About the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator

The Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator is responsible for overseeing and enforcing the Scottish Pubs Code.

The code regulates the relationship between pub owning businesses and tied pub tenants.

The adjudicator is Sarah Havlin.

About Sarah Havlin

A solicitor by trade, Sarah Havlin has extensive experience in contentious litigation, regulation, commercial dispute resolution, employment law and industrial relations. Her expertise reflects years of practice handling complex legal cases and navigating regulatory challenges.

Sarah has held numerous judicial and quasi-judicial positions, including a decade as the Certification Officer of Northern Ireland, a quasi-judicial and statutory regulation role in trade union affairs in which she was responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

She is the President of the Industrial Court of Northern Ireland and Deputy Chairman of the Central Arbitration Committee in London, both of which are specialist legal tribunals which adjudicate in collective disputes between employers and trade unions. In 2023 she was appointed as an independent member to the Board of the Labour Relations Agency of Northern Ireland.

Sarah previously played a significant independent role in the review of electoral boundaries in Northern Ireland, as both Local Government Boundary Commissioner of Northern Ireland and as Parliamentary Boundary Commissioner. Leading both organisations through a complex statutory review process, which contributed to the design and framing of primary legislation that resulted in substantial changes to Northern Ireland's administrative boundaries. This work required navigating a highly sensitive political landscape, marked by significant community divisions and disagreements. This experience highlights her legal and regulatory acumen, as well as her skills in managing delicate negotiations and balancing competing interests in a contentious political and social context.

Sarah also served for seven years as Parades Commissioner of Northern Ireland, the regulator of public processions and protests. In this role, she acted as both mediator and adjudicator, skilfully managing numerous complex, multi-party community disputes that often involved deeply sensitive issues. Her contributions to community relations were recognised by the U.S. State Department, and in 2013, she was named a Fellow of the Irish Institute at Boston College, Massachusetts. In 2016, St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford, also honoured her as a "Leading Woman in UK Law and Business."

Sarah’s career experience demonstrates a strong track record of acting impartially, achieving consensus to resolve complex disputes and exercising independent judgement in the taking and drafting of legally binding decisions, particularly in sensitive and high-stakes environments. This highlights her ability to approach challenging issues objectively and authoritatively.

She has no vested interests in the Tied Pubs sector, further emphasising her independence and neutrality in matters she oversees. This background makes her a trusted figure in regulatory and adjudicative roles where unbiased judgment is paramount.