About Sarah
As a specialist in resolving inherited wealth disputes, my role is a huge privilege. I support and advise clients through some of the most difficult times of their lives. I do so clearly, compassionately and pragmatically, in terms of both cost and strategy. I strike a balance between avoiding court proceedings wherever possible with a robust approach if necessary. Whilst putting a client’s best case forward, I regularly review the cost versus benefit of taking the next step in litigation.
Sarah is an expert in handling cases involving both onshore and offshore assets including family businesses, family farms, art and digital assets.
She has extensive experience resolving disputes involving lifetime gifts, inheritance, validity and/or construction of testamentary and trust documents, as well as disputes between executors/administrators and trustees to include removal claims. Sarah has been involved in numerous cases involving burial disputes and DNA and has also acted for charities in defending legacies due to their organisations.
As a keen advocate for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), Sarah regularly acts for individuals and charities in mediation, settlement meetings and other forms of ADR.
Sarah qualified in 2010 and joined Russell-Cooke in 2024.
Sarah is a fantastic litigator with a client-focussed approach combined with a deft touch for litigation tactics.
Experience
- Worked on several cases in mediation, settlement meetings and other forms of ADR, namely:
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- defending an inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 claim brought by the adult daughter of the deceased against a spouse, with the Judge describing the claimant's case as "utterly hopeless"
- acting for the independent administrator in connection with the estate of a deceased domiciled in Georgia (the estate held in England and Wales included samples of DNA which was the subject of a dispute - the DNA was required to establish the paternity of a child of the deceased)
- acting for an estate in connection with the sum of £35 million held in Natwest Bank since the 1948
- Removal of executors and trustees of the estates of husband and wife in a joint application by way of section 50 Administration of Justice Act 1985
- Acting for a family member in bringing a statutory will application which dealt with the financial abuse committed by P's brother.
- Acting for a beneficiary in an application made by the trustees to bless their decision to appoint the trust asset (a farm) to him;
- Dealing with a unique trust dispute which involved a missing trustee and section 36 of the Trustee Act 1925;
- Settling a complex proprietary estoppel dispute involving a family business which had been run by father and child;
- Dealing with issues relating to the capacity to litigate as part of existing proceedings
- Defending a 1975 Act claim brought by P's attorneys, the attorneys also benefited from P's estate on death. This case also involved a validity dispute
The consummate professional with a perfect mix of legal acumen and commercial savvy.
Memberships
- Member of ACTAPS
- STEP member (full)
- Trustee of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance
- Founder of Parents in Law
Awards and accreditations
Sarah's highlights
15.04.2024
Russell-Cooke grows contentious trusts and estates team in central London
