Over 10 years Sarah has developed a practise in regulatory, criminal law and administrative law matters.
Her cases have involved allegations of: fraud, foreign bribery, market manipulation, cartel offences, workplace safety breaches, medical professional misconduct, unprofessional conduct, conspiracy offences, drug importation, murder, terrorism, bullying and sexual offending.
Sarah has been briefed to prosecute for AHPRA on behalf of the Medical Board, Nursing and Midwifery Board and the Veterinary Board. She has extensive experience in relation to commissions of inquiry, acting for individuals and organisations. She has advised on and appeared in each of the major IBAC investigations into alleged corrupt conduct relating to: Public Transport Victoria, the Department of Education and Training and acted for Jetstar in respect of IBAC's investigation into individuals at Taytell, involved in delivering alleged sham qualifications through Victorian TAFE campuses.
Sarah has also been briefed to conduct a number of investigations within organisations relating to allegations of a sexual nature.
Sarah is particularly interested in the interaction between criminal law and corporate governance and regulatory contraventions. She provides advice in relation to ASIC litigation, including strategies for compulsory interviews under s19 ASIC Act 2001 and Banning Order hearings under s920A Corporations Act 2001. She was briefed in relation to ASIC's investigation into Bank Bill Swap Rate practices.
Sarah has provided advice to Government Departments and Statutory Authorities. She is on the Victoria Legal Aid Preferred Trial Counsel List and has been granted an Indictable Crime Certificate.
Sarah is an accredited advocacy coach and teaches at the Victorian Bar Readers Course. She has also taught advocacy on a number of occasions at the Legal Training Institute, Papua New Guinea, as part of a program facilitated by the Victorian Bar and AusAid.
Prior to signing the Bar Roll Sarah was Associate to the Honourable Justice Curtain in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Some of Sarah's cases include:
- Investigation into the conduct of the former Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle (2018) (led by Ian Freckleton QC)
- Investigation into whether conduct constituted bullying relating to a National Sport (2017)
- Trevor Yates & Ors v The Queen [2017] VSCA 188 (validity of a controlled operations Authority under s15GK(1)(f) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (led by Paul Holdenson QC)
- DPP v Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd [Nos 2 and 4] [2017] VSCA 27 (validity of charges - whether 'necessity' under s21(1)&(2)(e) OHS Act must be particularised) (led by Michael Tovey QC)
- DPP V Daing [2016] VSCA 58 (Murder, appeal)
- DPP v Daing [2015] VSC 440 (Murder)
- Lydgate (A Pseudonym) v R (2014) 46 VR 78 (Case stated - interpretation of 'care supervision or authority' under ss48 and 49 Crimes Act 1958)
- DPP v FJL (2014) 41 VR 572 (Interlocutory appeal against grant of permanent stay)
- Dragojlovic v DPP (2013) 40 VR 71 (Appeal - whether length of trial and presentation of evidence created a real risk that the jury failed to give a verdict according to the evidence) (led by Nick Robinson QC)
- DPP v FM (2013) 233 A Crim R 83 (Interlocutory appeal - interpretation of ‘online offences’ in the Criminal Code)
- DPP v Justin Hill [2012] VSC 353 (Murder)
- DPP v Hutton [2011] VSC 484 (Manslaughter)
- DPP v Benbrika (Ruling No 3) (2011) 216 A Crim R 96 (Terrorism - permanent stay of trial)
