Sophie Allkins

Sophie specialises in aviation work for insurers and reinsurers, with a focus on general aviation, as well as subrogation recoveries and coverage advice. Her work is largely multi-jurisdictional, and she has particular experience of dealing with claims in Africa and the US. She has a growing international product liability practice, acting for clients in Switzerland and the UK as well as in the Defence sector.

Sophie trained at Clyde & Co and has over five years’ experience advising clients across a range of contentious and non-contentious areas including liability under the Montreal regime, personal injury and fatal accidents, inquests, property damage and accident investigation. She acted on behalf of insurers following the Shoreham Airshow disaster in 2015.

Sophie has an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges that international liability presents and is experienced in co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional and/or multi-disciplinary teams to ensure that clients are protected across the full reach of their business activities.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• On the successful resolution of US passenger claims arising from an accident involving a Cessna Caravan in Tanzania and pursuing a subrogated recovery on behalf of reinsurers, including a negotiated settlement in New York and the subsequent filing of proceedings by reinsurers in Quebec.
• On the settlement of passenger claims on behalf of an operator and its insurers following a hot air balloon hard landing incident in the UK.
• On behalf of the buyer in relation to a commercial dispute involving the purchase of a new King Air aircraft.
• Advising on liability (and potential HSE) issues arising from a fatal accident involving the Red Arrows.
• In relation to inquest proceedings following a fatal helicopter accident in the UK after the Pilot in Command commenced take-off in heavy fog.
• On behalf of a components manufacturer in relation to IP and contractual infringements by other manufacturers within the Defence sphere.
• On the transactional documentation for the lease of a business jet.

Sophie’s portfolio of work includes a number of non-aviation instructions and she is able to assist clients with multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes.