Deputy Head of Clerking
Practice Manager
Assistant Practice Manager
Sarah Bayliss has a well-established commercial and modern chancery practice and takes a particular interest in domestic trust / estate work, fraud – including in relation to cryptoassets – and company/insolvency cases. She also has a niche practice in art and media disputes.
Sarah has extensive experience of complex offshore disputes in jurisdictions including Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the BVI, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and the DIFC. She is recognised as a Tier 1 leading junior in Legal 500 Offshore 2024.
Sarah is co-author of the disputes chapter in Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation published by Sweet and Maxwell.
Before coming to the Bar, Sarah worked in film production. She is often called upon to act in art and media disputes and to advise artists and media personalities about business and private client issues.
Re Festicket Limited [2024] High Court/Business and Property Court: Representing a promoter creditor pursuing claims in the liquidation of a ticket agency.
Hickox v Taylor & Simon C. Dickinson Ltd [2021] High Court/Business and Property Court. Acting for the Dickinson gallery in a dispute about the ownership of a painting by pointillist, Paul Signac.
Bowling v Hales [2020] High Court/Business and Property Court. Acting for prominent modern artist, Sir Frank Bowling RA, in a dispute with his former gallery.
Demand Media Ltd v Koch Media Ltd [2019] High Court/QBD. Action by DVD and gifting product producer against its distributor involving difficult issues of contractual interpretation and implied terms.
Lloyd v Kruger [2018] High Court/Business and Property Court: Action by investor in failed film and music licensing business to recover losses on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation.
MCD Productions Limited v Angel Music Group Limited [2014] High Court: Dispute about financial obligations relating to the production of the Hi-Fi Ireland festival in 2006 by MCD, Angel Music and Live Nation Entertainment.
Advisory work includes:
Sarah has acted in numerous investment, banking and regulatory claims including the following high profile and/or high value matters with an international element:
Recent work (2024) includes advising investors in a Cayman Islands fund in relation to a dispute with the fund manager.
Credit Suisse (Life) Bermuda Ltd v Ivanishvili [2018 – 2023] Bermuda Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: Acting for the defendant life insurance company in a claim brought by a former prime minister of Georgia linked to an investment fraud by an ex-employee of Credit Suisse Private Banking.
Al Sadik v Investcorp Bank BSC [2012-2018] The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and the Cayman Court of Appeal: Acting in a substantial matter for a private investor against seeking to recover losses caused by breach of the bank’s fiduciary and other duties relating to promised investment returns and use of unauthorised leverage.
Plymouth Rock Ltd v John Lister and Ors [2017] Gibraltar Supreme Court: Acting for financial services professionals and fiduciary services providers in a claim brought by a beneficial owner of investment interests to recover losses alleged to have been suffered as a result of investment strategies adopted on his behalf.
Vannin Capital v Al Khorafi [2016] DIFC: Acting for Bank Sarasin in proceedings to preserve a fund in court pending appeal by the bank in an investment claim.
Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Ltd [2015] DIFC: Acting for Bank Sarasin resisting claims to recover investment losses alleged to have been sustained as a result of breaches of the regulatory law, the DFSA rules and the bank’s contractual duties to the claimant investors.
Zaria Global Ltd v Isis Investments Limited [2013] High Court/Chancery Division and Re Isis Investments Limited (in liquidation) Isle of Man High Court [2015]: Acting for a BVI based corporate investor, Zaria, administered by fiduciaries, Stonehage, in a dispute with Kaupthing subsidiary, Isis, over an investment by Zaria in a high value structured opportunity relating to the sale of the Somerfield supermarket chain in 2009. Proceedings in the BVI, Isle of Man, Iceland, England, the Cayman Islands.
Barfield Nominees v Westford Special Situations Fund Ltd [2011] BVI High Court and Court of Appeal: Acting in a dispute between a BVI based feeder fund for a Cayman master fund and investors in which the investors sought to have the feeder fund wound up.
Sarah has also acted in numerous SWAP claims, both in court and in the FCA review, including several cases arising in an insolvency context. Those include:
Wadehurst Investments Ltd v Lloyds Bank plc [2016] High Court: Acting for property developers in a claim against the bank for losses sustained as a result of SWAPS mis-selling.
Claverton Holdings Ltd v Barclays Bank plc [2016] High Court/Commercial Court: Acting for the claimant property development company in a claim against the bank for losses sustained as a result of SWAPS mis-selling.
Acting in several different actions for directors/shareholders of companies in administration at the behest of the companies’ banks on the prospects of obliging the administrators to pursue SWAPs mis-selling claims against the banks.
Sarah has acted for various parties in the administration or liquidation of investment schemes (for example, Re Land Heritage (UK) Ltd in liquidation [2010] High Court/Chancery Division), financial services professionals and unauthorised entities including boiler house schemes (for example ongoing matters in the liquidation following the court’s decision in Re the Inertia Partnership LLP in liquidation [2007] High Court/Chancery Division.
Other related work includes:
Recent work (2024) includes:
Ivanishvilli v Credit Suisse (Life) Bermuda Ltd [2018 – 2023] Bermuda Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: Acting for the defendant life insurance company in a claim brought by a former prime minister of Georgia linked to an investment fraud by an ex-employee of Credit Suisse Private Banking.
Scott v Peare and Ors [2018] High Court/QBD: Defending claims in conspiracy, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt in the context of an alleged international ‘boiler room’ fraud involving parties in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Dominica, the Seychelles, Canada and the UK.
Lloyd v Kruger [2018] High Court/Business and Property Court: Action by investor in failed film and music licensing business to recover losses on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentation.
Gulhan v Tekin [2024] High Court/Business and Property Court. Acting for the respondent in an unfair prejudice petition brought by a shareholder and former partner.
QPL v SSL [2022 – 2023] High Court/Business and Property Court. Acting for a former director of SSL in an unfair prejudice petition brought by a former joint venture partner.
Nicolson & Miller v Skyrocket Entertainment Ltd [2021] High Court/Business and Property Court. Acting for games platform, Skyrocket, in a dispute with former advisers and minority shareholders.
Montgold Capital v Agnieska [2019] High Court/Business and Property Court: defending a restaurateur/entrepreneur in a derivative claim against shareholders, directors, administrators and purchasers of a restaurant business. Allegations of breaches of duty and unlawful means conspiracy are pursued in these and associated unfair prejudice and misfeasance proceedings.
Plymouth Rock Ltd v John Lister and Ors [2017] Gibraltar Supreme Court: Acting for financial services professionals and fiduciary services providers in a claim brought by a beneficial owner of investment interests to recover losses alleged to have been suffered as a result of investment strategies adopted on his behalf. The allegation against the fiduciary services providers is that they acted in breach of their fiduciary duties in following the investment advice criticised by the Claimant.
Re:Creation Group plc v Joslin/Joslin v Re:Creation Group plc [2014] High Court/Companies Court: Acting for the petitioning shareholder and former company director of a games distribution company founded by him in a claim for relief under s994 of the Companies Act 2006 for unfair prejudice and defending claims brought by the company.
Sarah is co-author of the disputes chapter in Crypto and Digital Assets Law and Regulation published by Sweet and Maxwell in December 2023.
Recent work includes:
Re Festicket Limited [2024] High Court/Business and Property Court: Representing a promoter creditor pursuing claims in the liquidation of a ticket agency.
Re SS Agri Power Limited [2017] High Court/Business and Property Court: Application for injunctive relief to prevent receivers taking steps in the company prior to administration order.
Re Avalon Investment Services Limited [2016] High Court/Companies Court: Application by directors for a special administration order under the Investment Bank Special Administration Regulations 2011.
Re Forstater [2015] High Court/Companies Court: Application by creditors pursuant to s 262 Insolvency Act 1986/IR 5.22 to revoke a voluntary arrangement and replace trustees in bankruptcy. Novel questions arise as to the proper method for valuing solicitor creditors’ work in progress in insolvency.
Re Bandenia Banca Privada plc [2014] High Court/Companies Court: Resisting a winding-up petition presented against the company notwithstanding the fact that the petitioning creditor had the benefit of an Italian order for the payment of certain sums by Bandenia and a European enforcement order.
Zaria Global Ltd v Isis Investments Limited [2013] High Court/Chancery Division and Re Isis Investments Limited (in liquidation) Isle of Man High Court: Acting for a BVI based corporate investor, Zaria, administered by fiduciaries, Stonehage, in a dispute with Kaupthing subsidiary, Isis, over an investment by Zaria in a high value structured opportunity relating to the sale
of the Somerfield supermarket chain in 2009. Proceedings in the BVI, Isle of Man, Iceland, England, the Cayman Islands.
Re Leeward Islands Resorts (in liquidation) [2012] Nevis High Court: Acting for liquidators of a luxury resort in respect of recovery of their fees and expenses of the liquidation.
Recent work (2024) includes:
Ivanishvilli v Credit Suisse (Life) Bermuda Ltd [2018 – 2023] Bermuda Supreme Court and Court of Appeal: Acting for the defendant life insurance company in a claim brought by former Prime Minister of Georgia linked to an investment fraud by a former employee of Credit Suisse Private Banking.
Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] Grand Court of the Cayman Islands/Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] High Court of the BVI: Acting for claimant beneficiaries in complex multi-jurisdictional trust litigation including claims in equitable mistake in the Cayman and the BVI to recover property from trustees.
Scott v Peare and Ors [2018] High Court/QBD: Defending claims in conspiracy, dishonest assistance and knowing receipt in the context of an alleged international ‘boiler room’ fraud involving parties in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Dominica, the Seychelles, Canada and the UK.
Al Sadik v Investcorp Bank BSC [2012-2018] The Grand Court of the Cayman Islands and the Cayman Court of Appeal: Acting in a substantial matter for a private investor against seeking to recover losses caused by breach of the bank’s fiduciary and other duties relating to promised investment returns and use of unauthorised leverage.
Plymouth Rock Ltd v John Lister and Ors [2017] Gibraltar Supreme Court: Acting for financial services professionals and fiduciary services providers in a claim brought by a beneficial owner of investment interests to recover losses alleged to have been suffered as a result of investment strategies adopted on his behalf.
Vannin Capital v Al Khorafi [2016] DIFC: Acting for Bank Sarasin in proceedings to preserve a fund in court pending appeal by the bank in an investment claim.
Al Khorafi v Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Ltd [2015] DIFC: Acting for Bank Sarasin resisting claims to recover investment losses alleged to have been sustained as a result of breaches of the regulatory law, the DFSA rules and the bank’s contractual duties to the claimant investors.
Zaria Global Ltd v Isis Investments Limited [2013] High Court/Chancery Division and Re Isis Investments Limited (in liquidation) Isle of Man High Court [2015]: Acting for a BVI based corporate investor, Zaria, administered by fiduciaries, Stonehage, in a dispute with Kaupthing subsidiary, Isis, over an investment by Zaria in a high value structured opportunity relating to the sale of the Somerfield supermarket chain in 2009. Proceedings in the BVI, Isle of Man, Iceland, England, the Cayman Islands.
Barfield Nominees v Westford Special Situations Fund Ltd [2011] BVI High Court and Court of Appeal: Acting in a dispute between a BVI based feeder fund for a Cayman master fund and investors in which the investors sought to have the feeder fund wound up.
Heathcliffe v Dodhia [2017] High Court/Chancery Division: Acting for former partners in the resolution of long-running disputes relating to the partnership.
Gupta v Down [2016] CLCC: Defences to claim under purported deed/in contract following partner’s retirement involving interesting points on estoppel by deed, equitable assignment and discharge of sureties.
Sarah’s trust and probate work encompasses a very broad range of private client disputes in the UK and offshore from large scale multi-national trust litigation to domestic disputes involving construction of wills and trusts, 1975 Act claims and disputes about ownership of domestic property.
Re Bodle Deceased [2024] High Court Business and Property Court: Acting for a widow in 1975 Act proceedings brought by the deceased’s partner.
Re Ismail Deceased [2021] High Court/Business and Property Court: Acting for family members in a claim brought by a girlfriend of the Deceased pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Harrison-Mills v Public Trustee and Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 966, Court of Appeal: Successfully resisting an appeal on behalf of beneficiaries of a family trust concerning the construction of complex trust provisions. Interesting decision on the circumstances where beneficiaries and trustees can expect to recover their costs from the trust fund.
Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] Grand Court of the Cayman Islands/Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] High Court of the BVI: Acting for claimant beneficiaries in complex multi-jurisdictional trust litigation including claims in equitable mistake in the Cayman and the BVI to recover property from trustees.
Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] Grand Court of the Cayman Islands/Perry v Lopag Trust Reg and Ors [2019] High Court of the BVI: Acting for claimant beneficiaries in complex multi-jurisdictional trust litigation including claims in equitable mistake in the Cayman and the BVI to recover property from trustees.
Smith v Royton Warehousing (Welwyn) Ltd & Wanbon [2018] High Court/Business and Property Court: Claim against an estate in contract and on the basis of a common intention constructive trust/proprietary estoppel to recover business assets to which the Claimant is entitled.
Re Kurzyniec Will Trust [2017] High Court/Business and Property Court: Acting for a representative beneficiary on an application by trustees for construction of a will trust.
Re Davies Deceased [2017] High Court/Family Division: Acting for a widower seeking relief pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
Vindis v Horwood-Smart [2016] High Court/Chancery Division: Acting for beneficiaries of an estate resisting an action brought by the deceased’s sisters claiming an interest in the deceased’s business assets.
Farrell v Wakelam [2016] High Court/Chancery Division: Acting for residuary beneficiary claiming recovery from personal representative on the basis of breach of trust and wilful default.
Patel v Patel [2016] High Court/Chancery Division: Proceedings to remove a trustee and for an account arising in the context of an international business run by family members.
Re Ivor Loftus Deceased, Re Margaret Gaul, Re Dexter Gaul [2014] High Court/Chancery Division and CLCC: Acting for replacement administratrix to obtain orders to account by previous personal representatives. Acting in subsequent bankruptcies to enforce those orders.
Other related work includes:
“Fantastic barrister” Sarah is recommended as a leading junior in Offshore (Tier 1), Banking (Tier 3) and Private Wealth and Probate (Tier 4) in Legal 500 2025. She is recognised as “very easy to work with, relates to clients, is trusted by clients and very bright” as “very insightful, grasps the key points quickly and gives pragmatic and commercial advice” and as “a user-friendly and measured junior with an assured grasp of both the law and the practicalities of a case. She inspires real confidence in her clients and instructing solicitors”.
Legal 500 recommended Sarah in 2024. She is noted as “excellent with complicated Chancery claims, especially with challenging or particularly sensitive client issues. She takes clients along with her brilliantly through very complex issues”.
Legal 500 recognised Sarah in 2023 as “both perceptive and practical and is extremely good at seeing the wood for the trees, even in very complex cases and under significant pressure”, and “superb with sensitive clients” and with ”exceptional grasp of the detail” and “sound strategic judgment”.
Previous editions of Legal 500 have said that Sarah “is extremely user friendly” and credit her as being “easy to work with, practical and excellent at focusing on the parts of the case that really matter”, a “robust advocate”, “technically fantastic and very commercial as well as pragmatic”, “thorough in her consideration of the issues and clear and concise in her advice” and “a good tactician with a sharp mind for complex issues”. She is noted as “particularly good at offshore company and insolvency regimes” and as having “an encyclopedic knowledge of banking law”.
Solicitors interviewed by the leading independent legal directories describe Sarah as “really very good”, “adaptable” and “great at keeping the client on her side”.
“Changes to the Investment Bank Special Administration Regime: Problems solved?”
Journal of International Banking and Financial Law March 2017
“Conflicts of law and the proper law of trusts: sufficient protection of proprietary interests?“ Stephen Moverley Smith QC and Sarah Bayliss; Trusts & Trustees 2015 (OUP)
Topics on which Sarah has recently written and lectured include:
