Current practice
Sarah advises clients on a wide range of complex and difficult commercial matters and disputes across tax, contract and corporations law and in respect of various regulatory reviews and investigations. In recent years, Sarah’s practice has focused on taxation disputes and she is a member of our Tax Litigation and Dispute Resolution focus group.Industry experience
Sarah has expertise representing clients in commercial disputes, before the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Federal Court (as well as before the Supreme Courts of other states and various other tribunals). Her experience includes acting in urgent interlocutory matters, final hearings and appeals.
Clients benefit from Sarah’s considerable experience in resolving disputes outside of the court processes, having successfully negotiated the resolution of many significant matters including with regulators.
Sarah has been involved in a number of significant, high profile and sensitive matters, managing the legal and commercial issues with clients, including reputation and risk management. Sarah has a solid understanding of financial services, having acted principally for clients in this industry. Some examples of Sarah’s experience include:
Tax Litigation
- successfully resolving a number of significant Part IVA ITAA disputes for major Australian based and international groups concerning assessments or potential assessments totalling hundreds of millions of dollars including in relation to capital raisings
- assisting clients in relation to significant reviews undertaken by the ATO, and
- successfully concluding in the taxpayer’s favour a long running dispute with the New South Wales Chief Commissioner of Stamp Duties.
ASIC/APRA
- assisting various clients in relation to investigations and enforcement action by ASIC and APRA including successfully defending recent proceedings alleging insider trading
Class actions
- having struck-out significant 'representative' proceedings (recently winning an appeal to the High Court in this matter)
Other
- various corporate matters including oppression proceedings and strategic advice in relation to threatened hostile activity, and
- acting (with other Litigation partners) for National Australia Bank Limited over a number of years in defending a $50 billion claim which was dismissed after a very lengthy hearing (200 days).
Professional background
Sarah commenced practice in 1991, joined Freehills in 1995 after four years experience with another major Sydney firm and was admitted to the partnership in 1999. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Degree from the University of Adelaide.
Sarah is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales and a fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia.
