Sarah Whitehouse was called to the Bar in 1993 following a career as an investment banker. She is ranked a leading junior by Chambers and Partners. She was appointed Treasury Counsel in November 2006.
She has appeared in several occasions in the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court) and on more than 100 occasions in the Court of Appeal and High Court. She has often attracted favourable comment from her tribunal: Hooper L.J. remarked, in the course of an appeal against a confiscation order, that she had “cross-examined the defendant with considerable skill”. On another occasion, the Lord Chief Justice expressed gratitude for her “detailed argument and carefully constructed submissions”.
She prosecutes and defends in serious criminal trials including murder, manslaughter, rape and fraud. She is often instructed as a leading junior and as special advocate in cases involving public interest immunity.
Specialisms
• Criminal litigation
• Homicide
• Fraud, bribery and corruption
• Public law
• Human rights
Scope of practice
Criminal litigation and homicide
Sarah regularly appears on behalf of the Attorney General in appeals to the Court of Appeal. She also appears in behalf of the prosecution and defence in appeals against conviction and sentence. Recently she successfully appealed against a conviction for sex offences on the notoriously difficult ground that the verdicts were inconsistent. She prosecutes cases of murder and attempted murder on a regular basis at the Central Criminal Court and is increasingly instructed to lead in such cases. She has recently been instructed in the case of Simon Harwood, the police officer accused of the manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests.
Fraud, bribery and corruption
Sarah is a former banker and is familiar with all aspects of financial matters. She has often appeared in cases of fraud and corruption and has recently been instructed in the trial of members of the national cricket team of Pakistan on corruption charges. She contributes to the Oxford University Press looseleaf publication Fraud.
Public law and human rights
Sarah has appeared in judicial reviews and appeals by way of case stated including a review of a decision to extend custody time limits and a case involving the application of Article 10 to the laws prohibiting the publication of the names of the victims of sexual offences.
Other
Advocacy Tutor Lincoln’s Inn (A grade)
Registered Pupil Supervisor
Attorney General’s Panel of Special Advocates