Sarah joined 20 Essex Street in October 2009 upon completion of pupillage. Prior to joining chambers she read law at Oxford University (B.C.L.), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.B., First class). She has appeared in both the High court and County Court.
After joining Chambers she was instructed in the Fiona Trust litigation.
She regularly advises on charter party and bill of lading issues. Most recently she has advised on the transhipment of cargo and the implications for the liability of a carrier and on the merits of a claim for damages for detention of a vessel.
She also provides advice on general commercial matters; recently she has advised on issues arising under a Global Master Repurchase Agreement and considered repudiatory breach in the context of a STS contract also involving the exercise of a lien. She regularly drafts pleadings in arbitration and high court proceedings and has drafted pleadings in a range of disputes including in a claim for damages for detention of a vessel and for damage to a vessel's cranes in an LMAA arbitration, in a high court claim for freight due under bills of lading and in a dispute regarding damage to a small pleasure boat. She has also advised and acted in relation to a number of contractual disputes in relation to debt and damages.
Sarah has also been instructed as a junior in a number of shipping and commercial disputes, including claims under the MIA 1906.
She has just returned from spending 5 weeks at Nordisk Defence Club, undertaking a variety of work; advising on bills of lading and charter party issues and drafting submissions for various London arbitrations.
Pupillage
During pupillage Sarah was involved in The Kallang (No.2) [2008] EWHC 2761 (Comm) and The Duden [2009] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 145, sister cases both involving the arrest of a vessel in breach of an arbitration clause.
She assisted various members of chambers in various London arbitrations including a confidential matter concerning Investment disputes, involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, secret commissions, professional negligence and fraud.
Sarah undertook legal research, drafted pleadings and opinions in the fields of shipping, insurance and general commercial law including, time and voyage charters, laytime and demurrage, detention, liens, assignment, COAs, sale of goods and contractual construction.
