Sara Sayer
- Experience
Sara is a Partner, Litigator and Dispute Resolver and specialises in three areas:
- Administrative and public law litigation (especially Judicial Review and Procurement Disputes).
- Charities (disputes and regulatory issues).
- Education dispute management (including student issues).
Sara, our Head of Administrative and Public Law Disputes, advises on a wide range of litigation and regulatory matters for our corporate, commercial, and UK public sector clients, from handling and resolving complaints and disputes pre litigation, to advising and representing clients involved in litigation especially for or against public bodies in procurement disputes and Judicial Reviews across many sector areas including Tax and Planning. Sara also advises on a wide range of contentious general administrative and public law and regulatory issues including in the health sector.
Sara is also a member of the firm-wide Charities Group and as such has an overview of the sector and its issues and attends national and regional conferences of bodies such as ACEVO and NCVO. Her particular specialism is in disputes and litigation especially in dealing with regulatory bodies including the Charity Commission and HMRC, regulatory and compliance issues, investigations and enforcements.
Sara has further specific expertise in the education sector which includes advising colleges, universities, independent schools and quangos on litigation and student issues such as complaints, discipline, appeals, safeguarding, fitness to practise and other internal hearings and advising on Office of the Independent Adjudicator complaints.
An accomplished presenter, Sara speaks at a number of varied events on issues ranging across disputes, the charity sector and education and writes for sector media.
Sara is recommended and named as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by Legal 500 [UK 2024].
Sara is a Director and Trustee of the conservation charity, Magog Trust. Until spring 2018 Sara spent three years as a Trustee and Non Executive Director of Cambridge Live the new non-profit distributing organisation governing, managing and operating Cambridge’s Corn Exchange, Guildhall and Folk Festival and other live arts and entertainment events in Cambridge. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and former Vice Chair of her Parish Council. Sara qualified as a Solicitor in September 2002.
Sara is a member of the Birketts’ Environmental, Governance and Social (ESG) Committee.
Sara is based in our Cambridge office and operates firm-wide.
An accomplished presenter, Sara speaks at a number of varied events on issues ranging across disputes, the charity sector and education and writes for sector media.
Sara is recommended and named as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ by Legal 500 [UK 2024]. Clients in an earlier edition said “Sara Sayer has worked tirelessly to assist us with our dispute resolution case. Her advice has been highly practical and professional and invaluable in guiding us through a new and difficult area.” Another added “Sara in particular goes the extra mile for clients and is always available. Her broad public law practice gives her a very good perspective and facilitates practical problem solving.” A source also said “Schools advice from Sara Sayer is always spot on. Her availability, her wealth of experience and her careful cross-referencing with other colleagues’ expertise makes her hugely trustworthy.”
Sara is a Director and Trustee of the conservation charity, Magog Trust. Until spring 2018 Sara spent three years as a Trustee and Non Executive Director of Cambridge Live the new non-profit distributing organisation governing, managing and operating Cambridge’s Corn Exchange, Guildhall and Folk Festival and other live arts and entertainment events in Cambridge. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and former Vice Chair of her Parish Council. Sara qualified as a Solicitor in September 2002.
Sara is a member of the Birketts’ Environmental, Governance and Social (ESG) Committee.
Awards and Memberships
Services
Sara Sayer has worked tirelessly to assist us with our dispute resolution case. Her advice has been highly practical and professional and invaluable in guiding us through a new and difficult area
Legal 500 [UK 2022]
