Dr. Sarah Egan

Sarah’s expertise is sought in Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 claims on behalf of spouses, cohabitees, children, and other family members of the Deceased, often involving other aspects of her practice such as co-owned property, exemplified in Antonio v. Williams and McBean [2022] EWHC 2383 (Ch), a landmark decision in which the Court determined it could make an order for reasonable financial provision prior to the obtaining of the Grant of Probate.

Sarah is instructed in claims regarding challenges to the validity of Wills; the removal of Executors; the rectification and variation of Wills; and the settlement of Wills; and the administration of Estates.

Sarah has a particular interest in cross-border succession matters involving conflicts of laws across multiple jurisdictions and issues of domicile, often with a European focus. Fluent in German and proficient in French, Italian, and Danish, she is comfortable perusing documents in these languages. Sarah is a Member of the Bar of Ireland and able to passport her legal services into the European Union.

Sarah is frequently instructed in claims brought under The Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for declarations of trust and beneficial interest in co-ownership disputes. She advises on the merits of trusts claims (including express, resulting, constructive trusts, and proprietary estoppel); claims involving Trustees’ powers and duties; breach of trust and the removal of Trustees; applications for the removal of Trustees. She also drafts Trust Deeds and Deeds of Variation.

Sarah also advises and acts in professional negligence claims relating to the execution of Wills and conveyancing.

Sarah has extensive experience of Court of Protection matters, including issues of capacity and undue influence; Lasting and Enduring Powers of Attorney; applications for Statutory Wills; applications for the appointment and removal of Deputies for Welfare, and for Property and Financial Affairs (including in cases of alleged financial abuse); the deprivation of liberty of vulnerable elderly clients or persons with autism; and claims for possession of property of a person lacking capacity.

Sarah’s expertise extends to property litigation.  She advises on matters as diverse as the property-related torts of nuisance and trespass; boundary disputes; disputes pertaining to easements and restrictive covenants; land registration; rectification of the Register; and claims for possession and/or sale of property.

Sarah is instructed in Landlord and Tenant matters involving the interpretation of commercial and residential leases, often where there is a Headlease with a succession of Underleases and Subleases; leasehold enfranchisement; dilapidations; forfeiture; and unlawful eviction.

Sarah has a commercially-minded and pragmatic approach to advisory work and litigation owing to her 10 years of financial and commercial experience in the City. As an investment analyst she gained exposure to emerging markets fund management and to private banking in London and the offshore jurisdictions of Bermuda and Guernsey. In her previous capacity as in-house counsel to the U.K. operation of a commercial bank with offices in Ireland, the Channel Islands, Austria, and the USA, Sarah advised on financial services regulation; the incorporation of offshore funds and companies; commercial landlord and tenant; and banking and contractual documentation in respect of lending and treasury products. The special benefit of Sarah’s industry experience as a financial services professional and in-house counsel is that she understands cases from the perspective of both the client and the legal adviser.

Sarah has experience of disputes arising from alleged breaches of banking terms and conditions and the enforcement of guarantees; pertaining to lending facilities; and relating to payments.

Sarah has advised on the interpretation of contracts, the merits of claims in disputes involving breach of contracts, including commercial contracts, building contracts; and contracts for the supply of goods and services, often involving instances of misrepresentation, duress and undue influence.

Sarah has also advised in professional negligence claims pertaining to banking professionals and financial services institutions.

• 1996:  B.A. (Hons.) (English and German Literature), University College Galway;
• 2000:  Ph.D. (German Literature and Philosophy), National University of Ireland, Galway (formerly University College Galway)
• 2005:  LL. Dip., The College of Law, London
• 2006:  B.V.C., Inns of Court School of Law
• 2012:  M.A. (Philosophy), University of Liverpool
• 2020:  Degree of Barrister-at-Law, The Honorable Society of King’s Inns, Dublin
• Dual Qualification: Bar of Ireland (2020)

• Postgraduate Research Fellow, National University of Ireland
• Inner Temple Exhibitioner
• Alexander Mair Dissertation Prize, University of Liverpool

• Chancery Bar Association
• Contentious Trusts Association
• European Circuit of the Bar
• Family Law Bar Association
• London Irish Lawyers’ Association
• Northern Circuit

• Fluent German;
• Intermediate Danish, French, Gaelic, and Italian;
• Basic Polish and Spanish.

“Sarah is a very thorough barrister and goes the extra mile. She has great attention to detail and preparation.”
Legal 500 UK Bar 2024 – Private Client: Trusts & Probate; Tier 3

“Always extremely well-prepared for every hearing and her communication skills with clients have always been reassuring and well-received with matters being explained clearly.”
Legal 500 UK Bar 2021