Sarah O’Kane
Sarah has a professional but friendly approach to her work and is able to adapt to the needs of her different clients; she strives to provide a first-rate service to those requiring representation.
Sarah approaches each of her cases with a fresh mind, has an eye for detail and is meticulous in her preparation.
Immediately prior to her life at the Bar, Sarah worked for a city-based firm of criminal defence and prison law solicitors where she was responsible for a full caseload of general crime matters, as well as dealing with high-profile fraud cases. Sarah therefore understands the pressures upon her professional clients and is always keen to work with them to assist with the smooth running of a case.
Sarah prosecutes and defends in all manner of criminal work; she is a Grade 3 prosecutor.
Sarah deals with a vast range of complex cases covering dishonesty offences, sexual offences, violent offences, drug matters, firearm offences and child cruelty cases. Sarah also deals with issues of confiscation.
Sarah enjoys all aspects of oral and written advocacy and prides herself on her ability to convey legal advice in a practical way. Sarah also particularly enjoys legal argument. Sarah is on hand to provide advice both in written format and more informally on the telephone, as required, to those that instruct her.
Sarah also undertakes prison law matters, namely parole hearings. This work compliments her criminal practice and vice versa.
Cases
Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation
Sarah has been instructed in various matters involving cash forfeiture and confiscation. She has sought to negotiate agreed terms as to confiscation but has fully contested matters when required.
R v D – contested confiscation hearing over a number of days dealing with issues both as to benefit and available amount.
R v R – negotiated confiscation order on agreeable terms; dealt with and obtained extension for time to pay thereafter.
R v T – instructed to deal with confiscation proceedings relating to what was heralded possibly the biggest cannabis factory found in England with the potential to afford a multi-million pound profit.
Criminal Defence
Sarah has been instructed in criminal defence cases covering a wide range of offences, dealing with a variety of evidence and with both vulnerable Defendants and witnesses.
R v L – defended in high-profile trafficking and controlling prostitution case
R v L – defended in case involving a care worker accused of numerous sexual assaults upon a child in care.
R v L – defended in a case of gross negligence manslaughter involving a nurse who transfused a wrong unit of blood
R v F – defended in a multi-handed conspiracy to burgle and steal which involved mass surveillance, ANPR and cell-site material.
R v M – defended in conspiracy to burgle and steal case involving high value cars
R v T – defended in multi-handed historic sex case spanning 15 years and involving young and vulnerable witnesses.
R v H – defended in multi-handed Class A drugs conspiracy trial.
Criminal Prosecution
Sarah prosecutes at Grade 3 level.
R v O and A – prosecuted in case involving international inheritance scam and money-laundering.
R v P – case of child abduction involving Defendant relying on hypo-mania as a reasonable excuse and which involved expert evidence
R v J – prosecuted case alleging sexual assault which involved extensive telephone data
Fraud & Financial Crime
Sarah is instructed in fraud matters from low-value cases to those involving millions of pounds.
R v B – Defended in conspiracy to defraud case involving a multi-million pound boiler fraud.
R v B – Defended in multi-handed complex VAT fraud involving a Defendant with international business interests.
Professional Memberships
- Member of the CBA
Awards, Qualifications & Other
- Sarah is Diplock scholar.
- Grade 3 CPS Counsel