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EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
Haberdashers’ Aske’s School for Girls
Durham University
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EN ESPANOL
2018 Appointed Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit
PRACTICE
Sarah practises exclusively in family law dealing with both children and financial remedies and has an expertise in international cases. She is a robust and tenacious advocate equally adept at handling witnesses as arguing the finer points of law as her reported cases show. Sarah always looks to find a pragmatic and commercial solution for her clients who she deals with on a personable and friendly basis.
She is an acknowledged expert on Spain and Latin America in relation to family law issues and is a fluent Spanish speaker.
Sarah has extensive experience dealing with all issues of jurisdiction whether under Brussels II Revised, the European Maintenance Regulation, forum conveniens or otherwise.
In relation to children Sarah regularly conducts child abduction cases under the Hague 1980 Convention and Hague 1996 Convention as well as representing parents in leave to remove applications. She has lengthy experience in conducting all types of proceedings under the Children Act.
In relation to financial remedy cases, as well as conducting financial remedy applications, Sarah has successfully brought applications under Part III MFPA 1984 for further financial provision following overseas divorce. She has also dealt with overseas matrimonial regimes in the context of English proceedings alongside complex issues of overseas properties, overseas tax and dowry proceedings.
Sarah has an in depth knowledge of the procedural implications of international family cases, including service, taking of evidence abroad, enforcement of orders, instruction of experts, freezing orders and disclosure.
REPORTED CASES
L v M [2012] EWHC 4299 – Pakistan stranded spouse – jurisdictional dispute in relation to children
R v C &S [2013] EWHC 1295 – Colombia child relocation
Re ML [2013] EWHC 2091 – use of Skype technology in international family cases
C v D [2013] EWHC 2989 – Spain child abduction
Ahmed v Mustafa [2014] EWCA Civ 277 – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Anti-suit injunction post judgment
MEMBERSHIPS
Resolution International Committee
Vice President British Spanish Lawyers Association – www.bsla.org.uk
Family Law Bar Association
International Committee of Bar Council
Academia Euroamericana de Derecho de Familia
ARTICLES
International Family Law Journal (Jordans)
- Applicable Law in Spain – [2011] IFL 332
- The Undertakers’ dilemma, enforcing undertakings in Spain – [2014] IFL 56
Family Law Week
- Ancillary Relief cases with a foreign twist – practical considerations [2007]
- Divorcio Expres - Spanish Family Law [2008]
- Alice through the Looking Glass – Mirror orders in Colombia [2009]
- Pleading the Fifth Amendment - privilege against self-incrimination in financial proceedings [2010]. This article was cited by Sir James Munby in the case of Q v Q [2014] EWFC 31.
- Please sir may I have some more – permanent post judgment stays in financial remedy proceedings [2014]
- Stop in the Name of Love! The New EU Regulation 606/2013 on Protection Measures - Family Law Week [2015]
- An inconvenient truth - The danger of using undertakings in international cases - Family Law Week [2016]
The Review (Resolution's magazine)
- Spanish family law – an overview of matrimonial regimes [2012]
Asociacion Espanola de Abogados de Familia (Magazine)
- Exprimando la naranja dos veces – an explanation of Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 for Spanish lawyers [2010]
- Ser o no ser – la inexistencia de regimenes matrimoniales en Inglaterra – an explanation of the inexistence of matrimonial regimes in England [2013]
SPEAKER
Sarah is regularly invited to speak for MBL Seminars providing all day seminars and webinars on international family law: “it is excellent feedback and we are truly grateful for your efforts” Morgan Rigby Chairman of MBL Seminars. Regular speaker to Spanish lawyers on English family law. Invited speaker during the Bar Council visit to Ukraine and Russia to speak to overseas lawyers on English family law. Speaker for Resolution at the Resolution Annual Conference and also to Hull Law Society. Speaker for College of Law Contributor to the Practical Law Company website on international family law.
MEDIATION
Resolution trained mediator (2008)
Experienced in mediating on children and finances in English and Spanish.
EXPERT EVIDENCE
Experienced in providing expert evidence on English family law to overseas courts.