Various Claimants v British Airways (ongoing): Led by David Blayney QC, Sophie acts for the lead solicitors in a group action against British Airways. The claim for compensation under the General Data Protection Regulation arises from a breach of British Airways security systems (announced in September 2018) which led to the loss of personal data belonging to hundreds of thousands of customers.

Sophie has also recently been instructed to act on behalf of claimants in the anticipated data breach litigation against easyJet following the announcement that personal data of 9 million of its customers had been wrongfully accessed as a result of a security breach.

Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse Trustee Limited [2020] SGCA 62; and Ivanishvili v Credit Suisse Life (Bermuda) Limited [2020] CA (Bda) 13 Civ: Instructed by Signature Litigation as junior counsel on behalf of the beneficiaries of two trusts which suffered multi•million dollar losses as a result of fraud and mismanagement of a major investment portfolio. Criminal proceedings took place in Switzerland and civil litigation is ongoing in Bermuda and Singapore.

Harcus Sinclair v Your Lawyers [2017] EWHC 2900: Acted for the Defendant in an expedited trial (led by Richard Coleman QC), successfully obtaining an injunction to prevent Harcus Sinclair from acting for approximately 45,000 clients in the VW Emissions Litigation following breach of a solicitors' undertaking given in a non-disclosure agreement.

Z Trusts [2015] JRC 214; [2015] JRC 031; and [2015] JRC 196C: Instructed by Voisin Law in litigation involving consideration of the appropriate procedure for winding down a Jersey Trust in circumstances where the net liabilities of the trust exceed its net assets; issues of priority between former and current trustees' liens over trust assets; and the proper exercise of fiduciary powers.

Hendrick v Knight [2014] ETMR 58: Successfully defended an appeal against the decision of the hearing officer in  a trade mark dispute. The decision considered the possibility of a pro bono costs order before the Appointed Person.

BTA v Ablyazov (2013): Acted as junior counsel (led by John Machell QC) for a Norwich Pharmacal respondent in the enforcement proceedings on the instructions of Boodle Hatfield LLP. Successfully secured the return of the respondent's passports delivered up pursuant to a passport order preventing the non-party leaving the jurisdiction until compliance with the disclosure order.

Access Bank v Akingbola [2012] EWHC 2148 (Comm): Instructed by Peters & Peters to assist Paul Chaisty QC defend a claim against the former group chief executive of a Nigerian bank for breach of trust and duty arising from an alleged share support scheme causing the bank to purchase its own shares.

Sophie acts in a wide range of contractual and commercial disputes and has considerable experience of acting in jurisdiction disputes and advising on conflict of laws issues.

Sophie's recent matters include:

Muncipio de Mariana v BHP Group Plc (formerly BHP Billiton): During January and February 2019, Sophie led a team of 20 junior barristers pleading particulars of loss for 600 businesses in the largest piece of group litigation that has been brought before the English Courts. The claim seeks to recover losses caused by the collapse of the Fundão Dam in November 2015 (considered to be the worst environmental disaster in Brazil).

In 2017, led by Jonathan Adkin QC, Sophie acted for a multinational mining conglomerate, in a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against two individuals who held management positions within the group pursuant to advisory contracts. The breaches alleged against the defendants included fraudulently passing funds out of the group and negligently entering into un-commercial agreements with third parties.

Grupo Ozarow SA v Clean Energy Trading Ltd [2016] EWHC 2322: Led by Stephen Houseman QC and Jonathan Harris QC (Hons), successfully discharged a proprietary injunction granted in support of proceedings in Poland.  The injunction had the effect of freezing the business of Clean Energy Trading which trades in European Union Carbon Credits.

Kupeli v Sirketi (t/a Cyprus Turkish Airlines) [2016] EWHC 930: Acted for a Turkish airline (led by Jonathan Adkin QC) defending claims arising from a failed takeover of the Northern Cyprus national airline. At the end of the Part 1 Trial 95% of the 838 pleaded claims were dismissed.

Gudavadze v Anisimov (2014): Instructed by Signature Litigation as part of a team led by Paul Girolami QC and Jonathan Adkin QC for the Claimants in a claim for over $1.5bn concerning the Russian mining company Metalloinvest.

Acted as junior counsel in a breach of warranty and misrepresentation claim worth over £6 million arising out of the acquisition of a well-known UK water business.

Charles Lissack v Manhattan Loft Corporation Limited: Acted as part of a team led by Alan Boyle QC in relation to interim proceedings in a claim arising out of the St Pancras development.

Muncipio de Mariana v BHP Group Plc (ongoing): Acted as part of a team to recover corporate losses suffered by 600 Brazilian businesses caused by the collapse of the Fundão Dam which took place in November 2015. The litigation concerns the corporate responsibility of Dual Listed Anglo-Australian Company, BHP.

Advised directors whether a multi-million pound dividend distribution could be set aside under the rule in Hastings- Bass due to unexpected tax consequences.

Advised liquidators of a charitable company and its trading subsidiary as to potential breach of duty claims against the former directors.

Access Bank v Akingbola [2012] EWHC 2148 (Comm): Instructed by Peters & Peters to assist Paul Chaisty QC defend a claim against the former group chief executive of a Nigerian bank for breach of trust and duty arising from an alleged share support scheme causing the bank to purchase its own shares.

Sophie has experience of advising liquidators of companies, LLPs and charities. Recently, led by Hugh Norbury QC, Sophie acted on behalf of Ms Prokofyeva defending dishonest assistance claims and claims under the Insolvency Act. The claims were connected to the ongoing Shlosberg litigation (e.g. ShloIsberg v Avonwick Holdings Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 1138) in which it is  alleged that Mr Shlosberg (Ms Prokofyeva’s husband) unlawfully diverted a receivable said to be worth in excess   of US$170m (Webinvest v Prokofyeva (2018)).

Z Trusts [2015] JRC 214; [2015] JRC 031; and [2015] JRC 196C: Instructed by Voisin Law in litigation involving consideration of the appropriate procedure for winding down a Jersey Trust in circumstances where the net liabilities of the trust exceed its net assets; issues of priority between former and current trustees' liens over trust assets; and the proper exercise of fiduciary powers.

Advised trustees on potential enforcement of orders in French succession proceedings over assets situated in London owned by a trust governed by Jersey law in advance of Beddoe application in Jersey.

Volaw Trustee Limited v Trustcorp (Jersey) Limited [2013] JRC 028: Instructed as junior counsel in relation to breach of trust claims against former trustees and obtained disclosure, including Norwich Pharmacal relief in Guernsey, for the purpose of investigating the same.