Sarah Parker

Sarah is regularly instructed in commercial disputes whether as an advocate, in an advisory capacity, or at various stages in substantial commercial disputes as part of a wider legal team. Recent cases include:

• Acting for a financial services firm in an arbitration concerning a dispute under a service level agreement against an individual wealth manager (led by Charlotte Eborall)
• Acting for an individual defendant to successfully oppose an application for security for costs (sole counsel)
• Advising a savings and investment company on legal matters to inform a commercial decision (sole counsel).
• Mozambique v Credit Suisse International [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm). Acting, as part of the legal team, for the Republic of Mozambique in the so-called “Tuna Bond Scandal”, a US$2bn Commercial Court matter against a number of parties including Credit Suisse, VTB and Privinvest.
• Acting for the assignee of the claims of a company in administration for repayment of sums drawn down from the company by a former director (sole counsel).
• Acting for the defendant Bank in a claim relating to a professional practice loan following the collapse of Halliwells LLP. Claim dismissed, counterclaim allowed, and contractual costs awarded to the bank (sole counsel).
• Drafting pleadings in various claims for restitution on the grounds of unjust enrichment (sole counsel).

Sarah frequently acts as sole counsel for banks and financial institutions in a range of matters including in interim applications, strike out and summary judgment applications and applications for injunctive relief. She is equally comfortable as part of a wider legal team. Recent matters include:

• Acting for a financial services firm in an arbitration concerning a dispute under a service level agreement against an individual wealth manager (led by Charlotte Eborall)
• Acting for the Bank in proceedings relating to enforcement of a director’s personal guarantee (sole counsel).
• Mozambique v Credit Suisse International [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm). Acting, as part of the legal team, for the Republic of Mozambique in the so-called “Tuna Bond Scandal”, a US$2bn Commercial Court matter against a number of parties including Credit Suisse, VTB and Privinvest.
• Lynch v Aldermore Bank [2022] EWHC 3050 (Ch). Acting for the Bank in its appeal against the decision of Chief ICC Judge Briggs to overturn a trustee in bankruptcy’s admission of a proof of debt based on a bank guarantee (led by Ian Wilson KC).
• Acting for the defendant Bank in a claim relating to a professional practice loan following the collapse of Halliwells LLP. Claim dismissed, counterclaim allowed, and contractual costs awarded to the bank (sole counsel).

Sarah has experience of various civil fraud matters including unjust enrichment, breach of trust, dishonest assistance, knowing receipt and conspiracy. Recent cases also include:

• Acting for the Claimants in matters arising from a pension investment fraud (sole counsel).
• Mozambique v Credit Suisse International [2024] EWHC 1957 (Comm). Acting, as part of the legal team, for the Republic of Mozambique in the so-called “Tuna Bond Scandal”, a US$2bn Commercial Court matter against a number of parties including Credit Suisse, VTB and Privinvest.
• Drafting pleadings in various claims, including claims for restitution on the grounds of unjust enrichment and unlawful means conspiracy (sole counsel).

Sarah’s insolvency and bankruptcy practice encompasses challenges to various insolvency decisions, winding up petitions, and cases where insolvency forms a significant element of a matter. Recent cases have included:

• Acting for a company seeking dismissal of a winding up petition brought against it by HMRC (sole counsel)
• Acting for a finance company in a bankruptcy annulment application (sole counsel).
• Acting for the assignee of the claims of a company in administration for repayment of sums drawn down from the company by a former director (sole counsel).
• Lynch v Aldermore Bank [2022] EWHC 3050 (Ch). Acting for the Bank in its appeal against the decision of Chief ICC Judge Briggs to overturn a trustee in bankruptcy’s admission of a proof of debt based on a bank guarantee (led by Ian Wilson KC).

Sarah is currently instructed in the Russian Aircraft Operator Policy Claims in the Commercial Court acting for the owners of aircraft engines (leased to Russian airlines) detained in Russia following sanctions (led by David Quest KC and with Emma Hughes).

Prior to joining 3VB, Sarah had a career in IT as co-founder and managing director of a company providing software as a service to the voluntary sector.

Sarah has also worked as a law reporter at the ICLR where she regularly attended court to cover High Court and Court of Appeal cases. She has a background in philosophy having completed a PhD in inter-disciplinary philosophy of mind, following which she worked as Assistant Curator at a university museum.