Sarah Varney

Sarah has a broad practice, working primarily in commercial and public law.

Since coming to the bar, Sarah has been briefed by private and government clients in a range of matters including commercial disputes, merits reviews and quasi-crime.

She has acted for government department and agency clients in relation to, among other things:

• administrative law (merits review) matters in State and Commonwealth tribunals;
• COVID-19 human rights issues;
• residential tenancies disputes; and
• crimes mental impairment reviews and applications.

She has acted in relation to commercial disputes regarding:

• commercial agreements such as loans, purchase agreements and franchises;
• financial assets (shares and MIS interests);
• breach of professional duties; and
• breach of directors’ duties.

Sarah has a developing practice in planning and environment law.  She has acted for Councils, developers, objector groups and individual objectors in relation to:

• mixed use developments;
• residential developments;
• renewable energy facilities;
• telecommunications towers; and.
• distinctive areas and landscape committee reviews.

Sarah was previously a senior associate at Clayton Utz in banking and finance.  Her main area of practice was public private partnership projects including hospitals, toll roads and water treatment plants.  She also advised in relation to bond issues, refinancings and operating and finance leases.  She was seconded to Jeantet Associés in Paris, to the energy, mining and infrastructure team (2006).

Immediately prior to coming to the bar, she was a senior solicitor in the Department of Health, involved in contracting, legislation and advice in a variety of areas including IT/IP, health information and hospital projects.