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A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a black top and a necklace, poses in front of a plain white background—her confident demeanour evoking the timeless elegance of Sophie Hepburn.

Sophie Hepburn

Call: 2021

+44 (0)20 7910 8300
shepburn@7kbw.co.uk
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Sophie accepts instructions as sole counsel and as a junior in all 7KBW’s practice areas, including insurance, shipping, aviation, international arbitration, commodities, civil fraud, professional negligence and professional discipline.

Her current and recent work includes:

  • Acting for the Claimant in a high-value international arbitration concerning a contractual dispute under a commercial agreement (led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC).
  • Acting for Insurers in a complex D&O coverage dispute concerning defence costs and issues arising from alleged criminal conduct (in a team led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC).
  • Acting for the Claimant policyholders in a substantial property insurance dispute arising out of alleged defects in residential properties (led by Jawdat Khurshid KC).
  • Acting as sole counsel for the Claimant policyholders in a cargo insurance claim arising from the alleged misappropriation of agricultural commodities.
  • Acting for the Financial Reporting Council in a disciplinary matter under the Accountancy Scheme.
  • From July to December 2025, undertook a six-month secondment in Kennedys’ insurance team, acting for insurers in a wide range of insurance disputes across professional indemnity, D&O, crime, political risk, marine/cargo, property and trade credit insurance, including the high-profile Australian Greensill insurance litigation.
  • Acted for the successful aviation hull all risks insurers in the multi-billion-pound Russian Aircraft LP Claims [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm), concerning the loss of aircraft following the invasion of Ukraine (in a team led by Gavin Kealey KC).
  • Acted for the successful Claimants in Delos Shipholding SA & Ors v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE & Ors (“WIN WIN”), a major Commercial Court and Court of Appeal dispute arising from the detention of a vessel (in a team led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC): [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm); [2025] EWCA Civ 1019.

Expertise

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Sophie is regularly instructed as sole counsel in insurance matters and also acts as junior counsel in larger insurance and reinsurance disputes. She has advised on a wide range of issues including coverage, policy construction, fair presentation, aggregation, allocation, quantum, subrogation, contribution, and challenges to arbitral awards.

Her current and recent work includes:

  • Acting for Insurers in a complex D&O coverage dispute concerning defence costs and issues arising from alleged criminal conduct (in a team led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC).
  • Acting for the Claimant policyholders in a multi-million-pound marine war risks insurance dispute concerning the detention of a vessel and claims for constructive total loss and sue and labour expenses (in a team led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC).
  • Acting for the Claimant policyholders in a substantial dispute concerning claims under a property insurance policy arising out of defects in residential properties (led by Jawdat Khurshid KC).
  • Acting for the Claimant policyholders in a cargo insurance claim arising from the alleged misappropriation of agricultural commodities.
  • Acting for the Claimant policyholders in a complex business interruption insurance claim in the energy sector.
  • From July to December 2025, undertook a six-month secondment in Kennedys’ insurance team, acting for insurers in a wide range of insurance disputes across professional indemnity, D&O, crime, political risk, marine/cargo, property and trade credit insurance. Matters included the high-profile Australian Greensill insurance litigation, which concerns trade credit insurance claims following the collapse of Greensill and involving issues of non-disclosure and misrepresentation.
  • Acted for the successful aviation hull all risks insurers in the multi-billion-pound Russian Aircraft LP Claims [2025] EWHC 1430 (Comm), concerning the loss of aircraft following the invasion of Ukraine (in a team led by Gavin Kealey KC).
  • Acted for the successful Claimants in Delos Shipholding SA & Ors v Allianz Global Corporate and Specialty SE & Ors (“WIN WIN”), a major marine war risks insurance dispute concerning a CTL claim for the detained vessel “WIN WIN” (in a team led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC). The Claimants succeeded both in the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal: [2024] EWHC 719 (Comm); [2025] EWCA Civ 1019.
  • Acted for Insurers in a complex construction-related insurance dispute arising from a property fire.
  • Acted for Insurers (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy) in a multi-million-pound arbitration concerning a dispute under a cyber policy.
    • Drafted claim submissions in a charterparty chain dispute concerning off-hire and breach of charterparty.
    • Drafted defence and counterclaim submissions in a contractual dispute concerning standard terms and off-specification marine fuel.
    • Advised in an LMAA Small Claims arbitration concerning the incorporation and priority of contractual terms.
    • Advised Owners in a charterparty dispute arising from a vessel allision, including on claims for loss of use and expenses, potential counterclaims and procedural issues.
    • Acted (led by Stephen Kenny KC) in an LMAA arbitration concerning damage to a cargo of soya beans.
    • Acted (led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC) in a proprietary injunction application in a dispute arising out of a Greek shipping business arrangement.
    • Prepared pleadings (in a team led by Robert Bright KC) for an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the use of presumptions in construing guarantees in the context of a shipbuilding dispute.
    • Drafted defence submissions in a charterparty dispute concerning the application of a force majeure clause.
    • Acting for the Financial Reporting Council in a disciplinary matter under the Accountancy Scheme.
    • Acted (led by Rebecca Sabben-Clare KC) for the Financial Reporting Council in a disciplinary investigation under the Audit Enforcement Procedure.
    • Acting for the Claimant in a high-value international arbitration concerning a contractual dispute under a commercial agreement (led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC)
    • Acted for Insurers in a multi-million-pound arbitration concerning a dispute under a cyber policy (led by Peter MacDonald Eggers KC and Sandra Healy).
    • Acted (led by Stephen Hofmeyr KC) in a proprietary injunction application in a dispute arising out of a Greek shipping business arrangement.
    • Acted (led by Stephen Kenny KC) in an LMAA arbitration concerning damage to a cargo of soya beans.
      • Acted for the successful all risks insurers in the Commercial Court in the Russian Aircraft LP Claims, a multi-billion-pound insurance dispute arising from the loss of aircraft following the invasion of Ukraine.
      • Acted for the successful Claimants in a high-value Commercial Court and Court of Appeal dispute arising from the detention of a vessel.
      • Acted as sole counsel for the Claimant in a contested allocation hearing in a negligence claim arising from damage to telecommunications infrastructure during highway works.
      • Prepared pleadings (in a team led by Robert Bright KC) for an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the use of presumptions in construing guarantees in the context of a shipbuilding dispute.
      • On secondment at Kennedys, worked on the high-profile Australian Greensill insurance litigation​ concerning trade credit insurance claims arising from Greensill’s collapse, involving issues of non-disclosure and misrepresentation.
      • 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.

      Related content

      +44 (0)20 7910 8300
      shepburn@7kbw.co.uk
      Download CV (PDF)
      Download vCard
      Print
      Linkedin
      Privacy Policy

      For more information
      Contact our clerks for assistance with choosing the right barrister for your matter.

      ‘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)

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