Member Profiles

Sarah is an experienced valuer with a career spanning over 21 years, most of which has been in the valuation team at Savills (after four years in the retail investment team).  She provides valuation advice for a variety of purposes including dispute resolution, loan security, taxation, internal purposes and Charities Act.  She specialises in valuing commercial and development properties.  Sarah is also an RICS Registered Valuer and an RICS Registered Expert Witness with circa 15 years’ experience providing expert valuation advice.  She has experience working on numerous complex, multi-faceted and often high-profile disputes.  Her contributions have included: her participation in legal meetings / conferences, mediations and without prejudice expert meetings; the preparation of CPR and FPR compliant court reports; giving evidence to the court orally (High Court in March 2010, March 2016 and March 2023 and Nottingham County Court in October 2023); and experience as both an expert witness and a single joint expert witness. She has had experience providing expert valuation advice in the context of the following types of dispute: Agency misrepresentation; Breaches of lease clauses; Building services defects; Construction defects; CPO proceedings; Financial remedy proceedings; Loss of opportunity; Mis-sold insurance; Option price / profit share / overage assessments; Ownership changes; Restrictive covenants; Restrictive lease clauses; Rights of light; Sale at an undervalue; Section 18 valuations Solicitor's negligence; Specific performance of contracts; and Surveyor's negligence. Internal Responsibilities Sarah is currently joint head of Savills' internal expert witness steering group.  Over the course of 2010-2013, she was the valuation best practice committee representative for Savills’ UK commercial valuation division. Education, Qualifications and Affiliations RICS Registered Expert Witness - May 2022; RICS Expert Witness Certificate - January 2022; RICS Registered Valuer - 2010 onwards; Member RICS - 2004 onwards; MA Property Valuation and Law, City University – 2004; and MA Geography, Downing College, University of Cambridge – 2002.

Edite Ligere’s practice focuses on the regulation of artificial intelligence, global financial regulation, banking, insurance, human rights, consumer protection, charity law, data protection, machine learning and cyber security.

John was previously managing partner at Pinsent Masons and Legal Advisor to the British Franchise Association for six years. He is the author of the leading textbook, "Franchising: Law & Practice", a contributor to the franchising chapter of ‘’Practical Commercial Precedents’‘ and a contributor to American Bar Association’s publication – A Practical Guide for International Franchising – Competition Laws and Data Privacy. Acknowledged by Legal Who‘s Who as an expert in international franchising, a past president of the Union Internationale des Avocats franchise committee, past Chair of the International Bar Association’s international franchise committee and Director of the American Bar Association’s International Franchise Division and a frequent lecturer on franchise issues both in the UK and elsewhere. John was previously Honorary French Consul, President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of the British Chambers of Commerce. He is currently a director of a number of companies including The Bardon Group, a multi-brand company incorporating well known franchise brands such as Recognition Express and Kall-Kwik. John has expertise in the following areas: Preparing franchise agreements and related agreements such as confidentiality agreements and deposit agreements; Advising on competition law issues (both EU and UK); Advising on international franchising matters including the preparation of master franchise agreements and reviewing foreign franchise agreements to ensure compliance with UK mandatory legal requirements and custom and practice; Advising on franchise disputes; and Preparing reviews of franchise agreements for prospective franchisees. Interests: supporting Gloucester Rugby (and hoping that it returns to its glory days!) and collecting British Portraits (much to the annoyance of his wife!). Additional languages: French (fluent).

John was previously managing partner at Pinsent Masons and Legal Advisor to the British Franchise Association for six years. He is the author of the leading textbook, "Franchising: Law & Practice", a contributor to the franchising chapter of ‘’Practical Commercial Precedents’‘ and a contributor to American Bar Association’s publication – A Practical Guide for International Franchising – Competition Laws and Data Privacy. Acknowledged by Legal Who‘s Who as an expert in international franchising, a past president of the Union Internationale des Avocats franchise committee, past Chair of the International Bar Association’s international franchise committee and Director of the American Bar Association’s International Franchise Division and a frequent lecturer on franchise issues both in the UK and elsewhere. John was previously Honorary French Consul, President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of the British Chambers of Commerce. He is currently a director of a number of companies including The Bardon Group, a multi-brand company incorporating well known franchise brands such as Recognition Express and Kall-Kwik. John has expertise in the following areas: Preparing franchise agreements and related agreements such as confidentiality agreements and deposit agreements; Advising on competition law issues (both EU and UK); Advising on international franchising matters including the preparation of master franchise agreements and reviewing foreign franchise agreements to ensure compliance with UK mandatory legal requirements and custom and practice; Advising on franchise disputes; and Preparing reviews of franchise agreements for prospective franchisees. Interests: supporting Gloucester Rugby (and hoping that it returns to its glory days!) and collecting British Portraits (much to the annoyance of his wife!). Additional languages: French (fluent).

Hamraj acts for corporate and individual clients in investigations brought by the major UK law enforcement agencies including the SFO, HMRC, FCA, NCA, CMA, CPS, BEIS, ICO, Trading Standards and a wide range of regulatory bodies. He has particular expertise in HMRC investigations and prosecutions including MTIC & VAT fraud, money laundering, tax & duty evasion and regularly conducts cases throughout the country. There are few solicitors nationally who can match Hamraj’s experience of complex multi-million pounds MTIC and VAT fraud cases as he acted in many such cases in his career. He has considerable expertise in the areas of money laundering, bribery & corruption and insider dealing, having been instructed by a number of PLCs and senior company executives on such matters. The work is often complex, multi-jurisdictional and necessitates overseas travel which has led to Hamraj working in numerous overseas jurisdictions. Hamraj advises corporate and individual clients both during and in the immediate aftermath of a dawn raid when quick, effective and incisive advice is required to protect the legal rights and reputation of the client. He has considerable experience of representing clients in interviews with all the leading law enforcement agencies including the SFO, HMRC and the NCA. He is admired for his novel tactical thinking and possesses a proven track record of guiding clients to a successful conclusion in many difficult and demanding cases. As a result of working on high profile and complex fraud cases, Hamraj’s client base is both national and international ranging from publicly listed companies to individual clients. Due to his expertise and experience in international financial crime investigations, Hamraj is also instructed in complex extradition cases often with a financial crime background involving allegations such as money laundering, wire fraud, bribery and corruption. He accepts instructions involving all jurisdictions but most notably the USA, Russia, CIS countries, India, Pakistan, Africa, the Caribbean, South America and the Far East. Civil Fraud & Asset Recovery In addition to criminal fraud, Hamraj advises in relation to civil fraud matters acting for both claimants and defendants. His clients range from large corporations to private individuals with the work often including early action and interim reliefs.  The areas of work include: Cryptocurrency disputes The conduct of internal investigations on behalf of corporate clients Obtaining and responding to freezing orders Obtaining and responding to search orders Norwich Pharmacal orders Receivership orders The civil fraud and asset recovery High Court litigation for claimants and defendants includes allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary and directors’ duties, unjust enrichment, unlawful means conspiracy, bribery, deceit, carousel/MTIC fraud, boiler room fraud and bogus investment schemes. Civil Recovery | POCA Hamraj is recognised by Chambers UK as a leading lawyer in the area of proceeds of crime and asset forfeiture, being one of only six solicitors ranked in Band 1 in the country. His work includes civil recovery proceedings under Part 5 of POCA such as Property Freezing Orders, Civil Recovery Orders and Account Freezing Orders. Hamraj is also able to advise in relation to Interim Freezing Orders and Unexplained Wealth Orders. HMRC Tax Investigations | Tax Tribunals There is often a considerable overlap between criminal and civil fraud proceedings and HMRC civil tax investigations. Hamraj regularly advises both corporate and individual clients in relation to HMRC civil tax investigations, VAT Assessments including Kittel Assessments as well as COP8 & COP9 investigations. The work includes representation before the First-tier Tax Tribunal and the Upper Tribunal in relation to VAT Assessments, Kittel VAT Notices, Direct Tax Appeals, Personal Liability Notices, Condemnation Proceedings and Excise Duty matters. Disciplinary | Regulatory | Sports Work Hamraj has represented a number of professionals facing criminal and regulatory allegations including accountants and other financial professionals, solicitors, doctors, dentists and pharmacists. He has developed an excellent understanding of the regulatory framework and codes of professional conduct governing the professions. In recent years, Hamraj has successfully represented a number of solicitors in serious criminal fraud prosecutions and achieved their acquittal which has resulted in a successful outcome in associated SRA disciplinary proceedings. Hamraj has represented many individuals from the sporting world (mainly football, cricket, horse racing and boxing) and is regularly instructed by a number of Premier League and Championship Football Clubs. Serious Criminal Work Hamraj also undertakes serious criminal work such as historic sexual allegations, murder, corporate manslaughter, drugs offences and serious driving offences, having acted in many high-profile cases of this nature. Clients include football clubs, members of the professions, company executives and public figures from the world of entertainment, politics, media and sport. Hamraj places the issues of confidentiality, privacy and reputation management at the forefront of his strategy when conducting cases. Matters are dealt with the utmost sensitivity and complete discretion. He always adopts a strong and proactive approach to investigations with the overriding objective to bring each matter to a successful and swift conclusion, and where possible, to avoid court proceedings and any adverse publicity for his client.