Sophie Smith

Sophie specialises in all aspects of family law and is frequently instructed in complex multi party cases involving serious allegations on behalf of parents, extended family members, children through their guardians, official solicitor and intervenors.

Before specialising in family law Sophie practised extensively in criminal law, acting for defendants and on behalf of the prosecution in cases involving serious offences including violence, rape and serious sexual assault. This background has given her extensive experience in dealing with similar issues in the family Court particularly those cases involving allegations of sexual abuse and non accidental injury.

Having dealt with numerous cases requiring the cross-examination of children and vulnerable witnesses this skill has transferred into her sensitive handling of witnesses and clients within the family jurisdiction. Sophie is experienced in representing clients with vulnerabilities and cognitive difficulties and frequently deals with cases that involve serious mental illness such as personality disorders.

Areas of Work

Within Public law, Sophie undertakes all aspects of care work, including removal of a child, placement and adoption orders. She has a particular interest in finding of fact hearings particularly those of alleged abuse and non-accidental injury to a child. Sophie was lead in Re AA (children) 25 ors (2019) EWFC, for the first respondent in the largest public law family case to have been litigated before Sir Mark Hedley involving serious historic inter familial sexual abuse allegations and she is frequently instructed as Junior counsel in the High Court. Other areas of expertise include;

• cases involving drugs, alcohol abuse and chronic neglect
• cases involving domestic violence
• fictitious illness
• female genital mutilation
• Secure accommodation
• removal from the jurisdiction.

Sophie practices in all areas of private law, including Applications for child arrangements orders, prohibitive steps order, specific issue order, removal from the jurisdiction, enforcement applications and cases involving alleged parental alienation. She regularly deals with finding of fact hearings and am frequently instructed on behalf of a child through their guardian.