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Sarah Charlton#837

Sarah Charlton

Accountant, BlueSky Legal Finance Solutions
Sarah is a Fellow member of the Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants. Her career spans over 30 years working within the legal sector for both small and medium sized law firms, fulfilling roles from COFA through to CEO. During her career she has worked with a number of legal regulators, professional bodies and government organisations.

Sarah was a tutor and examiner for the ILFM on topics ranging from practice management to financial compliance. Sarah won the ILFM “Wilfred Owen” award for her dissertation of “Practice Management within a Law Firm” and has also received the ILFM “Aron Bowl” twice during her career for voluntary contributions to the profession. Sarah instigated many of the ILFM practice notes and has played an active role in the re-writes such as; VAT for legal accounting, and billing guide.

Before starting a family in 2009 Sarah was an Army Reservist, having served overseas to include a number of operational tours: serving in Bosnia and Iraq where her financial management experience was utilised by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Sarah dealt directly with local ministers to assist and oversee the budgets for all local provinces within the southern region of Iraq.

Sarah thrives on opportunities to share her knowledge and experience with others whilst bringing value through improvements and efficiencies. This desire led to the creation of BlueSky Legal Finance Solutions in 2021 with her colleague, James Wright. She is often referred to by her peers as the Mary Poppins of the legal finance and management profession!
Contributed to

6

For a firm which is a limited liability partnership to be able to sue on a bill, should the partner signing the bill sign the name of the firm, ie sign ‘ABC LLP’ or sign their own name, ie ‘John Smith’?
For a firm which is a limited liability partnership to be able to sue on a bill, should the partner signing the bill sign the name of the firm, ie sign ‘ABC LLP’ or sign their own name, ie ‘John Smith’?
Q&As
In relation to the electronic signature process for withdrawing from client account, does there need to be an actual electronic signature or will a confirmatory email suffice?
In relation to the electronic signature process for withdrawing from client account, does there need to be an actual electronic signature or will a confirmatory email suffice?
Q&As
Is a client entitled to see a copy of their client account ledger and/or and any payments made from office account?
Is a client entitled to see a copy of their client account ledger and/or and any payments made from office account?
Q&As
Is it possible to ask clients at the outset of a matter whether they are happy for any small, residual balance (say up to £10) to be donated to charity?
Is it possible to ask clients at the outset of a matter whether they are happy for any small, residual balance (say up to £10) to be donated to charity?
Q&As
Is there a difference between agreed fees and fixed fees? If yes, how must each one be dealt with in terms of the SRA Accounts Rules and do we need to say anything specific about agreed fees in our client care documentation?
Is there a difference between agreed fees and fixed fees? If yes, how must each one be dealt with in terms of the SRA Accounts Rules and do we need to say anything specific about agreed fees in our client care documentation?
Q&As
We maintain a central register of money held outside of client account under Rule 14. In some instances, money which would normally be held outside of client account has been converted into investments such as bonds and shares. Should these be included in the register and if so how would they be recorded and how often would the register need to be updated? In particular I am thinking in the case of shares where the value of the holding may vary day by day.
We maintain a central register of money held outside of client account under Rule 14. In some instances, money which would normally be held outside of client account has been converted into investments such as bonds and shares. Should these be included in the register and if so how would they be recorded and how often would the register need to be updated? In particular I am thinking in the case of shares where the value of the holding may vary day by day.
Q&As

Practice Area

Panels

  • Contributing Author
  • Q&A Panel

Qualified Year

  • 2008

Experience

  • LexisNexis Panel Contributor & Q&A (2012 - Present)
  • BlueSky Legal Finance Solutions (2021 - Present)
  • Eaton-Evans & Morris, CEO (2020 - Present)
  • Institute of Legal Finance & Management, Executive Council - Chair 2010-2012 (2005 - Present)
  • NewLaw Finance Compliance Manager (2013 - 2018)

Membership

  • Fellow of Institute of Legal Finance & Management
  • Fellow of Association of Chartered & Certified Accountant

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) (2008)
  • FCCA (2018)
  • ILM (2018)
  • FILFM (2005)

Education

  • Oxford Brookes University (2008)
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