Sophie practices in Crime and Extradition. She regularly appears in the Magistrates Court, Crown Court and Youth Court and has appeared in full extradition hearings. She has been described as ‘forcefully persuasive’ with submissions and ‘first class’ with her clients.
Sophie joined chambers in April 2024 after the successful completion of pupillage. During her pupillage, she was supervised by Graeme Logan, Will Noble, Ben Joyes and Richard Paton Philip and assisted in the preparation of both prosecution and defence matters involving firearms, sexual offences, fraud, and serious violence.
Sophie has been instructed in a wide range of criminal matters and always has the clients understanding at the forefront of her mind. She is particularly passionate about working with clients with Neurodivergent conditions.
Background and Expertise
Before turning to law, Sophie received a first-class History degree from The University of Southampton and studied Drama & Theatre at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Whilst studying for her master’s in law, Sophie worked on a pro-bono project which provided legal advice for victims of domestic violence during covid. Her MA legal research project focused on the effectiveness of the disclosure process in RASSO cases.
Prior to starting pupillage, Sophie worked as the Future Pupil Programme Coordinator at The University of Law. Here she advised students on their careers and spoke with barristers and other legal organisations daily.
Notable Cases
Hungary v R, 2023
R was sought by Hungary pursuant to an accusation warrant for fraud offences totalling a possible punishment of eight years imprisonment. Despite the seriousness of the offence alleged, Sophie successfully secured bail for R by putting forward a persuasive and realistic package of conditions.
Westminster Magistrates Court
ExtraditionOperation Emperor, 2024
Sophie, led by Dréa Becker, acted for a client charged with fraudulent trading. The trial was the culmination a five-year investigation by Tower Hamlets and Trading Standards into extensive allegations of fraud and malpractice at lettings agencies in East London. The trial spanned the course of six months, making it one of the longest trading standards trials.
On 09 October 2024, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on both counts faced by their client. Dréa and Sophie’s client was one of only two individuals acquitted of all charges on the eight-count indictment.
Southwark Crown Court
Financial CrimeR v C, 2023
C was charged with possession of an imitation firearm in a public place. D was of previous good character. After a comprehensive plea in mitigation, Sophie persuaded the bench to impose a Conditional Discharge.
Basildon Magistrates Court
FirearmsR v A, 2024
The defendant was charged with an assault by beating that took place during a peaceful protest. The prosecution alleged that the defendant had assaulted a man walking through the protest and relied on ID evidence to support this. Sophie argued a half-time submission of no case to answer on the basis that the Prosecution evidence was of such a tenuous nature that a court could not properly convict. The court dismissed the charge.
Highbury Corner Magistrates Court
R v F, 2024
F was charged with two aggravated offences under s.3(1) of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, the factual matrix included the death of another dog and multiple injuries to the owner. The crown argued that the matter should be committed to the crown court and placed the case in the top category for harm. During sentence, Sophie persuaded the lay bench to retain jurisdiction and impose a significantly lesser sentence after lengthy mitigation. The lay bench imposed a 6-month custodial sentence, suspended for 12-months.
Willesden Magistrates Court
RSPCA v K, 2023
Sophie represented a young and vulnerable client for sentence who was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The RSPCA placed the case in the top sentencing categories and sought a disqualification & deprivation order preventing the defendant from having animals in the future. Sophie argued against a custodial sentence and heavily mitigated the offence using case law and expert reports. As a result, the judge took an ‘exceptional’ approach to the sentence imposing a 12-month community order. Sophie further persuaded the judge not to impose a disqualification & deprivation order which meant the client could keep an emotional support animal.
Willesden Magistrates Court
CrimeR v C and another, 2024
Sophie represented the son at trial who was jointly charged alongside his father of ABH. The prosecution alleged that the two men launched a violent attack on their neighbour, wounding him with a brick. Through careful examination in chief, Sophie was able to present C as an individual who could not have acted in the way the complainant had alleged. Both were acquitted by unanimous not guilty verdicts.
Croydon Crown Court
R v W, 2023
This was a DV assault by beating case. The crown applied to adduce W’s Bad character, including convictions for violence and previous incidents involving the complainant. Sophie was served with the application on the morning of the trial and successfully resisted this through oral submissions. The complainant was elderly and vulnerable, despite this, Sophie was able to use her witness-handling skills to effectively cross-examine. W was acquitted by the lay bench.
Croydon Magistrates Court
R v D, 2023
Sophie successfully defended her client against allegations of domestic assault and a threat with a bladed article. The complainant did not attend for trial and the crown applied to proceed by making an application under Res Gestae. After lengthy legal arguments Sophie successfully resisted the application and the crown offered no evidence on the three substantive charges. D plead guilty to the final charge relating to a breach and a fine was imposed.
St Albans Magistrates Court
ViolenceR v G, 2024
Sophie represented a youth defendant charged with an assault by beating. On the day of trial, Sophie made a lengthy s.78 PACE application to exclude all the crucial ID evidence in the case. The youth court granted the application and as a result, the crown offered no evidence to the charge.
Luton youth Court
R v T, 2023
Sophie represented a youth defendant charged with multiple class A drug offences. The client was 17 at the time of the offence but 18 at the time of sentence. Sophie persuaded the judge through written and oral submissions to retain the matter in the youth court. The District Judge, after the mitigation Sophie put forward, was persuaded to impose a 24-month community order.
Reading Youth Court
R v D (a child), 2023
Sophie represented a youth defendant charged with a robbery on a joint enterprise basis at trial. D was 12 years old at the time of the offence. Sophie challenged the adult complainant’s live evidence during cross-examination and highlighted the weaknesses in the crown's case by discrediting the accounts given on ID evidence. After trial The District Judge found K not guilty.
Stratford youth Court
YouthsNews
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Achievements
Sophie is the proud Co-founder of the organisation Neurodiversity in Law, which aims to destigmatise neurodiversity across the legal professions. More recently, she co-chaired an event for the criminal bar association titled ‘Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System.’
Upon completion of the BPC, Sophie undertook a mediation course and became an accredited mediator and currently volunteers for the ‘Young Citizens’ programme for students interested in Law.
- The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Women in Criminal Law (WICL)
- Neurodiversity in Law (Co-founder)
- Delf Extradition Lawyers Forum (DELF)
- CPS Grade 1
- The Barrister Magazine’ article titled ‘Neurodiversity: Why we need different brains at the bar.’
- Diplock Scholarship – The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
- Law First Scholarship – The University of Law
- CertHE - Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
- BA History, First Class Honours - The University of Southampton
- MA Law, Commendation - The University of Law
- BPC, Very Competent - The University of Law
- Outside of law, Sophie is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo and has a keen interest in theatre.