Sarah is experienced in a broad range of transactional work, with a particular focus on acting for real estate and infrastructure investors and developers on M&A transactions and joint ventures. Sarah also advises on a range of general corporate matters, including group re-organisations, and also acts for clients in our Energy and Utilities sector.

Her M&A experience includes acting on acquisitions and disposals of domestic and overseas property-holding companies.  She has acted for clients such as HIH Real Estate and Arlington Investors.

She also has a wealth of joint venture experience, acting on infrastructure and regeneration projects.  She has extensive experience of different types of JV partner (including investors, developers, local authorities, registered providers, universities and other quasi-public bodies) which enables her to anticipate the needs and concerns of other partners whilst protecting the key interests of her clients.  She has acted for clients such as Henry Boot Developments, Vistry Group, Kajima, Equitix and Taylor Wimpey.

Sarah has written a number of client insights into topical corporate matters affecting our real estate clients.  Her approachable and easy manner means that she also regularly delivers client training on a number of topics, from joint ventures to director duties.

Sarah also takes a keen interest in our Social Diversity employee network - she mentors a number of young people in the community and regularly interviews for our traineeship, apprenticeship and internship programmes.

Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world

With clients becoming increasingly sophisticated in terms of looking for alternative structures for their real estate and infrastructure projects, I can help them navigate the commercial and legal issues that can arise on corporate transactions – and always in an approachable and engaging way. 

Her technical knowledge is excellent and she is always able to deliver advice, on what can be quite complex areas of law, in a clear and concise manner. She also has an unparalleled drive and determination to deliver the best result for her client and this is an approach that "rubs off" on the teams of lawyers that she leads, delivering a consistently outstanding service.

General Counsel at a real estate and infrastructure investment manager
HIH Invest Real Estate

Acted for German institutional investor on its corporate acquisition and the related funding arrangements of an office building at 15 Fetter Lane as part of its portfolio expansion

Gener8 Kajima

Advised on a joint venture with Newcastle University for the transformation of a former general hospital site with an estimated GDV of £500m

Arlington Advisers and Equitix

Acting on the acquisition and financing of the Stellar portfolio of purpose-built student accommodation from Fusion Students for a purchase price in excess of £232m

Barratt Developments

Advised on a £183m investment in a 50:50 LLP joint venture with Swindon Borough Council to develop c. 2,700 new homes over the next 20 years

Henry Boot Developments

Advised on a joint venture with Enfield Borough Council to develop a mixed-use estate in north London and a Luxembourg joint venture with Barings for a logistics park in east London

Equitix

Advised Equitix and its various consortium partners on a series of joint venture student accommodation and regeneration development projects 

Insights