319 (Comm));
• acting for a American individual on a potential negligence claim against his accountants arising from an HMRC assessment of incorrect tax returns;
• acting for a Jersey based oil trader in its claim in an LCIA arbitration against a partially stated owned Russian oil company for non-performance under a sale contract and pre-finance contract;
• defending two barristers against an additional claim brought against them by the defendant in an ongoing dispute relating to payment due under after the event insurance polices in respect of an application for a group litigation order;
• advising a German company on possible claims arising from a dispute over bridging finance;
• advising the government of a former communist country on a claim brought by an American company, which seeks to argue that the government is an ‘alter ego' of a formerly state owned entity;
• advising the London branch of an Icelandic bank on the effects of English insolvency on its proposed employee benefit trust (non-contentious);
• advising a number of companies on the corporate recovery options offered by insolvency procedures such as company voluntary arrangements and administration, including pre-packaged sales (non-contentious).

Publications and speaking engagements

Sarah has written several articles and updates for the firm's website, mainly on the topics of insolvency and professional negligence.

She is the co-author, with Christopher Coffin, of ‘Banking on UCTA' (N.L.J. 2009, 159(7355), 189-190), relating to the case of Barclays Bank v Kufner.

Memberships

• Financial Services Lawyers Association
• London Solicitors Litigation Association
   

On a personal note

Sarah enjoys hill walking, foreign travel, and socialising, ideally combined. She also enjoys the occasional Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage.