Close

People

Sarah Walker specialises in dispute evaluation and resolution by litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiation. A partner in our Global Disputes practice based in our London office, Sarah represents international clients in a wide variety of commercial matters.

Sarah Walker is a partner in our London office specialising in commercial dispute resolution, frequently with an international element. Sarah has handled high-stakes complex disputes via arbitration, litigation and mediation for circa 30 years and her clients include sovereign states, financial institutions, corporates and high net-worth individuals. Sarah is described as “having breadth of expertise in financial services, aviation, IT, communications and the energy sector”. Sarah is particularly noted for her subject matter expertise across large-scale project disputes, asset recovery and enforcement and civil fraud. Sarah is listed as a leading individual for Commercial Litigation: Premium (Legal 500 UK) and is named as a leading practitioner in the field of Asset Recovery (Who’s Who Legal 2022). One of the “elite advisors”, and in Chambers.

Sarah is described as “one of the best litigators in London”, “excellent with clients and a fine all round litigator”, “a standout partner in the civil fraud space [who is] technically excellent” and has a “highly commercial approach to dispute resolution” with “boundless enthusiasm” but notably “listens and doesn’t dictate, trustworthy and smart”. She is considered to have “bags of energy and drive and a real client's lawyer” and “an impressively tough litigator, yet very gracious”.

Sarah was Training Principal for the Firm’s London Trainee Programme, served on the Firm’s Associate Evaluation Committee for over 10 years and currently serves as a member of the Firm’s Policy Committee. She spent time during her career in the legal function of a major financial institution, is a frequent author on dispute resolution and speaker at conferences on international disputes. Sarah spends time in all of the Firm’s Middle East offices and works extensively with clients from the region. She is fluent in Italian.

Full Bio

Credentials

Law Society of London

Law Society of London (Registration #18853)

Italian

Named: Asset Recovery


Who’s Who Legal 2022

Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation: Premium


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is one of the best litigators in London. She is a fantastic Adviser and Mentor"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah is identified as one of the “elite advisors” who routinely advise the world’s leading corporations & powerbrokers


Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 2021

"The 'fantastic' Sarah Walker has a breadth of expertise (financial services/aviation/IT/communications & energy sector)


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is a fantastic operator - hard-working and experienced she always has client's interests in focus"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker is "fearless and leads an impeccable team"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker always endeavours to be available to her clients regardless of other commitments


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker has an excellent understanding of the offshore world in the context of financial services disputes


Legal 500 UK 2020

Strategic thinker Sarah Walker brings "boundless enthusiasm" and a "highly commercial approach to dispute resolution"


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker has "bags of energy and drive, a real client's lawyer"


The UK Legal 500

Sarah Walker has a broad practice encompassing both litigation and international arbitration matters


Chambers UK

Sarah Walker has a wealth of litigation arbitration experience


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker is "excellent with clients and a fine all round litigator"


Chambers UK

Clients recommend the "extremely professional" Sarah Walker


The Legal 500

Sarah Walker is "an impressively tough litigator, yet very gracious"


Chambers and Partners

Close

Recognition

Named: Asset Recovery


Who’s Who Legal 2022

Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation: Premium


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is one of the best litigators in London. She is a fantastic Adviser and Mentor"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah is identified as one of the “elite advisors” who routinely advise the world’s leading corporations & powerbrokers


Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 2021

"The 'fantastic' Sarah Walker has a breadth of expertise (financial services/aviation/IT/communications & energy sector)


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is a fantastic operator - hard-working and experienced she always has client's interests in focus"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker is "fearless and leads an impeccable team"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker always endeavours to be available to her clients regardless of other commitments


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker has an excellent understanding of the offshore world in the context of financial services disputes


Legal 500 UK 2020

Strategic thinker Sarah Walker brings "boundless enthusiasm" and a "highly commercial approach to dispute resolution"


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker has "bags of energy and drive, a real client's lawyer"


The UK Legal 500

Sarah Walker has a broad practice encompassing both litigation and international arbitration matters


Chambers UK

Sarah Walker has a wealth of litigation arbitration experience


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker is "excellent with clients and a fine all round litigator"


Chambers UK

Clients recommend the "extremely professional" Sarah Walker


The Legal 500

Sarah Walker is "an impressively tough litigator, yet very gracious"


Chambers and Partners

Matters

Representing two defendants in proceedings in the London Commercial Court brought by companies in the Farahead Holdings group, owned by John Fredriksen, the Norwegian-born shipowner billionaire. This highly complex case, involving issues of civil fraud and breach of contract, is scheduled for a 12-week trial in 2024.

Represented WesternZagros Limited in Commercial Court proceedings involving allegations of fraud and duress and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings on related claims regarding contractual interpretation of termination rights. Advocacy led by K&S.

Represented various Airfinance Leasing Companies in a dispute in respect of rental payments by Saudi Arabian Airline Corporation due to the Claimants under fifty lease agreements. A three-week trial in the Commercial Court. Successfully settled.

See more

Close

Matters

Representing two defendants in proceedings in the London Commercial Court brought by companies in the Farahead Holdings group, owned by John Fredriksen, the Norwegian-born shipowner billionaire. This highly complex case, involving issues of civil fraud and breach of contract, is scheduled for a 12-week trial in 2024.

Represented WesternZagros Limited in Commercial Court proceedings involving allegations of fraud and duress and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings on related claims regarding contractual interpretation of termination rights. Advocacy led by K&S.

Represented various Airfinance Leasing Companies in a dispute in respect of rental payments by Saudi Arabian Airline Corporation due to the Claimants under fifty lease agreements. A three-week trial in the Commercial Court. Successfully settled.

Acting on behalf of Motorola Solutions in injunctive and separate enforcement proceedings against Hytera Communications Corporation Limited and related subsidiaries. The UK enforcement proceedings are in support of a $450 million US judgement in favour of our client against Chinese company Hytera for theft of trade secrets.

Acting for Motorola Credit Corporation in a long-running US$3b fraud case against the Uzan family. Successful application made to the London Commercial Court for a Worldwide Freezing Order, over US$1.5 billion successfully recovered for Motorola in recognition and enforcement proceedings in 25 countries. The representation continues with asset-tracing and recovery.

Represented Bank & Clients in obtaining summary judgement for £3.54m together with a world-wide freezing order against the founders of bankrupt “tech unicorn” Ve Interactive. The case was highly publicised in the Financial Times and The Times.

Representing an Islamic Bank in a £80m fraud claim against a US investor arising out of a UK building project in the London Commercial Court and in the US courts.

Acting for a Portuguese construction and property company in a High Court claim against a major UK bank for the mis-selling of derivative products.

Representing an International oil and gas company in proceedings up to and including trial in the London Commercial Court regarding claims connected to a production sharing contract in Iraq.

Samir Arab v Raghida & 5 Others [2015] EWHC 1244 (English Commercial Court Judgement – summary judgement proceedings relating to fraud claims concerning a multi-million dollar Iraqi mobile telecommunications project).

Bank and Clients Plc v King [2017] EWHC 3160 (Comm)

Monde Petroleum SA v Westerzagros [2018] EWCA Civ 25

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v. DIFC [2019] DIFC CFI 013

C v. D Ltd and X [2020] EWHC 1283 (Comm)

Shapoorki Pallonji and Co Pvt Ltd v Yumn Limited [2021] EWHC 862 (Comm)

Various Airfinance Leasing Companies v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp [2021] EWHC 2904 (Comm)

Various Airfinance Leasing Companies v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp [2021] 12 WLUK 562Alta Trading UK Ltd (formerly Arcadia Petroleum Ltd) v Bosworth [2021] 4 W.L.R. 72

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v (1) Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (2) Dubai International Financial Centre Investments LLC [2019] DICF CFI 013, 2 March 2022

Hashwah v Qatar National Bank Limited [2022] EWHC 22422 (Comm)

Motorola Solutions Limited v. Hytera Communications Cortp Limited [2022] EWHC 2887 (Comm)

Acting in complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitral proceedings concerning the enforcement of a circa US $500m Energy Charter Treaty Award in respect of the construction and operation of a gas processing facility in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Commercial Court and related appeal proceedings with regard to $68 billion sovereign wealth fund and the act of state and voice doctrines.

Commercial Court proceedings relating to a $2.5 billion fraud and enforcement claim including freezing orders and action in 25 jurisdictions worldwide.

Commercial Court proceedings relating to terrorist financing, money laundering and acts of state and immunity.

Matters

Representing two defendants in proceedings in the London Commercial Court brought by companies in the Farahead Holdings group, owned by John Fredriksen, the Norwegian-born shipowner billionaire. This highly complex case, involving issues of civil fraud and breach of contract, is scheduled for a 12-week trial in 2024.

Represented WesternZagros Limited in Commercial Court proceedings involving allegations of fraud and duress and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings on related claims regarding contractual interpretation of termination rights. Advocacy led by K&S.

Represented various Airfinance Leasing Companies in a dispute in respect of rental payments by Saudi Arabian Airline Corporation due to the Claimants under fifty lease agreements. A three-week trial in the Commercial Court. Successfully settled.

See more

Close

Matters

Representing two defendants in proceedings in the London Commercial Court brought by companies in the Farahead Holdings group, owned by John Fredriksen, the Norwegian-born shipowner billionaire. This highly complex case, involving issues of civil fraud and breach of contract, is scheduled for a 12-week trial in 2024.

Represented WesternZagros Limited in Commercial Court proceedings involving allegations of fraud and duress and subsequent Court of Appeal proceedings on related claims regarding contractual interpretation of termination rights. Advocacy led by K&S.

Represented various Airfinance Leasing Companies in a dispute in respect of rental payments by Saudi Arabian Airline Corporation due to the Claimants under fifty lease agreements. A three-week trial in the Commercial Court. Successfully settled.

Acting on behalf of Motorola Solutions in injunctive and separate enforcement proceedings against Hytera Communications Corporation Limited and related subsidiaries. The UK enforcement proceedings are in support of a $450 million US judgement in favour of our client against Chinese company Hytera for theft of trade secrets.

Acting for Motorola Credit Corporation in a long-running US$3b fraud case against the Uzan family. Successful application made to the London Commercial Court for a Worldwide Freezing Order, over US$1.5 billion successfully recovered for Motorola in recognition and enforcement proceedings in 25 countries. The representation continues with asset-tracing and recovery.

Represented Bank & Clients in obtaining summary judgement for £3.54m together with a world-wide freezing order against the founders of bankrupt “tech unicorn” Ve Interactive. The case was highly publicised in the Financial Times and The Times.

Representing an Islamic Bank in a £80m fraud claim against a US investor arising out of a UK building project in the London Commercial Court and in the US courts.

Acting for a Portuguese construction and property company in a High Court claim against a major UK bank for the mis-selling of derivative products.

Representing an International oil and gas company in proceedings up to and including trial in the London Commercial Court regarding claims connected to a production sharing contract in Iraq.

Samir Arab v Raghida & 5 Others [2015] EWHC 1244 (English Commercial Court Judgement – summary judgement proceedings relating to fraud claims concerning a multi-million dollar Iraqi mobile telecommunications project).

Bank and Clients Plc v King [2017] EWHC 3160 (Comm)

Monde Petroleum SA v Westerzagros [2018] EWCA Civ 25

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v. DIFC [2019] DIFC CFI 013

C v. D Ltd and X [2020] EWHC 1283 (Comm)

Shapoorki Pallonji and Co Pvt Ltd v Yumn Limited [2021] EWHC 862 (Comm)

Various Airfinance Leasing Companies v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp [2021] EWHC 2904 (Comm)

Various Airfinance Leasing Companies v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp [2021] 12 WLUK 562Alta Trading UK Ltd (formerly Arcadia Petroleum Ltd) v Bosworth [2021] 4 W.L.R. 72

Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v (1) Dubai International Financial Centre Authority (2) Dubai International Financial Centre Investments LLC [2019] DICF CFI 013, 2 March 2022

Hashwah v Qatar National Bank Limited [2022] EWHC 22422 (Comm)

Motorola Solutions Limited v. Hytera Communications Cortp Limited [2022] EWHC 2887 (Comm)

Acting in complex multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitral proceedings concerning the enforcement of a circa US $500m Energy Charter Treaty Award in respect of the construction and operation of a gas processing facility in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Commercial Court and related appeal proceedings with regard to $68 billion sovereign wealth fund and the act of state and voice doctrines.

Commercial Court proceedings relating to a $2.5 billion fraud and enforcement claim including freezing orders and action in 25 jurisdictions worldwide.

Commercial Court proceedings relating to terrorist financing, money laundering and acts of state and immunity.

Credentials

Law Society of London

Law Society of London (Registration #18853)

Italian

Named: Asset Recovery


Who’s Who Legal 2022

Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation: Premium


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is one of the best litigators in London. She is a fantastic Adviser and Mentor"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah is identified as one of the “elite advisors” who routinely advise the world’s leading corporations & powerbrokers


Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 2021

"The 'fantastic' Sarah Walker has a breadth of expertise (financial services/aviation/IT/communications & energy sector)


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is a fantastic operator - hard-working and experienced she always has client's interests in focus"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker is "fearless and leads an impeccable team"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker always endeavours to be available to her clients regardless of other commitments


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker has an excellent understanding of the offshore world in the context of financial services disputes


Legal 500 UK 2020

Strategic thinker Sarah Walker brings "boundless enthusiasm" and a "highly commercial approach to dispute resolution"


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker has "bags of energy and drive, a real client's lawyer"


The UK Legal 500

Sarah Walker has a broad practice encompassing both litigation and international arbitration matters


Chambers UK

Sarah Walker has a wealth of litigation arbitration experience


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker is "excellent with clients and a fine all round litigator"


Chambers UK

Clients recommend the "extremely professional" Sarah Walker


The Legal 500

Sarah Walker is "an impressively tough litigator, yet very gracious"


Chambers and Partners

Close

Recognition

Named: Asset Recovery


Who’s Who Legal 2022

Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation: Premium


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is one of the best litigators in London. She is a fantastic Adviser and Mentor"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah is identified as one of the “elite advisors” who routinely advise the world’s leading corporations & powerbrokers


Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 2021

"The 'fantastic' Sarah Walker has a breadth of expertise (financial services/aviation/IT/communications & energy sector)


Legal 500 UK 2021

"Sarah Walker is a fantastic operator - hard-working and experienced she always has client's interests in focus"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker is "fearless and leads an impeccable team"


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker always endeavours to be available to her clients regardless of other commitments


Legal 500 UK 2021

Sarah Walker has an excellent understanding of the offshore world in the context of financial services disputes


Legal 500 UK 2020

Strategic thinker Sarah Walker brings "boundless enthusiasm" and a "highly commercial approach to dispute resolution"


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker has "bags of energy and drive, a real client's lawyer"


The UK Legal 500

Sarah Walker has a broad practice encompassing both litigation and international arbitration matters


Chambers UK

Sarah Walker has a wealth of litigation arbitration experience


Chambers and Partners

Sarah Walker is "excellent with clients and a fine all round litigator"


Chambers UK

Clients recommend the "extremely professional" Sarah Walker


The Legal 500

Sarah Walker is "an impressively tough litigator, yet very gracious"


Chambers and Partners