Our Expertise
St Pauls Chambers provides legal services throughout the UK and worldwide. We are known for providing excellence in our areas of focus.
As a leading barristers chambers in Leeds, our expertise span the depth and breadth of a number of key areas of law.
Our People
St Pauls Chambers have an excellent team of Barristers, Clerks & Administration, with our barristers including KC’s, Members and Pupils.
View our teams in full detail, or browse by expertise to find a barrister.
Call 2021
Sophie joined chambers in September 2025 following the successful completion of her pupillage.
Sophie has established a mixed practice and accepts instructions primarily in crime, family and regulatory work. Sophie regularly defends in both the magistrates and crown court and is also instructed on behalf of the Police Federation.
Prior to the commencement of pupillage, Sophie worked as a Presenting Officer, representing the Home Office in a variety of matters before the First-Tier Immigration Tribunal. Her practice has encompassed a wide array of cases including deportation and deprivation of citizenship. Sophie has experience of working with vulnerable witnesses including unaccompanied minors.
Alongside this employment, Sophie sat as a Magistrate in the Family Court as a winger, presiding over both public and private law cases. This experience has provided her with a rounded knowledge of Family Court procedure. During her studies on the bar professional training course, Sophie also volunteered for a legal advice clinic, advising in family law matters relating to children.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Sophie worked as Police Officer, on both response teams and on a local neighbourhood policing team. This experience has given her a unique insight into the criminal justice system along with the ability to confidently deal with difficult situations involving vulnerable people.
Sophie accepts instructions across the full spectrum of criminal law and is regularly instructed to appear in both the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. She acts for the prosecution and defence in cases ranging from assaults, public order and dishonesty offences to drugs, weapons and sexual offences, and is experienced in dealing with sentencing hearings, applications, trials and appeals. Sophie is known for her meticulous preparation, calm advocacy and pragmatic approach to representing clients, and is particularly adept at working with vulnerable defendants and witnesses. Drawing on her previous career as a police officer, she brings valuable insight into criminal investigations and police procedure, enabling her to identify evidential issues and provide practical, effective representation from first appearance through to trial.
Sophie accepts instructions across all aspects of children law, with a growing practice encompassing both Private Law Children and Public Law Children proceedings. She regularly represents parents, family members and local authorities in proceedings concerning child arrangements, specific issue and prohibited steps applications, as well as care and supervision proceedings.
Sophie appears at all stages of proceedings, including First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointments (FHDRAs), Case Management Hearings, Issues Resolution Hearings, interim hearings and final hearings. She has experience dealing with matters involving allegations of domestic abuse, parental conflict, substance misuse, neglect, emotional harm and safeguarding concerns.
Clients and professional lay clients value Sophie’s calm and approachable manner, particularly when representing those involved in emotionally challenging proceedings. She combines thorough preparation with practical and sensitive advocacy, ensuring that clients are fully supported throughout the litigation process. Her previous career as a police officer provides her with valuable insight into safeguarding investigations, evidential issues and multi-agency working, enabling her to navigate complex family proceedings with confidence and care.
Sophie accepts instructions in a broad range of Court of Protection matters, acting on behalf of local authorities, family members and protected parties in proceedings concerning both property and affairs and health and welfare. She is developing a practice in cases involving mental capacity, best interests decision-making, residence and care arrangements, contact disputes, deprivation of liberty and the appointment of deputies.
Sophie regularly appears at directions hearings and substantive hearings, providing clear and practical advice whilst ensuring that the interests and rights of vulnerable individuals remain at the forefront of every case. She understands the importance of balancing complex legal issues with the often sensitive personal circumstances faced by those involved in Court of Protection proceedings.
Drawing upon her previous career as a police officer, Sophie brings valuable experience of safeguarding, vulnerability and multi-agency working. Her calm, compassionate approach, combined with meticulous preparation and effective advocacy, enables her to assist both professional and lay clients in navigating what are often highly complex and emotionally demanding proceedings.
Sophie’s complementary practices in Family and Court of Protection provide her with a well-rounded understanding of safeguarding, capacity and welfare issues, enabling her to offer practical, joined-up advice in cases where these areas overlap.
Sophie accepts instructions on behalf of the Police Federation of England and Wales, representing serving and former police officers in misconduct proceedings, criminal investigations and prosecutions, and coronial inquests. She regularly advises and represents officers facing allegations arising from the execution of their duties, as well as those involved in serious incidents resulting in Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigations.
Sophie has experience appearing in misconduct hearings, criminal proceedings and inquests, providing practical, strategic advice from the earliest stages of an investigation through to final hearing. She understands the significant professional and personal impact that such proceedings can have upon officers and is committed to delivering clear, robust and supportive representation throughout.
Before coming to the Bar, Sophie served as a police officer, giving her first-hand knowledge of policing procedures, operational decision-making, use of force, arrest powers, disclosure obligations and investigative processes. This experience enables her to quickly identify the issues arising in complex cases and to provide advice that is both legally sound and grounded in the realities of frontline policing. Her combination of operational insight, careful preparation and measured advocacy makes her particularly well placed to represent police officers in challenging and high-profile proceedings.
Sophie accepts instructions across a broad range of regulatory and licensing matters, acting for individuals, businesses, licensing authorities and local authorities in proceedings arising from the exercise of statutory regulatory powers. Her practice encompasses appeals, applications and enforcement proceedings before the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and tribunals, together with advisory work where appropriate.
Sophie has experience in matters including licensing appeals, taxi and private hire licensing, firearms and shotgun certificate appeals, alcohol and premises licensing, and other regulatory proceedings involving local authorities and public bodies. She is adept at identifying the key issues in cases where public protection, regulatory compliance and individual rights must be carefully balanced.
Sophie provides practical, commercially focused advice and robust advocacy for both professional and lay clients. Her previous career as a police officer gives her a thorough understanding of the regulatory frameworks surrounding firearms licensing, public safety and licensing enforcement, together with an appreciation of the operational decision-making of public authorities. This experience enables her to deliver clear, pragmatic advice and effective representation throughout the course of proceedings.
Member of the NE Circuit
Grade 2 Prosecutor
Youth Advocacy Course Completed
Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent), BPP Leeds (2018-2020)
BA Law and Politics (First Class Degree with Honours), Queen Mary, University of London (2010-2013)
The Honourable Society of Grays Inn
Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.
St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF
For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.
The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30
Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
