Sophie is a Principal Associate in the Real Estate disputes team with substantial experience of acting for landlords, tenants, portfolio holders, investors and developers in connection with a broad spectrum of contentious commercial property issues including rent review, joint ventures, service charge, building safety, lease renewals, trespassers, dilapidations, break notices, development constraints, business rates, telecoms, contested boundaries, rights of light and adverse possession.

Her experience includes advising:

• A national housebuilder in connection with a dispute under a complex collaboration agreement;
• A leading developer in connection with identifying and resolving constraints at a key development site including rights of light and telecoms issues;
• A blue-chip occupier in connection with the interpretation of a contentious rent review covenant and its application;
• Two of the country’s leading shopping centres in relation to all aspects of estate management including lease renewals in the context of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954, debt recovery, insolvency, dilapidations, service charge and forfeiture;
• A national household name in connection with a high-value dilapidations claim, notably with regards to reducing liability under section 18 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1927;
• A major investment fund in respect of its large portfolio of office, retail and industrial properties, notably with regards to tenant management and default;
• A global telecommunications company in relation to its telecoms mast sites, including strategic advice in relation to the Telecommunications Code and the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954;
• A Government institution in relation to a complex joint venture dispute and subsequent settlement; and
• A national institution in relation to a rates dispute with the valuation office agency.

Sophie trained with DLA Piper then spent the first four years of her career in the Real Estate disputes team at DAC Beachcroft. She joined Shoosmiths’ Real Estate litigation practice in August 2014.

Sophie is a member of the Property Litigation Association.

Education
BA (Hons) English Literature - University of Leeds
Graduate Diploma in Law - BPP Law School, Manchester
Legal Practice Course - BPP Law School, Manchester