Year of Call: 2006
Leading Junior - Sarah is listed in the Legal 500 2014 a as a leading junior barrister (Band 4) - 'A real rising star'.
Prior to joining the Bar, Sarah practiced in immigration and asylum law for six years as a senior caseworker in a not-for-profit organisation in South London. This has provided her with the advantage of her experience in preparing cases before they reach appeal stage, which she has pooled with her wealth of experience in court hearings as a barrister.
Following pupillage, Sarah also developed an expertise in family law, specialising in children law, including both private disputes concerning contact and residence arrangements and public/care proceedings. Through this, Sarah has been able to pursue her keen interest in cross-over areas concerning children, their best interests and their interplay.
Sarah is a highly effective and sensitive advocate and is passionate for the field of immigration law and all that it encompasses. Sarah has considerable experience in all aspects of immigration, asylum and human rights law in the immigration tribunals, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Sarah has also been instructed by family solicitors to provide expert and independent immigration opinions for parties, who had immigration issues and were involved in care proceedings within the family courts.
Sarah is committed to publicly funded work and ensuring access to justice for those most vulnerable. She is naturally friendly and approachable as well as meticulous and creative in her approach to cases.
In suitable cases, Sarah will undertake public access work directly for members of the public.
Areas of practice
Immigration, Nationality and Asylum.
Human Rights
Judicial Review
Family/Children law
Notable Cases
The reported appeal of Rajbhandari (PBS: funds - available) Nepal [2012] UKUT 364 (IAC) (08 October 2012).
AK and SK (Christians: risk) Pakistan CG [2014] UKUT 00569 (IAC).
LH and IP (gay men: risk) Sri Lanka CG [2015] UKUT 00073 (IAC).
Judicial Review claim challenging the unlawful detention and proposed removal of a Commonwealth soldier, who had been discharged from HM forces after 9 years’ service, including a successful claim for damages. Media reports include: The Telegraph article 14.11.2013, The Times article 14.11.2013, The Daily Mail article 15.11.2013, The Independent article 16.11.2013, The Guardian article 16.11.2013 & BBC website article 16.11.2013.
‘No recourse to public funds’ in Appendix FM grant of leave to remain Judicial review – permission granted by Mr Recorder Grubb QC - CO/5932/2013.
Successfully defended a FTT determination in the UT before Mr Justice Collins allowing the appellant’s case in relation to the Appendix FM financial threshold following MM & Others [2013] EWHC 1900 (Admin) - IA/07537/2013
Current involvement as junior counsel in the pending Upper Tribunal country guidance cases concerning Pakistani Christians and homosexuals in Sri Lanka.
Publications and Training
Outside of court, Sarah regularly delivers training and presents seminars and lectures to practitioners on wide-ranging topics within immigration law and the cross-over issues between children law and immigration. These include training for MBL Seminars, CPDCast and in-house events for solicitors.
Sarah also regularly contributes as an expert in her field to on-line publications, such as Lexis PSL and has been a frequent contributor to the Free Movement blog.
Memberships
Immigration Law Practitioners Association
Human Rights Lawyers Association
Family Law Bar Association
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Law and Sociology, University of Warwick
Lycée International de Ferney-Voltaire, France
Other relevant information
Sarah is bi-lingual in French and has a fair knowledge of the German language. You can follow Sarah on twitter @sarahpinder2.