Sarah Dureau
Job Title: Partner, Head of Armed Forces Services
Location: Witney
I came to Bower Bailey later in my career, after 16 fantastic years as a Legal Officer in the Royal Air Force serving in interesting and varied postings both in the UK and abroad, and having been a solicitor in private practice in my home town in West Wales for seven years before that.
Having already chosen West Oxfordshire as my ‘home base’ in 2003 when I was working on Armed Forces legislation in London, I knew just how lovely an area it was and so returned here with my family when I left the RAF as a Wing Commander to continue my legal career in “civvy street”. I could see there would be a real value in service personnel and their wider families having access to a specialist lawyer with in-depth background knowledge of the rules and regulations particular to the Armed Forces, as well as an understanding of their lifestyle. I initially worked as a self-employed consultant and then Bower Bailey were prepared to take a “leap of faith” and offered me a role to set up this niche area of practice.
Therefore in 2014 I joined the Witney office of Bower Bailey and was immediately given the freedom to set up and lead of our now established Armed Forces services team. Bower Bailey recognised that I could draw on my 16 years of experience in the Royal Air Force to represent military personnel in many areas of law, particularly with regard to service issues. My client base continues to grow and I was made a partner in 2018. I am able to link in with teams in our other areas of practice and regularly refer military clients to colleagues who continue to liaise with me to ensure the relevant military aspects are considered. Bower Bailey provide lawyers with ability and specialist knowledge, the support and autonomy to develop their areas of specialism. With my litigation background I have been able to represent not only military clients but any client with a litigious issue in my areas of expertise of employment, family and litigation & dispute resolution.
I feel very lucky that I managed to work for so many years in a fulfilling career in the Royal Air Force but am now being allowed to continue that contact through my work in a progressive firm like Bower Bailey. My feet are now well and truly grounded in the beautiful Cotswolds where I both live and work.
