Spotlight On… Sarah Fish

Our next spotlight is on Sarah Fish, a Senior Associate in our Residential Development (Commercial Property) team.

What is your role at Ashtons?

I am a Senior Associate in the Residential Development team (Commercial Property), based in Norwich.

How long have you been at the firm?

I will have been here for a year in April.

Where have you worked previously, and what path did you take before Ashtons?

Having done a law degree in Sheffield and the LPC in London, I started my training contract at Overburys in Norwich, which merged after a year to become Spire Solicitors. On qualification, I joined the Residential Development (Social Housing) team at Birketts, where I worked for just under 10 years before moving to Ashtons.

Who is in your team?

Our residential development sub-team comprises Sheila Small, Clare Best, Rebecca Gatens, Sophie Allinson, Laura Bradshaw, George Mayhew-Hawes and Sandra Keeling.

Do you have any specialisms?

My specialism is in Social Housing which covers quite a range of work! I have acted for a number of Housing Associations obtaining s106 units (Golden Brick agreements, Turnkey agreements and land at day 1), acquiring land for development (conditional contracts, option agreements), reviewing and advising on Nominations Agreements, planning documents and Grant Funding Agreements etc.

I have also worked on securitisation projects, reviewing property portfolios and amending planning and title documents to ensure that the properties could achieve the higher social housing lending rates.

A career highlight would be being presented with an award from Joanna Lumley. The award was for a development collaboration between Breckland District Council and Breckland Bridge, in which I was heavily involved.

Outside of Ashtons, I sit on the board for Solo Housing (East Anglia), which houses and supports single people who are facing homelessness. I also chair their Business Development subcommittee, which, with an ambitious CEO, means we have lots of exciting opportunities ahead.

Did you ever consider a different career?

Yes, mainly in the middle of the night when I wake up panicking that I haven’t completed a document that doesn’t actually exist! If I could, I would love to own and run a number of holiday cottages across Norfolk.

If you could give your younger self some career advice, what would it be?

Always ask questions. Money will not burn a hole in your pocket. Everything happens for a reason. Enjoy the journey.

Contact Sarah Fish for commercial property advice

For individual advice about your property or business, please contact Sarah Fish by using our online enquiry form.