Called 1989 
Email Sarah
Sarah specialises in probate, trusts and associated tax issues as well as dealing with professional negligence relating to those areas of work. She deals with contentious and non-contentious work at all levels of complexity.
Sarah is the only barrister recommended by Chambers & Partners in Band 1 for Chancery work in the North East. She is also ranked in Tier 1 in Legal 500 for Chancery, Probate and Tax work.
"Extremely bright, tenacious and absolutely formidable. She is technically head and shoulders above other barristers and a ferocious advocate."
Chambers & Partners 2018Simply click 'Add +' on an area of expertise to add it to collate in your downloadable brochure.
Sarah specialises in probate, trusts and associated tax work. This includes both contentious and non-contentious work.
Her contentious work includes:
Disputes as to the validity of Wills and Trusts
Rectification of Wills and Trusts
Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
Removal of personal representatives and trustees
Directions applications for personal representatives and trustees
Applications under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958
Construction of Wills and Trusts
Proprietary estoppel claims
TOLATA claims
Court of Protection finance and property applications
Undue influence and capacity claims
Third party claims against estates and trusts
Professional negligence claims concerning contentious and non-contentious probate and trust work
Breach of duty claims relating to personal representatives and trustees including the taking of accounts
Her non-contentious work includes:
Advising personal representatives and trustees on the administration of estates and trusts
Advising on restructuring or termination of Wills, trusts and settlements
Advising personal representatives and trustees on their powers, duties and costs risks
Drafting Wills, Trusts, Deeds of Variation, Deeds of Appointment and Advancement and trustee indemnities
Recent examples of her work include
Drafting a trust of the profits of an investment platform
Challenging the recovery of fees of an heir hunting company
Variation of Trust application in relation to Bahamanian trusts
Dealing with claims for rectification of a series of family settlements
Defending a claim for misrepresentation in relation to a compromise of trust litigation
Advising on availability of BPR in relation to the sale of trust shareholding for £17 million
Advising on the availability of BPR on a mixed use caravan park
Sarah is highly experienced at dealing with issues relating to mental capacity. As well as cases in the High Court, she also deals with property & affairs work in the Court of Protection including statutory Will applications, applications for permission to make gifts and contested deputyship applications.
Chambers and Partners 2021 - Band 1 (Chancery)
"She handles cases fantastically." "She has a massive amount of knowledge, nothing fazes her and there are no points that she hasn't seen before."
Legal 500 2021 - Chancery Probate and Tax (Tier 1)
‘Sarah is forthright, extremely knowledgeable and articulate. She is good with clients, is able to get to the heart of the matter quickly and efficiently and inspires confidence. She is excellent in cross examination and maintains her composure under pressure.’
Chambers and Partners 2020 - Band 1 (Chancery)
Highly regarded chancery practitioner with a strong reputation in the North Eastern Bar. She focuses on contentious probate and disputed trust cases. She also has experience working on professional negligence claims, Court of Protection applications and tax matters.
Strengths: "She is a formidable opponent; she always knows more than you do and she's a very good, technical lawyer." "She is very to the point, pragmatic and effective in cross-examination."
Legal 500 2020 - Commercial, banking, insolvency and Chancery Law (Tier 2)
‘Good with clients and has specialist probate knowledge.’
Chambers & Partners 2019
"Her advice is always thorough, very well considered, and complete. She never sits on the fence and always gives an actual opinion. She is very easy to work with and approachable." "She really quickly gets to crux of the matter, considers things you wouldn't have necessarily thought of and has a really wide-ranging knowledge of the area. She is really good to get along with and has a good sense of humour."
Legal 500 2018/2019
"An expert in contentious probate cases."
Chambers & Partners 2018
"Extremely bright, tenacious and absolutely formidable. She is technically head and shoulders above other barristers and a ferocious advocate."
Legal 500 2017
"Extremely bright, ferocious, and very good on the details."
MH v P [2019] application to dispense with service of statutory Will application
KKL v Harrison [2020] EWCOP 25 contested deputyship application.
Sir Thomas More Bursary
Denning Prize
Lincoln’s Inn Student of the Year
Megarry Landlord and Tenant Prize
Hardwicke Scholarship
Leicester University
Chancery Bar Association, Northern Chancery Bar Association
![KKL Executor & Trustee Co v Harrison [2020] EWCOP 25.](/thumb.php?src=http://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/images/news/kkl-executor-trustee-co-v-harrison-2020-ewcop-25-28.jpg&w=450&h=300)
![DELAFORTE v FLOOD [2019] - inheritance dispute case](/thumb.php?src=http://www.parklaneplowden.co.uk/images/news/delaforte-v-flood-2019-inheritence-dispute-case-52.jpg&w=450&h=300)
