Working Together

Experience

I have broad experience in the resolution of business and corporate disputes, and providing strategic risk management advice on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions. I have a particular interest in –

  • Building and construction litigation
  • Property-related litigation involving construction and development agreements, commercial leases and the purchase and sale of commercial and industrial properties
  • Land resumption cases
  • Intellectual property protection
  • Financial services’ disputes and compliance
  • Corporate disputes and shareholder actions
  • Directors’ and trustees’ duties
  • Conduct of contested meetings
  • Estate litigation
  • Advising trustee clients about trust governance issues, and applying to the courts for orders in relation to trusts and managed investment schemes
  • Acting for parties in partnership, shareholder and joint venture disputes
  • Franchising disputes
  • Trade practices disputes, and
  • Negligence actions, including negligence claims against directors, advisors and professionals.


I was one of the recipients of the ALB Insolvency Deal of the Year Award in relation to the ABC Childcare receivership and restructuring.

My commitment

I understand that the legal services marketplace is complex to navigate, and that your time and money are valuable. I try to make it easy for my clients to do business with me by –

  • Not taking you for granted – if I agree to take on your matter, I will do everything I can to help you achieve the outcome you are looking for
  • Offering practical and useful commercial solutions to any challenges you face in your business
  • Putting together a project plan for your matter and reporting against that plan as we progress with it
  • Making sure you have direct access to me by phone and email
  • I will come to your premises and I don’t charge for my travel time, and
  • If something arises that is outside my area of expertise, then I will assist you to determine who should be engaged to deal with the matter.


My goal is to help you resolve challenges as quickly as possible so that your business can move forward and prosper.

Discussing costs

When embarking on litigation or any dispute resolution process, the issue of costs is always an important part of the decision-making process. I will try to make this issue easier for you by –

  • Discussing costs in as much detail as possible at the outset of the matter, including providing you with a detailed estimate
  • Asking you what your budget is and what you can and cannot afford – explaining what can be done for you within your budget
  • Explaining cost variables and how different developments might affect costs
  • Asking if you would like to do some of the work yourself instead of paying me to do it
  • Explaining the rates and experience of team members (such as me and any barristers or experts) and asking if you have preferences as to who does the work on your matter, and
  • Providing an example of what the bill might look like at the end of each month and asking you if you would be happy with the format of the bill.

Working together

“Being involved in litigation is both emotionally and financially draining. It can be particularly stressful where it involves issues that are close to you and which involve your livelihood.  I’ve found that the biggest concerns potential clients have about litigation are that its unpredictable, costly and time-consuming. These are all legitimate concerns, but of course, they need to be balanced against the benefit that could be derived from the litigation.   When working with clients, my objective at the outset is to provide as much information as possible to inform the Go/No-Go decision.”

You can contact Sarah on (07) 5435 2641, 0419722992 or s.davies@sdlegal.com.au

Clients Testimonials

I am immensely grateful to Sarah from SDL Legal for her exceptional expertise and unwavering dedication in handling our complex and extended commercial litigation. Throughout the challenging legal dispute, Sarah demonstrated remarkable skill and perseverance, ensuring our case was diligently represented. Thanks to her relentless efforts, we achieved a successful outcome, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Sarah’s professionalism and commitment have made a significant impact, and I highly recommend her services to anyone seeking top-notch legal representation.

Heath Jones

Director/Principal Engineer, Northlane Pty Ltd.

Sarah Davies has been our legal counsel since 2009. In this time Sarah has demonstrated exceptional skills in her legal strategy, both written and verbal communication, general advice, and delivered all with a great deal of common sense and commerciality. Sarah’s ability to bring about a successful result on each of the projects I have engaged her in is a testament to her determination and ultimately patience in reading a situation. During Sarah’s engagement she has successfully defended Supreme Court proceedings, assisted with restructuring our Group, and where it wasn’t in her expertise she referred to competent colleagues to whom I was also satisfied with. The key to any working relationship is the development of trust between client and counsel, and I’m proud to say that I trust my entire organisation in Sarah’s hands. I have no hesitation recommending her services.

David Mills

CEO and Managing Director, 
McGrath Real Estate Coolangata

Sarah Davies strikes an all too rare balance of identifying, strategising and stridently prosecuting a legal case for her client, with the big picture awareness of making prudent commercial calls in lieu of continuing legal avenues when commercially appropriate.  Her evident knowledge of law was impressive and it was clear she was also highly respected by leading Barristers.

Paul Engeman

Director, Encum Pty Ltd

Sarah Davies came highly recommended to my husband and I after we were very disappointed with our initial choice of legal representation over several months.  Our matter was indeed extremely complex, a view taken by many professionals and legal contacts.  It required significant experience and expertise across a range of different areas of law.  Our matter, it is fair to say, also proved to be highly contentious throughout its duration until a mutually acceptable and positive outcome eventually occurred – navigated, of course, by Sarah.   During our journey Sarah became a good friend, confidante and the ‘voice of reason and calm’ when the official process wheels became frustrating at times.  Personally and professionally – Sarah is extremely down to earth.  She is one of the most ‘switched on’, ‘savvy’ litigation lawyers around.  She calls a spade a spade, has a brutally honest approach always delivered in your best interests and with diplomacy, tact and good humour.  We were extremely lucky to have been introduced to Sarah and highly recommend her to anyone requiring high level litigation services.

Tanya Battel

G & T Battel Pty Ltd

Sarah Davies acted for my firm in a complex Supreme Court matter, involving a property joint venture. We were in dispute over distributions amounting to five million dollars. Having run businesses over the last thirty years we have had several unfortunate experiences of chasing debts etc. through the court system, and so we were reluctant litigants. Sarah gave us excellent balanced advice and proposed a successful strategy from the very beginning of her appointment. The outcome completely exceeded our expectations, to the extent that it reaffirmed my confidence in the legal process. I would recommend her services without equivocation.

Laurie Truce

Director, Indigo Property Group

I am pleased to write a recommendation for Sarah Davies. We first met several years ago and worked on a case involving recovery of monies from the nation’s largest insolvency firm. We were ultimately successful. Her work is of the highest calibre. She has a gift for excellent communication between herself, the Barrister, and client. Her appreciation of the Law is well blended with a practical approach to business matters. Sarah does all my commercial/litigation work. She has well-earned my high esteem.

Dr Roger Welch

Vision Centre Gold Coast

Ecofibre was one of Sarah’s first clients when she started her business in 2016.  Since then Sarah has helped us on a wide range of matters, and her proactive, commercial approach to legal matters is always valued.

Jonathan Brown

CFO and Company Secretary, Ecofibre Limited