Sara joined Birketts in April 2026 as a Legal Director in our commercial real estate team working alongside Mark Li and Harry Jenkinson in our Bristol office.
Sara brings over a decade of experience in a leading US City law firm predominantly acting for institutional investors, long income funds, private investment/ development companies, corporate landlords and occupiers.
She has extensive experience advising on a broad spectrum of real estate investment matters involving high value large scale property portfolios, industrial estates, office buildings, leisure and retail spaces as well as mixed use developments.
Sara regularly advises clients on all aspects of commercial real estate including complex acquisitions and disposals, sale and leaseback transactions, lease negations, portfolio asset management and financing. Sara has complimentary development experience advising on mixed use projects and adds value through previous property litigation experience on core aspects of landlord and tenant law including 1954 Act lease renewals, boundary disputes and dilapidations settlements.
Recent work highlights
Advised a market leading index linked income fund on a series of high value acquisition and leaseback transactions involving portfolios of over 86 care homes (£110 million); 140 pubs (£90 million) 20 garden centres (£85million); 20 holiday/caravan parks (£150 million); and 30 children’s nurseries (£30 million).
Acted for a private property development company on the acquisition and letting of pivotal office plots at Aztec West business park from Bristol Council in connection with redevelopment of the South West’s first Net Zero Carbon out- of town HQ office.
Secured lettings to anchor tenants for recently redeveloped office building the Crescent Centre at the heart of Bristol.
Negotiated principle lettings and coordinated financing of state of the art office building, EQ, one of the largest speculative office developments in the South West.
Advised a major UK-based property investment, development, and management company on the disposal of its interest in a high profile multi-let industrial estate in Gloucester (£10m).
Acted for an investor client on the acquisition of former hospital site in London (£52 million) together with advising on future redevelopment strategy to convert the Grade II-listed Art Deco building into 140 homes, a 65-bed care home, and community spaces.
Areas of Expertise
Experience & education
2026 Joined Birketts LLP as Legal Director
2015 – 2026 Solicitor at Reed Smith LLP (London) – promoted to Senior Associate in 2022
2015 Qualified as a Solicitor
2013 Joined Reed Smith LLP (London) as a Trainee Solicitor
2012 Legal Practice Course, BPP University College (London)
2011 Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School (London)
2010 Bacher of Arts in History, University of Durham