Introduction

SanMari enjoys a diverse practice. She receives regular instructions to advise and represent clients in relation to a range of property and housing (including social housing), private family law and court of protection matters.

She has a particular interest in matters where the live issues overlap complex property and housing disputes, and private family law and court of protection proceedings. She is regularly instructed to advise where reposession proceedings affect financial settlements in the family Court, or social housing entitlement of children and parties to court of protection proceedings. 

SanMari entered the Bar from a commercial background and her work also includes advice given in relation to matters concerning the interpretation and performance of commercial (building works) contracts.

SanMari continues to receive instructions pertaining property, including landlord and tenant and commercial property disputes. SanMari also advises upon issues regarding title to and ownership of property, as well as the duties owed by property owners (including private landlords and Local Authorities) property managers, and proceedings for possession of property. SanMari has extensive experience of heavy litigation and complex disputes, both domestic and international.

She has a busy court practice, she receives instructions to appear in trials, and has experience of handling both lay and expert witnesses. She also appears in appeals, CMCs and interlocutory hearings. She is instructed in the High Court and County Court.

 SanMari is Public Access qualified and welcomes instruction from clients on a direct access basis.

Housing

SanMari advises and represents local authorities, housing associations, registered social landlords, private landlords and tenants, in housing law disputes involving issues concerning homelessness, allocation, possession and eviction, succession, tenancy fraud, antisocial behaviour, unlawful eviction, housing conditions and nuisance, service charges and leasehold matters.

She appears in the High Court and County Courts and is regularly instructed to prepare pleadings in Judicial Review proceedings. 

SanMari is often instructed to advise upon issues overlapping housing law, family law and court of protection proceedings.

Family

SanMari's family law practice mainly involves private law instructions and she often appears in complex cases relating to children, involving allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation.

She represents mothers and fathers, children and relatives. Her instructions include Court appearances and advice given to clients in a wide range of Section 8 Children Act 1989 matters, which include matters involving disputes over contact, residence, parental responsibility, prohibited steps orders and applications to remove the child from the jurisdiction.

These matters often overlap with applications for injunctions, relevant to domestic violence disputes, pursuant to the Family Law Act 1996.

SanMari is Public Access qualified.

Court of Protection

SanMari often appears and advises in Court of Protection cases, involving property and affairs, and, health and welfare decisions. She receives instructions to act for Local Authorities, the Office for the Public Guardian and private individuals.

SanMari also often appears in cases overlapping the use of the High Court's inherent jurisdiction permitting Local Authorities the power to deprive children form their liberty to ensure their protection and proper care. 

SanMari is Public Access qualified and welcomes instructions from family members requiring advice on the merits of applying for a Lasting Power of Attorney in cases of elderly relatives with degenerative diseases become unable to make decisions regarding the management of their financial affairs, or where they no longer have mental capacity to make decisions about their health and welfare. 

Property

SanMari frequently advise on matters concerning disputes over right to property and property boundaries. Her work extends to matters before the civil courts where injunctive relief is sought, claims for declarations, and damages for trespass and negligence.

She has a keen interest in advising and representing clients falling victim of encroachment, neighbour noise and nuisance caused by (planning permission based) authorised building works. And her extends to providing pre-action advice on adverse possession, including evidence requirements and the merits of a claim. She regularly appears in hearing before all tribunals and courts.

Commercial Landlord and Tenant

SanMari's Commercial Landlord and Tenant clients include, individuals and companies, small and large property owners, business tenants, local authorities, and business tenants.

She receives instructions involving commerial landlord and tenant, residential landlord and tenant, forfeiture and possession, termination of commercial tenancies and leases, termination of residential tenancies and leases, dilapidations, direpair, service charges, right to manage and social housing disputes. 

Consumer Rights

SanMari undertakes work involving all aspects of Consumer Protection law. She receives instructions in matters relating to claims under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Sale of Goods Act 1979 etc. Where relevant to disputes over, the sale and supply of goods, supply of services, commercial contracts, consumer contracts, carriage of goods, business to business contracts, warranty breaches and, building and construction contracts. 

She is well versed at addressing disputes between consumers and builders, and her regular clients include consumers, traders, individuals, sole traders, family businesses, small retailers and commercial organisations. 

SanMari offers in-depth knowledge and practical skills of the building trade and planning law practices. She offers pragmatic advice in relation to all aspects of building contracts disputes. 

SanMari's commercial background affords her the ability to provide clients with an innovative and commercial service. Her practice covers a broad range of commercial and chancery litigation at all stages of litigation. SanMari can advise on tactics and procedure before a contract is terminated. She can provide advice and assistance in progressing claims, assessing and presenting claims for damages, and resolving disputes without litigation. The areas of her commercial practice include, Business contracts, Consumer contracts, Sale of goods (domestic and international), Supply of services and insurance contracts.

Education

SanMari acts for a wide range of clients in a variety of education disputes. She often advises, local authorities and schools, colleges and universities, governors, examination boards, pupils, students and their families. 

Prior to completing pupillage, SanMari was employed by the National College for School Leadership and Children Services, first as part of the Building Schools for Future department and later within the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQHR) team.

Her expertise include areas such as admissions and exclusions, special educational needs disputes, examination, school transport, education outside school and attendance disputes. 

She regularly sits as a Legal Clerk to independent panels conviened under the School Framework and Standards Act 1998, and appears in all Courts and tribunals where issues of education law arises.