Overview
Sophia has developed a strong practice in many areas of law. She prosecutes and defends in a wide range of criminal cases and is Youth Court qualified. Sophia's experience extends to cases brought by private prosecutors involving trademark and environmental offences. She has experience of professional discipline and regulatory cases and a growing practice in extradition. Sophia also accepts instructions in family law.
Additional information
Before starting pupillage, Sophia worked at Kingsley Napley LLP as a criminal litigation paralegal. She worked on a number of significant cases involving corporate fraud, extradition and private prosecutions. Alongside this she wrote her LLM thesis on the corporate criminal liability of UK companies for violent human rights abuses overseas.
Prior to this Sophia worked for three years as a Human Rights Observer with Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Colombia and is now a Trustee for PBI UK. She also interned at NATO, where she coordinated the drafting of multinational policy papers to facilitate requests of international assistance. These documents continue to be used today.
Professional Appointments and Memberships
- CPS External Advocates Panel (Grade 2).
- CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: Fraud (Grade 2).
- CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: Serious Crime (Grade 2).
- Government Legal Department 'Junior Junior' Scheme Member.
- Nursing and Midwifery Council Authorised Case Presenter.
Education
- LLM (Distinction) Professional Legal Skills including BPTC, City University.
- Graduate Diploma in Law, City University.
- MPhil Latin American Studies, University of Oxford.
- MA (Hons) International Relations & Spanish, University of St Andrews.
Criminal Defence
Sophia regularly defends clients in the Magistrates’, Youth, and Crown Courts. She has experience of a wide range of offences including drugs, fraud, property and violent offences. Sophia has experience of challenging unlawful searches and arrests by police, as well as opposing applications for court orders including criminal behaviour orders and confiscation orders.
Sophia is experienced in dealing with young and vulnerable defendants and witnesses including the use of intermediaries. She has completed specialist training in youth court advocacy.
Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public
Sophia is a CPS Grade 2 prosecutor, and has prosecuted trials in the Magistrates’, Youth Court and the Crown Court. She has experience of prosecuting multi-handed trials.
Sophia is also on the CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: for Fraud (Grade 2), and for Serious Crime.
Business Crime & Financial Regulation
Sophia has experience of prosecuting and defending in criminal fraud and financial crime cases.
Sophia is on the CPS Specialist Advocates Panel for Fraud (Grade 2)
Extradition & International & Immigration
Sophia has been instructed to act on behalf of clients facing extradition to a number of countries. Her experience extends from case preparation and management to final hearings and advising on appeals to the High Court. She has a keen interest in international criminal matters.
Sophia accepts instructions in relation to Immigration matters.
Professional Discipline & Regulatory
Sophia has previously been instructed to present cases on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council at interim order, order review and substantive hearings of varying degrees of complexity. She has also represented registrants at their interim order hearings.
Inquests & Inquiries
Sophia accepts instructions in relation to Public Inquiries and Inquests.
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association (CBA).
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association (YFLA).
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (Lord Denning Scholar).
Cases of Note
Paiva v Tribunal Da Comarca De Setubal [2024] EWHC 980 (Admin)
An appeal based on section 20 Extradition Act, arguing that the appellant had not been notified about the time and place of his trial and therefore could not be said to have deliberately absented himself. It is one of the first cases to implement the Supreme Court case of Bertino.
