Sarah has expertise in criminal and public law. She appears in criminal trials, criminal appeals, judicial review proceedings, commissions of inquiry and in regulatory cases. Her experience covers matters involving alleged corruption, fraud, murder, conspiracy, price fixing, bid rigging, workplace manslaughter and other safety breaches.
Recently, Sarah appeared in the first criminal trial in the Federal Court, defending charges of criminal cartel conduct. She frequently appears at IBAC. In public hearings, she has appeared as counsel assisting for the Department of Education (DET); a former Secretary of the DET and Jetstar. Sarah has been engaged to conduct a substantial number of investigations within public and private organisations concerning complaints of conflicts of interest, bullying and sexual misconduct. She also appears at the VCAT, briefed by Ahpra, in professional conduct matters under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law.
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; Workplace Health & Safety Law Junior Counsel since 2021 and leading Workplace Health and Safety Law Junior Counsel in 2024.
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 (2024) for the Premier of Victoria, led by Elizabeth Bennett SC.
- Yoorrook Justice Commission (2023) for the Attorney General, led by Peter Gray KC.
- Ombudsman investigation into alleged politicisation of the public service (2023) (briefed for a witness).
- 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.
- DPP v Whyte [2023] VSC 645 (murder trial) leading Uthra Ramachandran.
- Al-anwiya v The Queen [2022] VSCA 181 (appeal against sentence, dangerous driving causing death and ancillary offences) leading Natalie Kaye.
- The Queen v Al-anwiya [2022] VSC 428 (plea, dangerous driving causing death) leading Natalie Kaye.
- 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.
- DPP v Treasure [2020] VSC 402 (murder plea).
- 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).
- Investigation into the conduct of the former Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle (2018) led by Dr Ian Freckleton KC.
- 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
To discuss Sarah's availability or for more information, please contact the Clerks at Greens List on +61 3 9225 7222.