Machins Solicitors Announces Promotion of Victoria Grant to Senior Associate
Machins announce the promotion of Victoria Grant to Senior Associate in the Family team.
Sarah Ashby
Family, Children & Separation
Partner and Head of Public Family Law Team
Contact Information
Testimonials
Sarah is an amazing solicitor with truly encyclopaedic knowledge and an amazing memory. It is impressive indeed to work alongside her and she is great in one-to-ones with children also.
Chambers & Partners Referee 2026
Sarah is nothing short of a bona fide legend. Her reputation as a children’s solicitor is as justified as much as it precedes her. An opponent who sees Sarah on the other side has to bring their A-game to come close to matching her. She is a tenacious advocate who will resolutely pursue what is in a child’s best interests; but her real skill is in how she does so. Sarah’s raw talent lies in the bread and butter of what it means to be a lawyer, persuasion. You either have it or you don’t: Sarah possesses it in abundance. Sarah subtly shapes the arc of cases towards her client’s objectives, and as an advocate she commands the ear of the court. Even if they will never know it, any child or children who are represented by Sarah are fortunate indeed.
Samuel Marks - Barrister, New Court Chambers
Sarah Ashby is a very talented lawyer who has vast knowledge of the area. She is approachable, friendly and professional.
Chambers & Partners Referee 2025
Sarah Ashby is thorough, detailed and incredibly easy to work with. A real star.
Legal 500 2025
Sarah Ashby is a real asset to the team. She is an incredible solicitor who works extremely hard and deals with all of her cases with great sensitivity and care. She gives pragmatic and robust advice to clients and deals with her opponents fairly and firmly. She is a force to be reckoned with in the court room, and has brilliant knowledge of the law and is a fantastic solicitor. It is always a pleasure to work with Sarah and she really does go the extra mile for her clients.
Legal 500 2024
Just wanted to thank you again. You were outstanding and I am pleased that you are representing me. I was really taken aback by your submissions and how you executed them. Credit where credit is due and much deserving of the recognition!
I know you are brilliant, we all know you are brilliant, thanks for being brilliant...Keep doing whatever it is you do.
Good service and easy to discuss issues.
Sarah Ashby is compassionate, with excellent communication skills. She understands her client’s cases really well; she thinks outside the box and perseveres.
Legal 500 2021
Sarah Ashby is a fantastic solicitor. She is empathetic and will go above and beyond for her clients. She is very hard working and will pursue all avenues to ensure that a fair outcome is achieved. She also thinks outside the box and will consider applications that other parties did not consider. She is truly exceptional.
Legal 500 2021
Excellent support and advice, child centred throughout, hardworking and focussed
Proactive, enthusiastic and fully engaged with the issues
Sarah Ashby is extremely knowledgeable, has superb judgement and fights hard for her clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. She is an excellent advocate and is well respected by her colleagues, clients, contemporaries and judges. She is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Legal 500 2022
About Sarah
Sarah qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and joined Machins in 2016, rising to partner in 2020. As Chair of the Luton Family Justice Board, she leads with both vision and empathy. Her reputation for tenacity and sharp legal acumen makes her a go-to advocate in the most challenging children’s matters. Sarah combines strategic thinking with a genuine commitment to every child’s welfare.
Expertise
Sarah specialises exclusively in children’s law, guiding parents, family members, interveners, children’s guardians and directly representing competent children. She navigates high-stakes cases – from complex non-accidental injury and sexual abuse to death or murder within a family – always keeping the child’s best interests front and centre. Her work extends to court applications for neglect and child assessment orders, as well as matters before the High Court and Court of Appeal. Recognised for her skill with vulnerable clients, she also works with adults with learning difficulties who require the use of an intermediary. Sarah’s persuasive advocacy subtly shapes each case’s trajectory, commanding the court’s attention and respect.
Reported Cases
- A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors
Memberships & Accolades
- Member, Law Society’s Children Panel
- Member, Resolution
- Next Generation Partner, Legal 500 (2024 & 2025)
- Up and Coming, Chambers & Partners (2025)
- Leading Partner, Legal 500 (2026)
- Chair, Luton Family Justice Board
Specialist practice areas
- Care proceedings
- Public law outline
- Contact with a child in care
- Discharge of care orders
- Revocation of placement orders
- Child abductions
- Secure accommodation proceedings
- Placement order proceedings
- Contested adoption
- Children associated Human Rights Act applications
- Child protection
Latest news by Sarah Ashby
Care order placing child with mother instead of foster parents set aside
The Court of Appeal has set aside a court order that a girl should be returned to her mother rather than stay with foster parents. The girl was 18 months old and was referred to in court as X. Her mother had agreed to X being accommodated with foster parents when she was three days
Boy’s wishes not enough to prevent him being returned to father
The wishes of a 12-year-old boy were not enough to prevent him from being returned to his father, especially as it was likely that he had been unduly influenced by his mother. That was the decision of the Court of Appeal in a case involving a boy who was born in England and had lived
Daughter of vulnerable mother to be placed for adoption
The 15-month-old daughter of a vulnerable mother who could not care for her has been placed in the care of the local authority so she can be adopted. The girl’s parents had been in a relationship since 2017. The mother was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties who suffered from a syndrome that required a
Grandmother can apply to have grandson live with her
A grandmother who failed to get permission to have her grandson live with her can now apply again because she’s moved to a bigger house. The case involved a two-year-old who was referred to in court as J. He had three siblings. The local authority became involved with the family before his birth due to
Decision to ‘remove children from their grandparents was wrong’
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a decision to remove three children from the care of their grandparents was mistaken and could cause them emotional harm. The children, aged six, four and three, had lived with their grandparents and maternal aunt since January 2019 after a somewhat chaotic lifestyle in their parents’ care. In
Judge ‘was wrong’ to prevent grandparents adopting 3-year-old
The Court of Appeal has ruled that a judge was wrong to prevent two grandparents adopting their 3-year-old grandson. The court heard that the child’s mother suffered from mental health problems. She had a long history of drug abuse and had criminal convictions for violent offences. She had had no contact with the child since