Sophie is described by clients as being a ‘dynamic, proactive, and detail-oriented practitioner, taking the lead on instructions which combine technical complexity with practical or logistical challenges and delivering pragmatic solutions to the same’.  

Sophie has over a decade's experience advising clients across a range of contentious and non-contentious areas including coverage disputes, to include the application of AVN48 B, liability under the Montreal regime, personal injury and fatal accidents, inquests, property damage, and accident investigation. She 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: 

• Reinsurers on complex, multi-billion-dollar coverage disputes arising from the hull all-risks reinsurance for aircraft leased to Russian airlines, following the invasion of Ukraine 
• Multiple ground handling/passenger assistance providers and their insurers on the defence of injury and damage claims in the UK and overseas 
• 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 
• Insurers following the Shoreham Airshow disaster in 2015, to include both claims and inquest 
• 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 
• 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