Landmark Chambers

Sophie is a barrister with expertise in land-related matters spanning property, planning and public law. She accepts instructions across Chambers' areas of practice with a specialist interest in the use of land and Chancery (traditional and commercial) issues.

Her notable recent work includes:

• Sole counsel for the successful Respondent in a two-day trial in the Land Registration Division of the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) addressing joint ownership, proprietary estoppel, and common intention constructive trusts in the domestic consumer context against a controversial factual background. The judgment is available here.

• Sole counsel for the successful Appellant developer in a planning enforcement inquiry brought on grounds (d), (f) and (g) of s.174 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against a Notice alleging material change of use from a single dwellinghouse to four flats. The Decision Letter was issued only three days after the inquiry closed and can be found here.

• Junior counsel (led by Justin Bates KC) for the Respondent in the Court of Appeal seeking to uphold the decision of the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) in Assethold Ltd v 159-167 Prince of Wales Road RTM Co Ltd [2023] UKUT 220 (LC), [2024] L. & T.R. 2 concerning estoppel and RTM costs under section 88 of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

• Representing landlords, tenants and executors in complex residential and commercial possession proceedings regarding tenancies under the Housing Acts 1980, Housing Act 1988 and both Parts I and II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

• Drafting and advising on pleadings, notices and counter-notices on enfranchisement, right to manage and rights of first refusal under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, Landlord and Tenant Act 1987, Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 and Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.

• Advising tenants on how to protect their use of communal gardens from both a property and planning perspective, including advice on strategy for opposing the landlord’s intended rooftop development.

• Advising a local authority on whether it holds open space land on statutory or charitable trusts, as well as the validity of restrictive covenants purportedly granted pursuant to section 33 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and their modification under section 84 of the Law of Property Act 1925.

• Planning enforcement in the Magistrates’ Court for both prosecution and defence, from first appearance to trial.

• Advising and representing in court landowners in neighbour disputes regarding nuisance, easements, water rights, and trespass.

• Advising on the enforceability of section 106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 planning obligations imposed upon leasehold land.

Sophie is an editor of the Encyclopedia of Housing Law and Practice (Sweet & Maxwell) and has previously assisted with Snell’s Equity (Sweet & Maxwell) and Land Law: Text, Cases and Materials (OUP).

Sophie is a member of the Attorney General’s “junior junior” scheme and acts for both claimants and defendants.

Sophie joined Chambers in October 2023 following the successful completion of pupillage. She was supervised by Simon Allison, Richard Turney and Alex Goodman KC developing a broad practice in line with Chambers profile. During pupillage, Sophie worked on cases across Landmark’s core practice areas with particular expertise in property litigation, planning appeals, hearings and inquiries, judicial review, and public rights of access to land.

Before joining Landmark, Sophie graduated from the University of Oxford with first-class undergraduate and postgraduate Law degrees receiving numerous academic scholarships and prizes. As a student, she won the Landmark Chambers Property Law Mooting Competition 2018.

After graduation, Sophie worked in academia as a Research Assistant and Admissions Tutor at the University of Oxford. She undertook complex research into all areas of property law, landlord and tenant, equity and trusts, and the overlap between property law and human rights. She assisted with the new editions of the practitioners’ text Snell’s Equity (Sweet & Maxwell) and textbook Land Law: Text, Cases and Materials (OUP). Sophie specialised in ‘post-Grenfell’ fire safety issues, service charges and the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 as an editor of and contributor to the University’s Housing After Grenfell Blog, a forum for discussion about housing and law-related matters with a particular emphasis on fire safety. She edited and managed the University’s Property Law Blog, a platform for debating property theory, land law, trusts, equity, personal property, charities, landlord and tenant and housing.

Sophie also worked as a Legal Support Assistant at Matrix Chambers. In this role she gained extensive experience as a legal researcher, working on commercial, civil, public and human rights matters at a leading set. Sophie worked closely with the Practice Management team, gaining insight into client relations and the internal workings of chambers. As a result, Sophie is well-placed to provide an all-round service to clients. She also edited and contributed to the UK Supreme Court Blog.

Qualifications

• University of Law – Bar Practice Course (Outstanding)

• University of Oxford, University College – Bachelor of Civil Law (Distinction)

• University of Oxford, University College – BA Law (First Class).

Scholarships

• Lord Justice Holker Award, Gray’s Inn – a merit-based award covering all fees and costs of the Bar Practice Course

• Residential Scholarship, Gray’s Inn – a merit-based award pursuant to which Sophie lived in the Inn free of charge during her Bar Practice Course

• Advocacy Scholarship, University of Law – awarded in recognition of exceptional oral and written advocacy skills leading to Sophie’s appointment as the Master of Moots

• Scholar and Exhibitioner, University College, University of Oxford – awarded in recognition of First Class performance across all three years of undergraduate study.

Awards

• John and Ruth Deech Prize – awarded for highest performing University College, University of Oxford student in Land Law

• Winner of Landmark Chambers Property Law Mooting Competition 2018

• Winner of Allen & Overy Roman Law Mooting Competition 2016.

Publications

• Editor – Encyclopedia of Housing Law and Practice

• Gibson, S. and Hembling, B. (2021) Fire Safety Claims: What you need to know and where to start. Published on the Housing After Grenfell blog website