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Sarah is an experienced private client lawyer with a strong reputation for her work on trusts, wills and succession planning, and family constitution and governance issues. She builds deep and lasting relationships with clients, who value her genuine interest in and commitment to finding the right solution for them. 

Sarah leads the firm’s private client group and has a diverse practice spanning the private client sector. She has developed an unusually broad range of expertise in the field, with a special interest in trusts issues.

On trusts matters, Sarah acts for a range of trustees and beneficiaries, including those involved with significant onshore and international trusts, and associated with large corporations, substantial landed estates, family offices, wealthy individuals and families. Her experience advising both trustees and beneficiaries gives her a valuable perspective on the needs of all those involved.

Sarah acts for a wide range of family offices, family businesses, entrepreneurs and owner managers, wealthy families and individuals, and landed estates. Sarah supports clients on the issues critical to their long-term interests including governance and constitutions, succession planning, decision making and investments of all types. She regularly acts for entrepreneurs, owner managers, senior executives, wealthy individuals and families on a range of issues linked to holding and structuring wealth; such as private wealth planning, tax, philanthropy, wills and the transfer of wealth between generations.

Outside of her technical expertise, clients comment that Sarah’s great strengths are her empathy and personable approach. Her client relationships often see her supporting individuals and families through issues that affect multiple generations, and clients value her ability to communicate well at all levels. Much of her practice sees her work in close collaboration with her clients’ wider network of advisers, and with specialists across the firm in areas as diverse as property, reputation management, banking and employment. 

Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 1997.

     

Recognitions

The Legal 500 2026

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate

Leading Partner

Spear's 2025

Tax

Top Recommended

The Legal 500 2025

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate

Leading Partner

Chambers HNW 2025

Private Wealth Law

Band 1

Memberships & Accolades

"Sarah von Schmidt focuses her practice on matters relating to trusts, intergenerational tax and succession planning. She is well regarded for her work in the field." (Chambers HNW 2022 - Private Wealth Law)

Sarah is listed in the Private Client Global Elite 2022 directory. She is also ranked in the 2022 eprivateclient 50 most influential ranking.

Sarah is listed as a Recommended 2021, Tax and Trust lawyer in Spear's 500 Magazine 2021 edition.

She is acknowledged in the sector for the high quality of service she delivers for clients and has won a number of accolades including the Spear’s Award for Family Office Lawyers in 2016. She co-authored a chapter in Family Offices: The STEP Handbook for Advisers.

Testimonials

"Sarah von Schmidt is one of the top international private client lawyers in the field today. She has deep knowledge, great strategic sense and incredible client loyalty. " (Chambers HNW 2025)

"Sarah von Schmidt is deeply experienced, knowledgeable and can juggle the complexities of various legal systems masterfully. Sarah is highly respected in our field by fellow lawyers and advisors, and inspires loyalty and gratitude in her clients. She also has a charismatic personal charm and talent for creating camaraderie and trust within the teams she leads." (Legal 500 2025)

"Sarah von Schmidt has super strong knowledge and client service." (Chambers HNW 2024)

"Sarah is intelligent and has a warmth to her that distinguishes her as an adviser. She leverages that to develop strong bonds with her clients, and her technical abilities are incredibly strong, which is a powerful combination." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Sarah is very well regarded." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Sarah is highly capable and co-operative, with an engaging personality." (Chambers HNW 2023)

Sarah is recognised as a Leading Individual for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate in the Legal 500 2022 Guide.

"Sarah von Schmidt – intelligent and has a great deal of experience of trusts and succession. She is very personable and offers great support." (Legal 500 2022)

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