Speaker details

Biography

Sara Phelan SC was called to the Bar in 1996, having previously qualified [TCD, 1988] and practised as a pharmacist for a number of years, and she ‘took silk’/was called to the Inner Bar in 2013. Sara has a broad practice, including child/family law, professional negligence, judicial review and non-jury, with further interests in chancery, probate and mental health law. Sara is also a qualified Mediator [CEDR] and Arbitrator [FCIArb]. Sara is an elected member of the General Council of the Bar of Ireland and, since September 2022, she has been Chair of the Bar of Ireland. Sara previously chaired the Bar of Ireland Professional Practices Committee, Arbitration & ADR Committee and the Law & Women Mentoring Committee. Sara is also a faculty member of the Bar of Ireland Advanced Advocacy Programme and a former Mental Health Tribunal chairperson. From an IBA perspective, Sara is the current Chair of the Forum for Barristers and Advocates. Sara is a Bencher of The Honorable Society King’s Inns, was admitted to the Bar of England & Wales in 2019 and is a member of Middle Temple, and was called to the Bar in Northern Ireland in 2023.