Sarah has over 15 years' experience in advising organizations on their health and safety arrangements and representing them in regulatory investigations.
Sarah is a Partner in the Environment, Health and Safety team. She advises and represents organizations and individuals who are subject to an investigation of manslaughter offenses (including corporate manslaughter) and offenses relating to health and safety, fire safety and the ORR. She regularly advises clients during criminal and regulatory investigations and provides representation at PACE and other interviews and at Inquests. Sarah is also a regular advocate in the Magistrates' Court and at Traffic Commissioner Inquiries.
She has a part-time judicial appointment as an Assistant Coroner in the largest Coronial jurisdiction of Inner London South. This part-time judicial appointment compliments Sarah’s inquest caseload. These positions are notoriously difficult to secure following a long and stringent vetting process. This experience informs her dealings with clients facing the inquisitorial process and garners her widespread praise.
Sarah is also an appointed solicitor for Thames Water Utilities Limited and advises and represents the organization in relation to investigations and prosecutions brought by the Environment Agency. She also undertakes prosecutions on behalf of the water networks teams.
Sarah has hosted or been invited as a panelist to a variety of conferences across a spectrum of industries. Sarah has provided advice in an ever-changing environment on business resilience planning for organizations across education, construction, finance and diverse industries during the pandemic, ensuring these organizations adhere to their health and safety obligations.
In her spare time you may find Sarah taking part in a marathon. She also enjoys netball, skiing and travel.
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Sarah’s recent experience in contentious safety matters includes representing:
- the demolition contractor involved in the unplanned collapse of four boiler houses at Didcot which resulted in multiple fatalities
- EDF Energy following a gas explosion at a customer's property where dual fuel meters had been installed
- MCFT Limited in a multi-handed prosecution where a 4-week trial is scheduled to take place in 2023
- an employee driver of EDF Energy in relation to a fatal road traffic collision
- RMS Hull Limited in relation to a fatal incident involving a visiting HGV driver at Albert Wright Docks
Sarah's recent experience in non-contentious matters includes:
- assisting in securing an international project valued at fees of £1.4m which includes a comprehensive review of the safety management system, creation of a new system of workflow and cultural transformation exercise for the largest electrical company in Hong Kong (China Light and Power Limited)
- leading a team in the delivery of another six-figure compliance review for UK-based renewable energy company Drax Power Limited at its Scottish assets
- completing compliance reviews for a global travel company, Expedia, and a global pharmaceutical company, UCB Celltech
- leading a team in the delivery of two large compliance reviews which have involved the implementation of a new health and safety management system for a Higher Education client, UCISA, and a charity, The Piece Hall
Sarah’s active involvement in pro bono opportunities includes:
- assisting a small group of members of the Afghanistan judiciary and Attorney General's office in seeking evacuation and relocation to the UK
- reviewing and updating health and safety documentation for charity organizations and small start-up businesses
- in the Headway partnership offering mock interviews and advice on interview techniques to sixth form students based in the local community
- Invited to speak at keynote addresses for the Hong Kong Construction forum, Thames Valley Safety group, North Eastern Legionella Focus group and London Health and Safety group
- Undertakes bespoke client training sessions within the education, manufacturing and retail sectors
- Author of thought leadership pieces for IOSH and SHP
- Paul Verrico and Sarah Valentine: Safety Theory: Habituation, remote Misses and Safety Messaging
Safety Theory: Habituation, remote misses and safety messaging (shponline.co.uk) - Amy Sadro and Sarah Valentine: Responding to the media following a health and safety incident, Compliance and Risk Journal
Compliance & Risk journal - Volume 9, Issue 4 (July/August 2020) (pdpjournals.com)
- The Legal 500 Rising Star in Health and Safety
- The Legal 500 UK Rising Star
- Assistant Coroner for Inner London, a judicial appointment that compliments her existing coronial caseload as an advocate
- Member, Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- Member, London Health and Safety Network
- Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal), 2020
- Assistant Coroner, London, 2019
- LPC, College of Law, York, 2005
- LLB (Honours) Law, Lancaster University, 2004