Profile

Sarah has a broad practise in regulatory, administrative and criminal law.  

She conducts trials in the County Court and Supreme Court; appeals in the Court of Appeal and disciplinary hearings at VCAT. She acts in commissions of inquiry and in compulsory hearings. 

Her experience in criminal trials, dealing with admissibility of evidence and forensic decision making, allows for strategic insight where regulatory contraventions become the subject of criminal charges.

More specifically, Sarah’s experience covers: criminal cartel offences, foreign bribery, fraud, market manipulation, price fixing, environment protection offences, drug importation, murder and conspiracy.  She has been briefed extensively to defend and prosecute charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. She has been engaged to act in disciplinary proceedings brought by the Medical Board of Australia, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Psychology Board of Australia and the Veterinary Board of Victoria. Sarah has appeared regularly at the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission including for Jetstar, for the Department of Education (DET), for a former Secretary of the DET and as counsel assisting the Commission.  She has appeared  at compulsory interviews and banning order hearings conducted pursuant to the Corporations Act and Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act and was briefed in ASIC's investigation into Bank Bill Swap Rate practices.  

Sarah has been appointed to conduct investigations within organisations concerning a broad range of allegations such as bullying and of a sexual nature.

She provides written advice to Government Departments and Statutory Authorities. 

She is on the Victoria Legal Aid Preferred Trial Counsel List, has an Indictable Crime Certificate, is an accredited advocacy coach and teaches at the Victorian Bar Readers Course. She has also taught advocacy on a number of occasions at the Legal Training Institute, PNG, as part of a program facilitated by the Victorian Bar and AusAid.

Sarah has been recommended as a Leading Criminal Law Junior Counsel in Victoria in Doyles Guide in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Sarah is an elected member of Bar Council, for a fourth term.

Prior to signing the Bar Roll Sarah was Associate to the Honourable Justice Curtain in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Select cases include:

• Royal Commission into Victoria Police's handling of Informants, briefed for interested party (ongoing)
• Defending Commonwealth prosecution of alleged cartel offences (ongoing) 
• Investigation into the conduct of the former Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle (2018)
• Investigation into bullying relating to a National Sport (2017)
• Operation Lansdowne, IBAC, briefed to act for Jetstar (2017)
• Operation Dunham, IBAC, briefed to act for a former Secretary, Department of Education and Training (2017)
• Yates (a Pseudonym) & Ors v The Queen [2017] VSCA 188 (validity of a controlled operations Authority under s15GK(1)(f) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) 
• DPP v Connor Haynes [2017] VSCA 79 
• DPP v Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd [Nos 2 and 4] [2017] VSCA 27 (validity of charges - whether 'necessity' under s21(1)&(2)(e) OHS Act must be particularised) 
• DPP(Cth) and DPP v Watson [2016] VSCA 73 (child pornography related offences, Director's appeal)
• DPP V Daing [2016] VSCA 58 (Director's appeal)
• Flood v The Queen [2016] VSCA 37 (appeal, application of Verdins principles)
• Waterman v The Queen [2016] VSCA 32 (appeal, manifest excess)
• Whiteford v The Queen [2016] VSCA 26 (appeal, manifest excess)
• DPP v Daing [2015] VSC 440 (plea, murder)
• Operation Fiztory, IBAC, counsel assisting the Commissioner, investigation re Public Transport Victoria (2014)
• Lydgate (A Pseudonym) v R (2014) 46 VR 78 (Case stated - interpretation of 'care supervision or authority' under s48 and s49 Crimes Act 1958)
• DPP v FJL (2014) 41 VR 572 (Interlocutory appeal against grant of permanent stay of proceeding)
• Dragojlovic v DPP (2013) 40 VR 71 (Appeal - whether length of trial and presentation of evidence created a real risk that the jury failed to give a verdict according to the evidence) 
• DPP v FM (2013) 233 A Crim R 83 (Interlocutory appeal - interpretation of ‘online offences’ in the Criminal Code)
• DPP v Justin Hill [2012] VSC 353 (Murder)
• DPP v Hutton [2011] VSC 484 (Manslaughter, plea)
• DPP v Benbrika (Ruling No 3) (2011) 216 A Crim R 96 (terrorism charge, application for permanent stay granted).
• Joud v R; Benbrika v R; Raad v R; Sayadi v R (2011) 32 VR 400; (2011) 254 FLR 197; (2011) 216 A Crim R 96 (terrorism charge, appeal from refusal to grant permanent stay of proceedings).