Meet the team – Sarah Whittall

What first attracted you to a career in law?

I never had a clear idea about what career I wanted to pursue but was fascinated by the TV series “Paper Chase”, about law students, and the legalities surrounding the miners’ strike, while I was growing up in south Wales. I believed a legal career would always be mentally stimulating and never boring.

What type of legal advice do you provide? And to what sorts of clients?

I specialise in commercial property work. My clients may be individuals, partnerships or companies, and they’ll have varying amounts of experience of being involved in commercial property matters. My work involves commercial leases, buying and selling commercial property, overage agreements, deeds of easements, deeds of covenants, first registrations applications and corporate support.

What is your most memorable legal experience? And why?

Possibly the most important instruction I ever had was about 30 years ago when the fathers of a soon-to-be-married couple came into see my supervising partner one Friday afternoon. The father of the groom was an established farming client, the father of the bride had always instructed another local firm. They needed some urgent legal advice. They wanted to buy a small farm for their respective son and daughter at an auction taking place early the following week. I checked through and worked on a report on the auction pack during the intervening weekend. The clients were successful at auction and the purchase satisfactory completed.

A few years later, when the father of the bride was seeking a commercial property solicitor, he contacted me. I was instructed to act in connection with his first purchase of a commercial redevelopment site. This proved to be the first of many instructions over the years. He now owns several industrial estates and commercial properties and continues to provide instructions. He recommended his brother as a client, and he has also purchased and let numerous properties over the years as well. I still act for both clients and a number of other clients recommended by them.

I could never have envisaged what that original successful instruction would lead to.

What is your number one top tip for clients?

The legal process can be stressful. It is wise to instruct a solicitor who has the relevant level of expertise to handle your matter and in whom you have confidence and trust to get the best possible outcome for you.