Practice Profile
Sophie joined 7KBW on successful completion of her pupillage in September 2022.
Sophie is developing a broad practice across all areas of commercial law, including insurance and reinsurance, shipping and shipbuilding, international arbitration, commodities, jurisdiction and conflict of laws, civil fraud, energy and natural resources, professional negligence and aviation. Sophie accepts instructions in all of 7KBW’s practice areas.
Before commencing pupillage, Sophie taught Contract and Tort at the London School of Economics. She was also previously the judicial assistant to Lord Justice Flaux at the Court of Appeal where she experienced a wide range of commercial appellate work. Sophie studied Law at Keble College, Oxford where she achieved a First in Finals and a Distinction on the BCL.
- Instructed in a multi-million-pound dispute concerning a claim to an indemnity for the constructive total loss of a vessel.
- Assisted in a multi-million-pound dispute, including an interlocutory hearing and trial in the Commercial Court, concerning a claim under a marine cargo insurance policy relating to a fraud on Ukrainian agribusiness.
- Assisted in a multi-million-pound dispute concerning a claim under a cyber policy relating to operational failures during data migrations.
- Assisted in a multi-million-pound arbitration, including a procedural hearing, concerning a claim under a professional indemnity policy relating to pension losses.
- Assisted in a dispute concerning a claim under a mortgagee interest insurance policy relating to alleged losses of vessels pursuant to a fraud.
- Assisted in a dispute under a third party liability policy concerning recovery of sums paid in settlement by a public authority.
- Prepared pleadings in a charterparty dispute concerning the application of a force majeure clause.
- Assisted with research in a dispute concerning the alleged frustration of a charterparty due to a possible ban on Australian coal in China.
- Assisted with research for the appellants in the Court of Appeal case of SK Shipping Europe Ltd v Capital VLCC 3 Corp (“C Challenger”) [2022] EWCA Civ 231.
- Assisted in an international arbitration concerning losses suffered under a time charter relating to the defective installation of equipment on a vessel.
- Assisted in a dispute concerning the alleged breach of a right of first refusal to purchase a vessel in a time charter.
- Assisted with a summary judgment application concerning repayment of a substantial loan, where the loan agreement was alleged to have been forged.
- Assisted with an application for alternative service in proceedings against individuals alleged to have conspired to dissipate assets in breach of a freezing injunction.
- Assisted with preparations for a disciplinary hearing in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in a case concerning allegations of antisemitism.
- Assisted in preparing advice on actionable loss, legal causation and scope of duty in a claim concerning the payment of lawful dividends on shares pursuant to an allegedly negligent audit.
- Assisted with research in a case brought by the Financial Reporting Council against an individual alleged to have committed fraud.
- Assisted in an international arbitration concerning losses suffered under a time charter relating to the defective installation of equipment on a vessel.
- Assisted in a multi-million-pound arbitration, including a procedural hearing, concerning a claim under a professional indemnity policy relating to pension losses.
- Assisted with research in a dispute concerning the alleged frustration of a charterparty due to a possible ban on Australian coal in China.
- Assisted in preparing defence submissions in a case concerning alleged losses suffered under a charterparty due to loss of time or off-hire.
- Assisted in preparing a skeleton argument opposing an application for permission to appeal under section 69 of the Arbitration Act 1996.
- Assisted with research in an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the use of presumptions in construing guarantees.
- Assisted in preparing the defence and counterclaim in relation to a dispute concerning breaches of a warehouse agreement.
- Assisted with research in a dispute concerning a refusal to agree to price increases under a trade agreement.
- Assisted with research in a dispute concerning whether a contract for the provision of security services in a warzone had been frustrated.
- Assisted in preparing advice in a claim involving the calculation of payments due under a pharmaceutical royalty agreement.
- Assisted with research in a dispute concerning the supply of a defective product, addressing issues of construction, implied terms and estoppel, as well as the application of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.
‘Salvage of Sunken Treasure and the Law of State Immunity’ (2023) 139 LQR 199 (with Samuel Walpole)
‘State Immunity and Admiralty Actions in Rem Against Cargo’ (2021) 137 LQR 385 (with Samuel Walpole)
‘Representations as to “Apparent Order and Condition” and the Tender of a Draft Bill of Lading’ (2021) LMCLQ 415 (with Samuel Walpole)
Education and Other Experience
- 2020-21: Guest Teacher, LSE (teaching Contract and Tort)
- 2020-21: BVS, City University of London (Distinction)
- 2019-20: Judicial Assistant to Lord Justice Flaux, Court of Appeal
- 2018-19: BCL, Keble College, University of Oxford (Distinction)
- 2014-17: BA Jurisprudence, Keble College, University of Oxford (First Class)
Scholarships and Awards
- BVS Academic Excellence Scholarship, City Law School
- BVS Award, Inner Temple
- Harris Prize for the Best Performance in Jurisprudence at Keble College (2017)
- Academic Scholarship from Keble College (2016-17)