Hyde Park Festival (2022, 2018)
Representing Royal Parks as applicant for new premises licence for Hyde Park summer festivals.
Sarah Le Fevre practises in licensing, regulatory, criminal, coronial and public law.
She is recommended in the legal directories in the fields of inquests and inquiries, licensing and health and safety.
Sarah’s regular practice encompasses:
Representing Royal Parks as applicant for new premises licence for Hyde Park summer festivals.
Representing owners and operators of Grade 1 listed stately home in Dorset on its successful application for a new premises licence and in the appeal brought against that decision.
Representing applicant for new premises licence and extension of sexual entertainment licence in central Soho.
Instructed by claimant in judicial review proceedings brought against HM Treasury judicial review challenging the wholesale exemption of gambling operators from the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
Instructed as junior counsel for the claimant in judicial review proceedings (High Court and Court of Appeal) in respect of defendant’s decision to dismiss statutory appeal following mistake in drafting of complaint. Appeal against High Court decision allowed by Court of Appeal.
Representing successful applicants for the two largest licensed venues in Hackney.
Representing sexual entertainment venue in proceedings before the local authority and in successful challenges to that authority's decision on statutory appeal and in the High Court.
Sarah’s regular practice in this field encompasses civil and criminal enforcement and inquest and tribunal work. She has been appointed to the A List of the Attorney General’s list of Specialist Counsel in this field since 2012. Specific areas of expertise reflected in current/recent practice include:
Instructed by the HSE in the prosecution of Priory Healthcare Ltd: charges under the HSWA 74 alleging failures to properly minimise the risk of suicide in sectioned and extremely vulnerable mental health patients.
Representing the ORR in the prosecution of Network Rail for safety failings on a level crossing (Gipsy Lane, Needham Market) over a protracted period of time, resulting in the death of Olive McFarland. Network Rail was sentenced pursuant to the Health and Safety Offences Definitive Guideline (high culpability and category 1 harm), and fined £4m.
Representing the prosecution in the second appeal against sentence. Sole prosecution counsel throughout proceedings, involving safety failures at a level crossing on private land resulting in serious injuries to a ten year old boy. Network Rail was fined £500,000 following a guilty plea. Consideration by the Court of Appeal of the appropriate approach to sentencing atypically structured and/or very large corporate entities for health and safety and environmental protection offences. Appeals dismissed.
AWS fined £50,000 for alleged Category 1 incidence following (a) the Sellafield decision and (b) publication of the Environmental Offences Definitive Guideline.
Successfully appealing excessive sentence imposed by magistrates on a national water authority under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010.
Representing the prosecuting authority on appeal against conviction concerning (a) the relationship between the mens rea for a 'consent, connive, neglect' offence and a statutory due diligence defence, and (b) the indicting of consent, connive, neglect allegations. Appeal dismissed.
Sarah advises and represents families, regulators, police authorities and other interested persons at all stages of the coronial process. Her inquest practice embraces deaths following contact with police, deaths on the railway and as a result of fire, and workplace fatalities.
Sarah also sits as an Assistant Coroner for Gwent and the County of Devon.
Sarah has been instructed for key core participants in four major ongoing public inquiries, and has extensive experience and knowledge of Inquiry practice and procedure and of the issues underlying and giving rise to those inquiries. She has also appeared in a number of public inquiries before Traffic Commissioners on behalf of national utility companies.
Instructed as Deputy Counsel to the Inquiry in this non-statutory inquiry into the events of 24 November 2021, when at least 27 people died attempting to cross the Channel in a small boat.
Instructed by the National Police Chiefs Council, led by Rory Phillips KC and leading a team of junior counsel.
Instructed by the London Fire Brigade, led by Stephen Walsh KC and leading a team of junior counsel.
Instructed as sole counsel to represent the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in the inquests arising from the terrorist attacks in and around Fish Hall in 2019.
Representing the London Fire Commissioner in the inquest into the death during a fire in supported housing.
Representing the MPS in an inquest into the death of a patient at Homerton Hospital.
Representing a charitable Housing Association in whose supported accommodation the deceased was discovered over a year after her death.
Instructed to represent individual witnesses in respect of certain IICSA investigations/case studies.
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service, led by Neil Garnham KC and Jonathan Hall KC; latterly as sole counsel in respect of discreet legal issues.
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of the death of a customer of a national casino operator.
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of a police shooting in a petrol station.
Instructed for the London Fire Commissioner .
Instructed on behalf of a care home, in respect of the death of a resident (Surrey).
Instructed by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of proceedings arising from the death of Francesca Whyatt on 25th September 2013 at the Priory, Roehampton.
Instructed to represent Burghley House Preservation Trust Ltd in the inquest into the death of Arthur Mellar at Burghley House in 2014.
Instructed to represent Sky News in the inquest into the death of a 'Twitter troll' following Sky News investigation into the online trolling of the family of Madeleine McCann.
Instructed with Hugo Keith KC to represent the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in this inquest and related judicial review proceedings. Instructed with Jason Beer KC in related civil claims.
Instructed to represent King’s College London in the inquest and related judicial review proceedings.
Instructed for the family in respect of the fatality of patient restricted under section 3 Mental Health Act 1983 following absconding from secure ward.
Sarah is experienced in bringing and defending judicial review claims and appeals by way of case stated and advising at all stages of such proceedings, and advising a range of public authorities in respect of the proper exercise of statutory functions in connection with all her areas of specialist practice. She is also experienced in making and advising on applications for public interest immunity in a range of jurisdictions.
Instructed for the claimant officer challenging purported requirement for consent to retire.
Instructed for the claimant in proceedings challenging implementation of Fourth Money Laundering Directive through the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
Instructed for the affected officer in article 3 proceedings seeking to prevent retirement through stay of the defendant's decision.
Challenge to the lawfulness of District Judge's decision to dismiss a statutory licensing appeal at the conclusion of the appellant's case. Instructed for the 1st Interested Party.
Instructed as junior counsel for the claimant in judicial review proceedings (High Court and Court of Appeal) in respect of defendant's decision to dismiss statutory appeal following mistake in drafting of complaint. Appeal against High Court decision allowed by Court of Appeal.
Representing the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in a test case brought by a south London teenager, Hughes Cousins-Chang, against both the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Commissioner. The case resulted in a finding that the Home Secretary’s failure to review Code C PACE 1984 in respect of 17 year olds in custody represented a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Secretary was ordered to redraft the Code. The claim did not succeed against the Metropolitan Police.
In addition to her regulatory expertise, Sarah has lengthy experience, prosecuting and defending, in cases concerning/involving:
Grenfell Tower Inquiry (2017 to date)
Instructed by the London Fire Brigade, led by Stephen Walsh KC.
Fishmongers Hall Inquests (2019-2021)
Instructed as sole counsel to represent the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in the inquests arising from the terrorist attacks in and around Fish Hall in 2019.
Inquest into the death of AT (2022)
Representing the London Fire Commissioner in the inquest into the death during a fire in supported housing.
Inquest into the death of Benjamin Brown (2022 and ongoing)
Representing the MPS in an inquest into the death of a patient at Homerton Hospital.
Inquest into the death of CA (2021)
Representing a charitable Housing Association in whose supported accommodation the deceased was discovered over a hear after her death.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (2018-2020)
Instructed to represent individual witnesses in respect of certain IICSA investigations/case studies.
Public inquiry into Undercover Policing (2015-2017; 2022)
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in the public inquiry into undercover policing, led by Neil Garnham KC and Jonathan Hall KC.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Instructed to represent individual witnesses in respect of certain IICSA investigations/case studies.
Inquest into the death of YA
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of the death of a customer of a national casino operator.
Inquest into the death of RC
Instructed by the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of a police shooting in a petrol station.
Inquests arising from the Croydon Tram derailment
Instructed for the London Fire Commissioner.
Inquest into the death of MS
Instructed on behalf of a care home, in respect of the death of a resident (Surrey)
Inquest into the death of FW
Instructed by the Health and Safety Executive in respect of proceedings arising from the death of Francesca Whyatt on 25th September 2013 at the Priory, Roehampton.
Inquest into the death of AM
Instructed to represent Burghley House Preservation Trust Ltd in the inquest into the death of Arthur Mellar at Burghley House in 2014.
Inquest into the death of BL
Instructed to represent Sky News in the inquest into the death of a ‘Twitter troll’ following Sky News investigation into the online trolling of the family of Madeleine McCann.
Inquest into the death of Mark Duggan
Instructed with Hugo Keith KC to represent the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in this inquest and related judicial review proceedings. Instructed with Jason Beer KC in related civil claims.
Inquest into the death of AT
Instructed to represent King’s College London in the inquest and related judicial review proceedings.
Inquest into the death of TG
Instructed for the family in respect of the fatality of patient restricted under section 3 Mental Health Act 1983 following absconding from secure ward.
Hyde Park Festival (2022, 2018)
Representing Royal Parks as applicant for new premises licence for Hyde Park summer festivals.
Parnham House (2021-2022)
Representing owners and operators of Grade 1 listed stately home in Dorset on its successful application for a new premises licence and in the appeal brought against that decision.
Sophisticats (2017-2022)
Representing applicant for new premises licence and extension of sexual entertainment licence in central Soho.
R (Campaign for Fairer Gambling) v HM Treasury (2017)
Instructed by claimant in judicial review proceedings brought against HM Treasury judicial review challenging the wholesale exemption of gambling operators from the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.
R (Essence Bars Ltd) v Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and Anr [2016] EWCA Civ 63
Instructed as junior counsel for the claimant in judicial review proceedings (High Court and Court of Appeal) in respect of defendant’s decision to dismiss statutory appeal following mistake in drafting of complaint. Appeal against High Court decision allowed by Court of Appeal.
Street Feast/Dinerama (2016-2018)
Representing successful applicants for the two largest licensed venues in Hackney.
Red Rooms (2016-2019)
Representing sexual entertainment venue in proceedings before the local authority and in successful challenges to that authority’s decision on statutory appeal and in the High Court.
Fabric
Representing the Metropolitan Police in its review of the premises licence of Fabric nightclub following a number of fatalities and near misses amongst its clientele. Islington Council imposed the conditions sought by police, including a requirement to deploy drugs dogs. Now instructed by Islington Council on Fabric’s appeal.
R (on the application of Akin (t/a Efe’s Snooker Club)) v London Borough of Hackney
[2014] EWHC 4633 (Admin)
Representing Hackney in dismissal of claim for the judicial review by the holder of the premises licence; proper application of ex p Jeyeanthan [2000] 1 WLR 354 to licensing proceedings.
R (on the application of Akin (t/a Efe’s Snooker Club)) v Stratford Magistrates’ Court, London Borough of Hackney Queen’s Bench Division
28 November 2014 [2014] EWHC 4633 (Admin)
Representing Hackney in dismissal of claim for the judicial review by the holder of the premises licence; proper application of ex p Jeyeanthan [2000] 1 WLR 354 to licensing proceedings.
93 Feet East
Representing the premises licensee during summary review proceedings and on appeal following a massive raid and allegations of drug dealing and misuse on the premises. Appeal allowed in full
MGM Grand Hotels Ltd and another v Vierich
(2012)
Instructed by US based casinos in the UK proceedings to enforce judgment obtained in Nevada against casino client in respect of gambling debts.
Tower Hamlets LBC v Lovebox Festivals Ltd
Administrative Court [2012] EWHC 961 (Admin)
Successfully resisting appellant local authority’s appeal by way of case stated against the order of substantial costs (in principle and on quantum); the local authority’s decision had not been reasonable.
Marathon v London Borough of Camden
[2011] EWHC 1339 (QB)
Case stated, lawfulness of district judge’s determination (a) burden of proof (b) coherency of factual findings (c) nature of hearing (d) sufficiency of reasons.
Miscellaneous festivals, including Sunrise Festival; Loxwood Joust; Lovebox; Exhibition Road Show 2012; Womad
Miscellaneous applications for premises licences, including for the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, the Royal Society of Arts; Notting Hill Carnival (sound system); Pleasuredrome.
Miscellaneous applications for sexual entertainment venue licences, including for Spearmint Rhino (flagship UK premises on Tottenham Court Road); Pinks Gentlemen’s Club; Parkers; Red Rooms
R (Health and Safety Executive) v Priory Healthcare Ltd
Instructed by the HSE in the prosecution of Priory Healthcare Ltd: charges under the HSWA 74 alleging failures to properly minimise the risk of suicide in sectioned and extremely vulnerable mental health patients.
R(Office of Rail and Road) v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
Ipswich Crown Court, September 2016
Representing the ORR in the prosecution of Network Rail for safety failings on a level crossing (Gipsy Lane, Needham Market) over a protracted period of time, resulting in the death of Olive McFarland. Network Rail was sentenced pursuant to the Health and Safety Offences Definitive Guideline (high culpability and category 1 harm), and fined £4m.
R (Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency) v Sellafield Ltd; R (Office of Rail Regulation) v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
[2014] EWCA Crim 49
Representing the prosecution in the second appeal against sentence. Sole prosecution counsel throughout proceedings, involving safety failures at a level crossing on private land resulting in serious injuries to a ten year old boy. Network Rail was fined £500,000 following a guilty plea. Consideration by the Court of Appeal of the appropriate approach to sentencing atypically structured and/or very large corporate entities for health and safety and environmental protection offences. Appeals dismissed.
R (Environment Agency) v Anglian Water Services Ltd:
Representing the defendant company since 2011, including:
R v Michael Wilson
[2013] EWCA Crim 1780
Representing the prosecuting authority on appeal against conviction concerning (a) the relationship between the mens rea for a ‘consent, connive, neglect’ offence and a statutory due diligence defence, and (b) the indicting of consent, connive, neglect allegations. Appeal dismissed.
R (Food Standards Agency) v Selfridges Retail Ltd and another
(2013)
Representing Selfridges (with Stephen Walsh KC) in a prosecution in respect of the sale of raw milk. The case was withdrawn.
R (Mid Suffolk District Council) v 2 Sisters Food Group Ltd and others
(2013)
Instructed to defend the technical director in respect of allegations under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006.
R (Office of Rail Regulation) v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd
2011-2012 Chelmsford Crown Court
Junior counsel in the prosecution of Network Rail for systemic failures to properly assess risk at a level crossing, which failures led to the deaths in 2005 of two teenage girls.
R (LFEPA) v Chumleigh Lodge Hotel Ltd (2) Michael Wilson
2011-2012 Blackfriars Crown Court
First contested Crown Court trial under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, resulting in unanimous convictions and substantial financial penalties.
R (HC) v (1) Secretary of State for the Home Department (2) Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis
[2013] EWHC 982 (Admin)
Representing the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis in a test case brought by a south London teenager, Hughes Cousins-Chang, against both the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Commissioner. The case resulted in a finding that the Home Secretary’s failure to review Code C PACE 1984 in respect of 17 year olds in custody represented a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Secretary was ordered to redraft the Code. The claim did not succeed against the Metropolitan Police.
Emma Makepeace
Deputy Senior Clerk
“She is exceptional; it is like listening to the judge …” Chambers UK 2024: Inquests & Inquiries
“Sarah’s attention to detail, judgement, and strategic thinking has been pivotal in successfully advising on highly sensitive cases. She has excellent judgement.” Legal 500 2024: Inquests and Inquiries
“ … an excellent perspective when dealing with coroner’s inquests; she has high emotional intelligence and is able to deal with difficult clients effectively.” Chambers UK 2024: Inquests & Inquiries
“Sarah has excellent attention to detail and judgement on complex and difficult cases.” Legal 500 2024: Health & Safety
“Sarah delivers her submissions to licensing sub-committees with consummate ease that is always perfectly pitched. Sarah is incredibly well liked and respected by licensing sub-committees.” Chambers UK 2024: Licensing
“Delightful to instruct – always extremely well prepared and gets to the heart of the issue immediately.” Chambers UK 2022: Licensing
“She is approachable, thorough and good on her feet.” Chambers UK 2022: Licensing
“She is very practical, very good with clients and persuasive in court.” Chambers UK 2022: Licensing
“An incredibly impressive lawyer and a very good advocate.” Chambers UK 2022: Health & Safety
“She is a very good opponent in the sense that she will push for her client, and her written work and advocacy are superb.” Chambers UK 2022: Health & Safety
“Her advocacy and delivery in court is amazing.” Chambers UK 2022: Inquests & Inquiries
“She is a classy performer and a barrister who delivers good and consistent-quality work.” Chambers UK 2022: Inquests & Inquiries
“Sarah is a straight talking, hard working and commercially aware barrister who understands clients’ businesses and speaks their language.” Legal 500 2022: Licensing
“She is good at putting clients at ease in difficult circumstances and has achieved excellent results for us.” Legal 500 2022: Health & Safety
“Sarah is a class act. She has a total mastery of the law and the evidence and the judgement of a KC. She is head and shoulders above the competition.“ Legal 500 2022: Inquests & Inquiries
“Has unparalleled knowledge of licensing, spanning from the latest case law right through to individual personalities sitting on licensing sub-committees.” Chambers UK 2020: Licensing (Starred Junior)
“She always comes prepared and is a fabulous advocate.” Chambers UK 2020: Licensing (Starred Junior)
“A standout, incredibly smart barrister who has a really easy-going manner, is incredibly switched on and has an excellent style of delivery in court.” “She is unflappable in a crisis and is a real team player.” Chambers UK 2020: Health & Safety
“A delightful barrister who has a beautiful advocacy style.” Chambers UK 2020: Inquests & Inquiries
“Has an impressive breadth of experience across all significant licensing authorities with excellent rates of success. She has a perfect presentation style.” Legal 500 2020: Licensing
Shortlisted for Health & Safety Junior of the Year – Chambers UK, 2019: Health & Safety
“…a standout advocate, who continues to impress the courts, licensing committees and other senior barristers with her judgement and charm.” “…an extremely good advocate who is absolutely excellent and always gives very comprehensive and effective advice during the case. She is top of her class.” Chambers UK 2019: Licensing (Starred Junior)
“Incredibly personable and a favourite of clients.” Chambers UK 2019: Health & Safety
“An impressive advocate with outstanding levels of preparation.” Legal 500 2019: Health & Safety
“She delivers her advocacy with charm, sees the big picture and manages it well.” Legal 500 2019: Inquests & Inquiries
“A very able and thoughtful advocate.” Chambers UK 2019: Inquests & Inquiries
Awards
Sarah is MV/SC security cleared.
Sarah spent 4 years as a multiple licensee in her own right in the West Country, during which time she was Chair of the local Licensed Victuallers Association.
Sarah trained as an actor at The Poor School, London and periodically records audio books and similar for major publishers.
Nominations
I, Sarah Le Fevre, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at sarah.lefevre@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found beow.
All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.
Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:
I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (eg to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).
Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).
In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.
Rev 1.1 – 06.07.2018
Sarah Le Fevre is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme. This means that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her. In addition, she welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions direct to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme.
For further information please contact our Clerks.
| Address | 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH |
|---|---|
| DX | 237 LDE |
| Opening hours | 08:30 – 18:30 |
| Telephone | +44 (0)20 7400 6400 |
|---|---|
| clerks@3rblaw.com | |
| Senior clerk | Sarah Le Fevre |
