Sophie Marquand

Profile

During pupillage, Sophie has gained experience of all Chambers’ practice areas, including:

Property (including Social Housing and Landlord & Tenant):

  • Possession proceedings on all grounds for both public and private landlords;
  • Anti-social behaviour injunctions;
  • Access injunctions;
  • Disrepair proceedings;
  • Homelessness proceedings;
  • Capacity issues;
  • Claims under the Environmental Protection Act;
  • Adverse Possession;
  • Defences under the Equality Act.

Commercial:

  • Bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, including advising on matters where there are issues of transactions at an undervalue and transactions defrauding creditors
  • Contractual disputes, including both small claims and higher value disputes
  • Company law matters, including shareholder disputes
  • Employment law matters, including claims for direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation, harassment, detriments relating to protected disclosure, enforcing restrictive covenants in employment contracts

Prior to pupillage, Sophie worked for two years as a Graduate Lawyer (Awaiting English Bar Qualification) in the International Arbitration team of a leading US law firm. She worked on high value, complex commercial disputes including energy sector, shareholder, shipping and product liability matters.

Arbitration and previous commercial experience:

  • Representing the claimant in multiple arbitrations (LCIA) arising out of shareholder agreements related to family businesses.
  • Representing the claimant in a consolidated series of arbitrations (LMAA) relating to the sale of ten commercial shipping vessels.
  • Representing the respondent in an arbitration (ICC) arising out of contracts for the supply and sale of iron ore pellets.
  • Representing the respondent in an arbitration (ICC) arising out of a long-term Joint Venture Agreement.
  • Representing a regional government of a Middle Eastern state in a commercial arbitration (LCIA) in relation to gas extraction projects.
  • Advising an arbitrator in relation to s.72 Arbitration Act 1996 in an arbitration (LCIA) regarding the breach of an interface agreement between a railway holding company and two national governments.
  • Advising a regional government of a Middle Eastern state regarding a crude oil purchase and sale contract.
  • Advising a regional government of a Middle Eastern state regarding oil and gas shipping contracts.
  • Advising a client regarding a licence agreement dispute for medical technology.
  • Leading on a long-term, multi-jurisdictional pro bono project concerning product liability in the cosmetics industry.

Background:

Alongside her legal studies, Sophie volunteered with the University of Law’s Legal Advice Clinics where she worked on housing, probate, employment and company law issues. She also volunteered as an advocate for the School Exclusion Project, representing permanently excluded school students and their parents at governors’ and local authority hearings.

Sophie has also taught debating and public speaking skills to marginalised members of the community (Second Chance Project) and in prisons (Vocalise).

Before converting to law Sophie worked as a Parliamentary Researcher and Speech Writer in the Houses of Parliament. In this role, Sophie’s work included advising on constituency cases relating to housing allocation schemes and housing prioritisation. She also worked as a freelance Academic Researcher.

Qualifications:

  • BA (Hons) Theology & Religion, Durham University
  • MSc Social Anthropology (Contemporary Religion), London School of Economics & Political Science (Distinction)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Law, London (Distinction)
  • BPC, University of Law, London

Scholarships/Prizes:

  • Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP: Recognition for 100+ hours of pro bono work (2024)
  • Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution Negotiation Competition: National Finalist (2022)
  • University of Law Negotiation Competition: Winner (2022)
  • Human Rights Lawyers Association Judicial Review Moot: Semi-finalist (top 8/195) (2021)
  • University of Law: London Senior Advocacy Scholarship (2021)
  • University of Law: Career Changer Scholarship (BPC) (2021)
  • University of Law: Full Career Changer Scholarship (GDL) (2020)
  • London School of Economics: Anniversary Scholarship (2018)
  • Gray’s Inn: Treasurer’s Award (2018)

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