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Sophie Hepburn

Sophie Hepburn

Call: 2021
shepburn@7kbw.co.uk Reported cases
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Practice Profile

Sophie is developing a broad practice across all areas of commercial law, including insurance, shipping, aviation, international arbitration, commodities, professional negligence and professional discipline. Her recent work includes a four-week trial in the Commercial Court concerning a marine insurance claim arising from a detention in Indonesia, and she is currently instructed by HFW to appear in the Russian aviation trial commencing in October 2024. 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 on behalf of All Risks insurers (with Gavin Kealey KC, Andrew Wales KC, David Murray (FCC) and Clara Benn) in the Russian aviation multi-billion-pound insurance trial which commences in October 2024.
  • Instructed in a multi-million-pound arbitration concerning a dispute under a cyber policy.
  • Acted in Commercial Court proceedings (with Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy) in a dispute under a marine insurance policy arising out of a claim in respect of a detention in Indonesia.
  • Advised as sole counsel on the coverage position under a policy of employer’s liability insurance.
  • Conducted research into the law concerning the circumstances in which an arbitration award is open to appeal in a dispute about the aggregation of business interruption losses.
  • Acted unled on various insurance matters in the County Court.
  • Acted in an LMAA arbitration concerning damage to a cargo of soya beans.
  • Acted in a proprietary injunction application in a dispute arising out of a Greek shipping business arrangement.
  • Prepared pleadings (with Robert Bright KC and Harry Wright) for an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the use of presumptions in construing guarantees in the context of a shipbuilding dispute.
  • Acted unled in a charterparty dispute concerning the application of a force majeure clause.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) 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.
  • Acted for the Financial Reporting Council in a disciplinary investigation under the Audit Enforcement Procedure.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) in preparation for a disciplinary hearing in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in a case concerning allegations of antisemitism.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) 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 (during pupillage) with a summary judgment application concerning repayment of a substantial loan, where the loan agreement was alleged to have been forged.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) with an application for alternative service in proceedings against individuals alleged to have conspired to dissipate assets in breach of a freezing injunction.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) in preparing the defence and counterclaim in relation to a dispute concerning breaches of a warehouse agreement.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) with research in a dispute concerning whether a contract for the provision of security services in a warzone had been frustrated.
  • Assisted (during pupillage) in preparing advice in a claim involving the calculation of payments due under a pharmaceutical royalty agreement.

‘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)

Expertise

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