Expertise

Appellate | Commercial Law | Corporations Law & Securities Law | Criminal Law | Government Law | Inquests, Inquiries, Tribunals & Commissions | Public Law & Administrative Law |

Profile

Profile: 

Sarah has expertise in criminal and public law. She appears in criminal trials, appeals, judicial review proceedings, commissions of inquiry and in regulatory cases. Her experience covers allegations of corruption, fraud, murder, conspiracy, anti-competitive conduct, workplace safety breaches and drug importation. Recently, Sarah appeared in the first criminal trial in the Federal Court, for charges of criminal cartel conduct including attempt to induce price fixing and bid rigging.

Sarah frequently appears at IBAC, both as counsel assisting and for interested parties. In public hearings, she has acted for Jetstar, the Department of Education (DET) a former Secretary of the DET and was junior counsel assisting in IBAC's first ever public hearings, into PTV. Sarah has been engaged to conduct a substantial number of investigations within private and government organisations, concerning complaints of conflicts of interest, bullying and sexual misconduct. She also appears in professional conduct matters at the VCAT, briefed for the Medical Board, Nursing and Midwifery Board and Psychology Board of Australia. 

Sarah provides written advice to Government Departments and Statutory Authorities. 

Sarah has been recognised annually in Doyles Guide as a recommended Criminal Law Junior Counsel in Victoria since 2017 and as a Workplace Health & Safety Law Junior Counsel since 2021.

Sarah is on the Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List; has an Indictable Crime Certificate and teaches at the Victorian Bar Readers Course. She has also taught advocacy on a number of occasions on behalf of the Victorian Bar at the Legal Training Institute, PNG.

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

More significant cases include:

• Yoorrook Justice Commission (2023), led by Peter Gray KC.
• Ombudsman investigation into alleged politicisation of the public service (2023).
• Walker v Members Equity Bank Ltd [2022] FCAFC 184 (statutory interpretation; proper construction of s12GB(6) of the ASIC Act) led by Tim Game SC, leading Sam Murray.
• Operation Bredbo, IBAC, public hearings (2022), counsel for Victoria Police (interested party).
• Defending Commonwealth prosecution in the Federal Court of alleged criminal cartel offences, contrary to the Competition and Consumer Act led by Dean Jordan SC (2021).
• Hotel Quarantine Inquiry (2020) appeared for DELWP, led by Jenny Firkin KC.
• Operation Sandon, IBAC, (2020) public hearings, briefed for interested party(unled).
• DPP v Treasure [2020] VSC 402 (murder, plea)(unled).
• Royal Commission into Management of Police Informers (2020), briefed for the Victorian Government Solicitor, led by Stephen O'Meara KC.
• Dempsey (a pseudonym) v The Queen [2019] VSCA 224 (interlocutory appeal, murder, admissibility of tendency and coincidence evidence)(unled).
• Investigation into the conduct of the former Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle (2018) led by Dr Ian Freckleton KC.
• Investigation into potential bullying relating to a National Sport (2017)(unled).
• Operation Lansdowne, IBAC, briefed to act for Jetstar (2017)(unled).
• Operation Dunham, IBAC, briefed to act for a former Secretary of the Department of Education and Training (2017)(unled).
• Yates (a Pseudonym) & Ors v The Queen [2017] VSCA 188 (validity of a controlled operations Authority under s15GK(1)(f) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)) led by Paul Holdenson KC.
• 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) led by Michael Tovey KC.
• DPP(Cth) and DPP v Watson [2016] VSCA 73; (2016) 259 A Crim R 327 (child pornography offences, Director's appeal) led by Paul Holdenson KC.
• DPP V Daing [2016] VSCA 58 (Director's appeal).
• DPP v Daing [2015] VSC 440 (murder, plea)(unled).
• Operation Fiztory, IBAC, [2015] junior counsel assisting the Commissioner, investigation re Public Transport Victoria (2014) led by Ted Woodward KC.
• Lydgate (A Pseudonym) v R (2014) 46 VR 78; (2014) A Crim R 419 (case stated - interpretation of 'care supervision or authority' under s48 and s49 Crimes Act 1958) led by Douglas Trapnell SC.
• DPP v FJL (2014) 41 VR 572 (interlocutory appeal against grant of permanent stay of proceeding)(unled).
• 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) led by Nicholas Robinson KC.
• DPP v FM (2013) 233 A Crim R 83 (interlocutory appeal - interpretation of ‘online offences’ in the Criminal Code) led by Justin Hannebery.
• DPP v Benbrika (Ruling No 3) (2011) 216 A Crim R 96 (terrorism charge, application for permanent stay granted) led by Michael Cahill.
• 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) led by Michael Cahill.

To get in touch with Sarah Keating | or for more information please contact the Clerk on:

+61 3 9225 7222

clerkb@greenslist.com.au

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.