Sarah W. S. Lau
LLB (Hons), LLM (International Commercial Law)
Call: 1998 Lincoln’s Inn
Background
Sarah graduated in Law from the University of Leicester in 1997. She was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in October 1998. She went on to obtain a Masters degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham in 1999 before commencing pupillage in Queens Chambers in Manchester She spent 5 years practising in Manchester before joining Academy Chambers in October 2005.
Sarah speaks fluent Mandarin, Cantonese and Foochow. During her time in Manchester she served as a Trustee on the management committee of the Wai Yin Chinese Women’s Society and advised on the setting up of the first ever Chinese Law Centre in the area to provide legal advice to the Chinese and other Ethnic Minority Communities in Greater Manchester.
Sarah is a member of the Northern Circuit Free Representation Unit (NCFRU) and won the inaugural circuit Pro Bono Award in 2000 for her professional services under the scheme.
Areas Of Practice
Commercial
Civil
Crime
Immigration
Family
Civil
Sarah accepts instructions for trials involving Small Claims and Fast Track cases in the County Court
She specialises in liability disputed Road Traffic Accidents and cases involving General Negligence, and also accepts instructions involving contractual disputes, winding up applications and consumer credit litigation.
Crime
Sarah accepts instructions from both the Defence and Prosecution in all areas of Criminal work in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court. She is on the CPS-approved list of advocates as a Category II Prosecutor.
Her specialist fields include:
Drug-related Offences
Sarah has dealt with matters relating to all levels of drug offences in the Crown and Magistrates Court. Her experience in the field includes: Crown Court defence trials pertaining to the supply of large amounts of Class A drugs; Newton hearings in relation to the level of participation in the drug chain; and hearings involving Confiscation Orders.
Offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sarah has successfully prosecuted and defended cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses, and is experienced in cross-examining young witnesses via video link.
Offences Against the Person and Racially Aggravated Offences
Sarah’s experience includes defending a 2 week trial in Preston Crown Court (R v. Sakaria), a case that attracted media interest as it involved allegations against a child protection officer of an assault on a child.
Immigration
Sarah acts for Appellants across the spectrum of Immigration law, specializing in asylum and human rights cases. She appears regularly before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) in both asylum and immigration cases. Much of her work includes advice on all other areas of immigration from application through to litigation. Sarah has considerable experience advising on work permit, business, naturalisation and nationality issues, as well as on visitor, student, family and settlement cases.
Family
Sarah has appeared on behalf of Applicants and Respondents in Contact, Residence, Parental Responsibility Applications at the Magistrates and County Court. She is a member of the Northern Circuit Family Bar Association.
LLB (Hons), LLM (International Commercial Law)
Call: 1998 Lincoln’s Inn
Background
Sarah graduated in Law from the University of Leicester in 1997. She was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in October 1998. She went on to obtain a Masters degree in International Commercial Law from the University of Nottingham in 1999 before commencing pupillage in Queens Chambers in Manchester She spent 5 years practising in Manchester before joining Academy Chambers in October 2005.
Sarah speaks fluent Mandarin, Cantonese and Foochow. During her time in Manchester she served as a Trustee on the management committee of the Wai Yin Chinese Women’s Society and advised on the setting up of the first ever Chinese Law Centre in the area to provide legal advice to the Chinese and other Ethnic Minority Communities in Greater Manchester.
Sarah is a member of the Northern Circuit Free Representation Unit (NCFRU) and won the inaugural circuit Pro Bono Award in 2000 for her professional services under the scheme.
Areas Of Practice
Commercial
Civil
Crime
Immigration
Family
Civil
Sarah accepts instructions for trials involving Small Claims and Fast Track cases in the County Court
She specialises in liability disputed Road Traffic Accidents and cases involving General Negligence, and also accepts instructions involving contractual disputes, winding up applications and consumer credit litigation.
Crime
Sarah accepts instructions from both the Defence and Prosecution in all areas of Criminal work in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court. She is on the CPS-approved list of advocates as a Category II Prosecutor.
Her specialist fields include:
Drug-related Offences
Sarah has dealt with matters relating to all levels of drug offences in the Crown and Magistrates Court. Her experience in the field includes: Crown Court defence trials pertaining to the supply of large amounts of Class A drugs; Newton hearings in relation to the level of participation in the drug chain; and hearings involving Confiscation Orders.
Offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sarah has successfully prosecuted and defended cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses, and is experienced in cross-examining young witnesses via video link.
Offences Against the Person and Racially Aggravated Offences
Sarah’s experience includes defending a 2 week trial in Preston Crown Court (R v. Sakaria), a case that attracted media interest as it involved allegations against a child protection officer of an assault on a child.
Immigration
Sarah acts for Appellants across the spectrum of Immigration law, specializing in asylum and human rights cases. She appears regularly before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) in both asylum and immigration cases. Much of her work includes advice on all other areas of immigration from application through to litigation. Sarah has considerable experience advising on work permit, business, naturalisation and nationality issues, as well as on visitor, student, family and settlement cases.
Family
Sarah has appeared on behalf of Applicants and Respondents in Contact, Residence, Parental Responsibility Applications at the Magistrates and County Court. She is a member of the Northern Circuit Family Bar Association.