Sophia Kerridge

Year of Call: 2016

Sophia is a barrister practising in all areas of criminal and regulatory law. She has experience of professional discipline and regulatory cases and a growing practice in extradition.

Our specialist clerks can be contacted by email on clerks@5sah.co.uk or phone on 020 7332 5400. To contact our Chambers Director directly in relation to a specific members’ practice, please email dscothern@5sah.co.uk

Overview

Sophia has developed a strong practice in many areas of law. She prosecutes and defends in a wide range of criminal cases and is Youth Court qualified. Sophia's experience extends to cases brought by private prosecutors involving trademark and environmental offences. She has experience of professional discipline and regulatory cases and a growing practice in extradition. Sophia also accepts instructions in family law.

Additional information

Before starting pupillage, Sophia worked at Kingsley Napley LLP as a criminal litigation paralegal. She worked on a number of significant cases involving corporate fraud, extradition and private prosecutions. Alongside this she wrote her LLM thesis on the corporate criminal liability of UK companies for violent human rights abuses overseas.

Prior to this Sophia worked for three years as a Human Rights Observer with Peace Brigades International (PBI) in Colombia and is now a Trustee for PBI UK. She also interned at NATO, where she coordinated the drafting of multinational policy papers to facilitate requests of international assistance. These documents continue to be used today.

Professional Appointments and Memberships

  • CPS External Advocates Panel (Grade 2).
  • CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: Fraud (Grade 2).
  • CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: Serious Crime (Grade 2).
  • Government Legal Department 'Junior Junior' Scheme Member.
  • Nursing and Midwifery Council Authorised Case Presenter.

Education

  • LLM (Distinction) Professional Legal Skills including BPTC, City University.
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, City University.
  • MPhil Latin American Studies, University of Oxford.
  • MA (Hons) International Relations & Spanish, University of St Andrews.

Criminal Defence

Sophia regularly defends clients in the Magistrates’, Youth, and Crown Courts. She has experience of a wide range of offences including drugs, fraud, property and violent offences. Sophia has experience of challenging unlawful searches and arrests by police, as well as opposing applications for court orders including criminal behaviour orders and confiscation orders.

Sophia is experienced in dealing with young and vulnerable defendants and witnesses including the use of intermediaries. She has completed specialist training in youth court advocacy.

Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public

Sophia is a CPS Grade 2 prosecutor, and has prosecuted trials in the Magistrates’, Youth Court and the Crown Court. She has experience of prosecuting multi-handed trials.

Sophia is also on the CPS Specialist Advocates Panel: for Fraud (Grade 2), and for Serious Crime.

Business Crime & Financial Regulation

Sophia has experience of prosecuting and defending in criminal fraud and financial crime cases. 

Sophia is on the CPS Specialist Advocates Panel for Fraud (Grade 2)

Extradition & International & Immigration

Sophia has been instructed to act on behalf of clients facing extradition to a number of countries. Her experience extends from case preparation and management to final hearings and advising on appeals to the High Court. She has a keen interest in international criminal matters.

Sophia accepts instructions in relation to Immigration matters. 

Professional Discipline & Regulatory

Sophia has previously been instructed to present cases on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council at interim order, order review and substantive hearings of varying degrees of complexity. She has also represented registrants at their interim order hearings.

Inquests & Inquiries

Sophia accepts instructions in relation to Public Inquiries and Inquests.

Family, Children & International Family

Sophia has represented applicants and respondents in non-molestation order proceedings and public law care proceedings.

Professional Memberships

  • Criminal Bar Association (CBA).
  • Young Fraud Lawyers Association (YFLA).
  • The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn (Lord Denning Scholar).

Cases of Note

Defending a young man acquitted of aggravated stalking and all lesser offences

Prosecuting and advising on a case of sexual assault on a plane

Defending a naturist acquitted of a public order offence in a case involving complex legal and human rights arguments

The prosecution of a multiple of individuals involved in laundering over half a million pounds obtained fraudulently from foreign companies

Appearing for a psychotherapist in disciplinary proceedings where he was found fit to practice despite accepting serious misconduct

Representing a mother who successfully fought for her daughter to remain living with her in the face of concerns by a social worker and opposition from the father