Commercial Dispute Resolution, Insurance & Reinsurance, Life & Health, Professional Negligence, Property Damage
Sonia took silk in 2023, having long been recommended as a leading junior in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. She is an experienced commercial dispute practitioner specialising in insurance, professional negligence and property damage. The directories have described her as an “an impressive advocate” who is “forensic, sensible and pragmatic,” is “really collaborative” and “understands the key drivers for clients in terms of commercial awareness.”
Sonia is equally at home whether leading or performing her role in a team, acting as advocate and negotiator, and advising clients on sensitive issues and tough tactical decisions. Her focus is always on helping clients to identify and achieve their best commercial, professional and personal outcomes, both in and beyond litigation.
Sonia has been involved in a succession of high-profile cases, up to and including the Supreme Court.
Over the years she has litigated damage claims of all kinds involving product liability, domestic and commercial fires, explosions, floods, collapses, subsidence, landslips, and claims involving arson and defective design, products and working methods. She has developed a significant practice in nuisances arising from the spread of fire, escape of dangerous substances, and those involving loss of amenity, business interruption and financial loss. She has litigated many damage claims with a real property element, such as interference with easements, trespass and reinstatement/insurance issues between landlord and tenant.
Sonia has a lively commercial litigation practice, and has been instructed in numerous commercial disputes, including arbitral proceedings, raising issues including: employee or director fraud; breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, knowing receipt, dishonest assistance, conspiracy, conversion and receipt of bribes; the construction and validity of contracts, including penalty, liquidated damage, evergreen and insolvency clauses; construction of joint venture agreements and of letters of credit; undue influence and capacity issues; directors’ duties, partnership disputes and shareholder disputes.
Her insurance practice includes coverage issues, policy construction, fraudulent/exaggerated claims, with a particular expertise in life/health insurance.
Professional negligence is usually related to her other fields of expertise and comprises claims against insurance brokers, legal professionals and construction professionals.
Sonia is a Barrister Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple, acts as its Senior Bench Auditor and is Chair of its Finance Committee. In this role she has oversight of the finances of all 9 of the Inn’s departments. She has served on the Inn’s Executive Committee for more than a decade, acquiring considerable experience of the corporate governance of an organisation which is both a large members’ association and a commercial landlord in the City of London.