Band 1
Band 1
Spotlight
About
Provided by Sarah Richardson
Practice Areas
Specialises in cases concerning children including public law care cases and private law cases.
Experienced in issues of parental drug and alcohol addiction, domestic violence and or mental health difficulty, child abduction and representing parties forced into marriage.
Sarah has a reputation for being able to tackle a difficult area in a case such as mental health without being phased by the added complexities. An experienced advocate undertaking the majority of her own advocacy. Experienced in representing competent children directly.
Career
Studied at the Royal Melbourne University of Technology having moved to the UK from Australia in 1990. Completed her legal qualifications in the UK whilst working as a case worker and police station representative for a criminal practice. Has specialised in complex children cases for the past 15 years. Been at Russell-Cooke for 10 years and became a partner in 2014.
Professional Memberships
ALC, NAGALRO, Law Society's Children Panel, and Resolution trained mediator.
Personal
Born in Melbourne Australia in 1968. Studied during her teens in the USA for 12 months. Completed her first degree at Royal Melbourne University of Technology. Studied Law at Middlesex Guildhall University and did the LPC at The College of Law, Store Street London.
Chambers Review
UK
Sarah Richardson specialisesin children law work and acts as both an advocate and mediator in a range of private cases. This includes disputes over child arrangements orders and contested adoptions.
Sarah Richardson is renowned for her work in public children law, which covers a wide spectrum of matters including care proceedings, non-accidental injury cases and adoption disputes. She has further experience in cases with multi-jurisdictional aspects and those with parallel criminal proceedings.
Sarah Richardson is a family lawyer who specialises in complex cases involving vulnerable adults and children, and is particularly experienced in advising and representing children, parents and family members in difficult and sensitive cases. Sarah is a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, the Association of Children Lawyers and Resolution. She undertakes committee work, and is a member of the National Public Law Working Groups for Supervision Orders and Adoption. She runs the West London Family Court duty solicitor scheme, a pro bono service where she coordinates 50 participating local solicitors, and is on the working committee for the West London Family Court public information website.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Sarah has a stellar reputation and does lots of really complex cases."
"She gives robust, high-quality advice and goes way beyond the call of duty."
"Sarah is excellent throughout - she cuts to the chase and never misses the point."
"Sarah has exceptional empathy with the client, providing humane reassurance and support whilst also making them understand the reality of their situation."
"Sarah is incredibly collaborative and a powerful force in deeply complex and difficult cases. She is a great presence to have on a case."
"Sarah Richardson brings a lot of energy to cases and is really good with clients and in court."
"Sarah deals with the most difficult, multifaceted public law children cases. She is highly regarded by colleagues and judges as being the most experienced childcare solicitor."
"Sarah is a pleasure to work with and is able to expertly represent a breadth of different clients."
"Sarah is incredibly collaborative, and an incredibly powerful yet collaborative force in deeply complex and difficult cases. She is a great presence to have in a case."
"She has exceptional empathy with the client, particularly in providing really humane reassurance and support for clients, whilst making them understand the reality of their situation."
"She represents people who wouldn't ordinarily have a voice. The presentation she gives them is incredible."
"Sarah has a stellar reputation and does lots of really complex cases."
"She gives robust, high-quality advice and goes way beyond the call of duty."
"Sarah is excellent throughout - she cuts to the chase and never misses the point."
"Sarah has exceptional empathy with the client, providing humane reassurance and support whilst also making them understand the reality of their situation."
"Sarah is incredibly collaborative and a powerful force in deeply complex and difficult cases. She is a great presence to have on a case."
"Sarah Richardson brings a lot of energy to cases and is really good with clients and in court."
"Sarah deals with the most difficult, multifaceted public law children cases. She is highly regarded by colleagues and judges as being the most experienced childcare solicitor."
"Sarah is a pleasure to work with and is able to expertly represent a breadth of different clients."
"Sarah is incredibly collaborative, and an incredibly powerful yet collaborative force in deeply complex and difficult cases. She is a great presence to have in a case."
"She has exceptional empathy with the client, particularly in providing really humane reassurance and support for clients, whilst making them understand the reality of their situation."
"She represents people who wouldn't ordinarily have a voice. The presentation she gives them is incredible."
Articles, highlights and press releases
1 item provided by Russell-Cooke
Russell-Cooke named in Tier 1 of 2020 eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms rankings
Russell-Cooke has been recognised in the top tier of family law firms in the UK by online publication eprivateclient. This is the firm’s fifth award from eprivate client since it first ranked family law firms in 2016.
Russell-Cooke named in Tier 1 of 2020 eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms rankings
Russell-Cooke has been recognised in the top tier of family law firms in the UK by online publication eprivateclient. This is the firm’s fifth award from eprivate client since it first ranked family law firms in 2016.
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