Introduction

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

SanMari's work includes advice given in relation to matters concerning the interpretation and performance of commercial contracts, building works contracts, the title to and ownership of property, and to both 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.

Commercial

SanMari came to the Bar as mature student from a commercial background which 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 particularly insurance contracts.

SanMari regularly receives instructions from both insurers and the insured in litigation, mediation of policy liability and quantum disputes, including:
• Disputed policy coverage on all types of policies (e.g. EL, PL, products liability, composite commercial, property, goods in transit, professional indemnity, payment protection, legal expenses)
• Defending or advancing claims involving material damage – fire, flood and subsidence; and liability – occupiers’ liability, employers’, professionals’, property owners’, motor, product
• Fraud
• Professional negligence claims involving insurance professionals (e.g. brokers, loss adjusters, loss assessors)

SanMari has a keen interest and is well-versed in marketing and advertising law. In 2014 she contracted her time out to a new-law based business. She has had hands-on involvement with the development of an animated advertisement which was featured on national television. Her legal project management experience includes, the delivery of advertising production specific legal advice (data protection, online publication, copyright, regulation of the media, negligent misstatement) and contract drafting.

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 has a particular interest in contractual 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. 

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. 

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. 

Care & Supervision

SanMari practices in both public and private children law and has a growing Court of Protection practice.

She has a broad experience representing local authorities, parents and children. In private proceedings she represents 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 often appears and advises in Court of Protection cases, involving property and affairs, and, health and welfare decisions. She regularly receives instructions to act for Local Authorities, the Office for the Public Guardian and private individuals.

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. 

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.  

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.