Sarah Overy

Sarah qualified as a Solicitor in 1996 and joined Birketts in September 2019. She is a Partner in our Private Client Team and is based in our Cambridge office

Sarah is a family Solicitor and Mediator with over 25 years of experience. She is a member of Resolution.

How can Sarah help you?

We all have families and sometimes we all need some help. Sarah prides herself on guiding clients through what can be a difficult process in a straightforward, supportive and sensitive way, providing realistic and constructive advice in order to achieve sensible results. Sarah’s dedicated approach is client focused whether that is as a mediator or a family solicitor. She works with and supports clients to find a solution for them and their family recognising that everybody and every situation is different.
In cases where court proceedings are unavoidable, Sarah uses her extensive experience not just as a family solicitor but as a mediator to see clients through the process as quickly and effectively as possible.

Sarah can help with all areas of family law, including divorce, couples living together, same sex marriage and civil partnerships, financial disputes and children. She has particular expertise in pre and post nuptial agreements (also known as pre-marital or prenuptial agreements or “pre-nups”). These are becoming more popular and are no longer just for celebrities and wealthy couples but for people who have financial resources they would like to protect such as inheritance received by them or for their family. Both types of agreement set out the financial arrangements that would apply if a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, to avoid the bitterness and acrimony that can affect negotiations. Judges are increasingly willing to take them into account so long as certain conditions are met.

As an accredited mediator, Sarah can help people in many different situations. Children arrangements enabling parents to reach workable, clear and lasting co-parenting arrangements. Children and finances where Sarah can assist people in developing future financial arrangements and ensuring that your children have the best relationship with you and the other parent. Grandparents and their grandchildren and step-parents and other family members. Mediation is often cost effective and achieves better outcomes than at court which proceedings are stressful and time consuming. Where children are involved people can reach solutions tailor made for their family’s needs including how they will parent their children and health and education issues and holiday and Christmas arrangements.

Meetings can take place with the support of legal advisors and Sarah has even held mediations including the family dog! Mediation keeps matters civil and puts people back in charge of their future and that of their family. Sarah’s professional but empathetic approach has assisted many clients in being able to reach workable solutions on all issues (children, property and finances) far quicker and with considerable cost savings compared to more traditional methods including court proceedings. 

Meetings can be arranged remotely via WhatsApp or Zoom which clients have found convenient allowing them to fit mediation into their lives.

Testimonials

Sarah is ranked by Chambers [UK 2024]. In this edition, a client notes “Sarah is unflappable, has a really good insight into the issues and manages client expectations well when dealing with difficult cases.”

A recent mediation client of Sarah’s notes “I was very anxious about starting mediation and seeing my ex -husband. However, you were very easy to talk to in our initial chat and I felt instinctively that I could trust you and you weren’t phased or judgmental in the least. I arrived to meet you in a warm and most importantly ‘safe’ environment and felt instantly at ease as much as one can in these circumstances. You were very informative and fair, I never felt like any side was being taken and your patience and understanding were so appreciated, given I suffer from anxiety and a sporadic chronic health problem. You were very mindful of those issues I had and I never felt pushed beyond what I was capable of. The suggestions you made were invaluable and as a result my ex-husband and I were able to start to look realistically at a way forward. Thank you again for your kindness, reassurance, clarity and warm welcome. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back for further mediation if it was needed.”

Sarah is ranked by Chambers [UK 2024]. In this edition, a client notes “Sarah is unflappable, has a really good insight into the issues and manages client expectations well when dealing with difficult cases.”

A recent mediation client of Sarah’s notes “I was very anxious about starting mediation and seeing my ex -husband. However, you were very easy to talk to in our initial chat and I felt instinctively that I could trust you and you weren’t phased or judgmental in the least. I arrived to meet you in a warm and most importantly ‘safe’ environment and felt instantly at ease as much as one can in these circumstances. You were very informative and fair, I never felt like any side was being taken and your patience and understanding were so appreciated, given I suffer from anxiety and a sporadic chronic health problem. You were very mindful of those issues I had and I never felt pushed beyond what I was capable of. The suggestions you made were invaluable and as a result my ex-husband and I were able to start to look realistically at a way forward. Thank you again for your kindness, reassurance, clarity and warm welcome. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back for further mediation if it was needed.”