European law firm Fieldfisher has appointed commercial contracts specialist Sarah Riding as a partner in Birmingham, where she will lead the launch of a new Commercial practice in Brimingham.
Sarah joined the firm on 1 June 2026, from Gowling WLG where she was a partner and Head of Commercial, IT and Outsourcing, bringing significant experience in advising clients on a wide range of strategic commercial arrangements, including supply chain, manufacturing, technology and outsourcing agreements.
She has particular expertise advising clients across sectors including advanced manufacturing, automotive, retail, energy, technology and sport, and has worked extensively on both UK and international matters, including complex cross-border arrangements.
Sarah’s appointment and the launch of the new Commercial practice reflect Fieldfisher’s continued investment in its Birmingham office and its wider UK regional and international strategy. The new team will enhance the firm’s ability to support clients with commercially focused advice, while also strengthening collaboration across areas such as Corporate, IP, Regulatory and Dispute Resolution.
Commercial contracts play a critical role in enabling businesses to operate, scale and enter new markets. Sarah’s practice will focus on helping clients navigate these challenges, bringing a pragmatic and solutions-driven approach also shaped by her extensive in-house experience.
Fieldfisher’s UK and international Commercial team, led by co-heads David Bond and Gordon Drakes, advises businesses on domestic and cross-border transactions, regulatory compliance, and complex contractual arrangements across multiple jurisdictions, with a particular focus on the commercialisation of their IP. With extensive experience across a variety of sectors, the firm’s commercial contracts experts provide businesses with the legal expertise and commercial insight to manage risk, facilitate trade within and beyond the UK, and support clients operating in diverse legal and cultural environments.
David Bond, Co-Head of Franchising and Commercial at Fieldfisher, commented: “Sarah’s arrival represents a key milestone for our commercial offering. Commercial work is fundamental to our clients’ businesses, and her expertise will build on our established London practice while enhancing our ability to deliver high-quality, commercially driven advice across the firm.”
Sarah Riding added: “Fieldfisher’s strong sector focus, collaborative culture and international office network make it an ideal platform to further grow my commercial practice. There is a significant opportunity in the Midlands market, and I’m particularly excited about also utilising the European network and building a practice that supports clients in developing new routes to market, managing risk and achieving sustainable growth.”
Fieldfisher is a European law firm with market-leading practices in technology, financial services, energy & natural resources and life sciences.
