Clerking team

Matthew Rigby

Assistant Senior Clerk (Children)

Roisin Towey

Family Clerk

Ciarece Brown

Junior Family Clerk

Sara is a specialist family law barrister; she practises in all areas of children law. Sara represents clients across the North West of England, North Wales and Yorkshire.

Sara routinely appears on behalf of local authorities, parents and the children’s guardian in public law proceedings.

Sara appears for both parents and the children’s guardian in private law matters relating to children. She has experience in representing clients during Family Law Act proceedings, whether related or separate to children matters.

Sara is committed to her clients, providing a high level of care. She is able to work well, and put at ease clients who are vulnerable, anxious or particularly wary of attending court or being part of proceedings. Sara is client focused and is solution focused in all aspects of her work.

Sara has experience of being led by King’s Counsel and has been instructed to undertake drafting in complex cases involving King’s Counsel.

Sara has completed the FLBA’s Advocacy and Vulnerable Witness training and is able to undertake cross examination of vulnerable parties.

Children (Public and Private law)

Public Law

Sara routinely represents local authorities in care proceedings with facts concerning:

  • Non-accidental injuries
  • Neglect
  • Sexual abuse
  • Alcohol and drug abuse
  • Mental health and personality disorders
  • Secure accommodation
  • Return Orders.

Sara regularly advises the Local Authority in conference and drafts documents as and when instructed including Threshold documents and Schedules of Findings

Sara appears for parents in public law proceedings, providing advice and representation in complex cases.

She is regularly instructed on an urgent basis and is capable of dealing with complex matters at short notice.

Sara also appears regularly in the National DOLS court representing both local authorities and the children’s guardian.

Sara regularly gives seminars and talks on emerging or developing areas of public law.

Reported cases:

W & Ors (Implementation of Adoption Plan Pending Appeal) [2024] EWCA Civ 837: Sara was led by Karl Rowley KC representing the mother.

Private Law

Sara regularly represents parents, grandparents, wider family members and the children’s guardian in private law proceedings involving the following issues:

  • Neglect
  • Sexual abuse
  • Domestic abuse
  • Change of residence
  • Child arrangements
  • Specific issues
  • Prohibited steps
  • Relocation
  • Change of name
  • Implacably hostile parents
  • Educational provisions.

Sara is credited with a straightforward, personable approach ensuring that all clients feel equipped for the hearing and have an understanding of all possible outcomes. Sara strives to work closely with those instructing her to provide early advice and achieve the best possible outcome for the client.

Sara has particular experience working with complex private law cases involving ongoing criminal matters and serious allegations of abuse.

Education

  • Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training
  • BPTC, Very Competent, University of West of England (2018)
  • LLM, University of the West of England (2020)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, Merit, University of the West of England (2017)
  • BA Human Geography, First Class Honours, Aberystwyth University (2015)

Memberships

  • Middle Temple
  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Northern Circuit