Sarah Ralph
- Experience
Sarah joined Birketts in 2010 and at a strategic level, is responsible for designing processes, policies and procedures to identify and manage threats to the achievement of Birketts objectives. As the Risk and Compliance Director she leads a team of 15 to cover all compliance aspects for Birketts. Sarah is the key contact for liaison with regulators, ensuring maintenance of good relationships and regulatory permissions appropriate to a law firm. Sarah is also responsible for managing risks to Birketts’ clients, reputation, assets and the interests of Birketts’ stakeholders.
Sarah is also specifically charged with ensuring that the firm retains accreditation against the Law Society’s Lexcel and Conveyancing Quality Scheme Standards, and manages the internal audit processes to ensure this. She also provides support to other internal audit functions within the firm through assessing upcoming regulation and high-risk corporate issues. Sarah also reviews all compliance service providers to ensure ongoing compliance with current regulations and leads the team on UK GDPR. Sarah is a qualified data protection practitioner and has the role of DPO. Sarah led the team, which implemented ISO 27001, 14001, 9001 and 22301 and is a qualified lead auditor of ISO.
Sarah also holds the posts of Insurance Distribution Officer to cover all aspects of the Insurance Distribution Directive.
Sarah is Birketts Money Laundering Reporting Officer, dealing with daily queries regarding this complex area of regulation.
Sarah is a member of the Birketts’ Environmental, Governance and Social (ESG) Committee.
