Sophie Ashford

Sophie benefits from advising both insurers and policyholders.

Examples of her recent work include:

• David Wood Baking (UK) Limited v QBE & Ors (Comm): representing the policyholder in a c.£100 million insurance coverage dispute arising out of a substantial fire at a commercial premises. The matter proceeded on an expedited basis and settled shortly before trial (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
• Advising a policyholder in relation to a multi-million insurance coverage dispute arising out of a substantial fire (led by Daniel Shapiro KC).
• Instructed (as sole counsel) by the director of a private equity company in relation to a D&O Policy in a circa £5 million dispute.
• Advising an insurer in relation to an insurance coverage dispute arising from historic construction projects and the Building Safety Act 2022 (led by Daniel Shapiro KC)
• Advising an insurer on a potentially fraudulent claim brought in relation to water damage.
• Advising an insurer regarding a potential fraud invocation in relation to a claim for alleged malicious damage and theft.
• Advising in relation to a c.$1.5million coverage dispute. The case includes consideration of estoppel.
• Advising in relation to a coverage dispute after insurers declined to provide an indemnity for property damage arising following tenant misuse of the property.
• Advising in relation to a c.£1 million coverage dispute arising following a fire at a commercial block of flats.
• Advising and drafting particulars in relation to a coverage dispute after insurers declined to provide an indemnity for water damage due to alleged breach of occupancy conditions.

Sophie has a broad commercial litigation and international arbitration practice. She is regularly instructed in general contractual commercial disputes involving the sale of goods, the supply of goods and services, debt claims, commission agreements and unjust enrichment. Examples of her own recent work include:

• Acting for the claimant in a dispute relating to the provision of IT services.
• Drafting a defence for the freeholder in a case involving unpaid invoices and defective building works. The matter engaged questions of privity of contract and agency.
• Drafting pleadings in relation to unpaid commission. The claim involved advising on misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
• Acting as junior counsel for the Claimants at the disclosure stage of Munícipio de Mariana and others v BHP Group in their class action for damages caused by the collapse of the Fundão Dam in Brazil.

Before joining Chambers, Sophie built up significant experience working on high value claims as a trainee solicitor at a US commercial law firm. For example, she worked on

• a deceit claim brought before the Commercial Court arising out of a private equity investment;
• an urgent application for a worldwide freezing injunction; and
• jurisdiction and enforcement advice for a large social media company; and
• international arbitration proceedings in relation to an LNG sale and purchase agreement

Sophie spent six months on secondment to the in-house legal team at Nestle UK where she provided advice on a range of commercial matters. This included leading negotiations to recover costs caused by a supplier’s breach of the contract, preparing updates for the board in relation to litigation and assisting with contesting a trademark claim.

Sophie’s recent experience in property damage claims includes:

• Advising a freeholder in relation to water damage allegedly caused to a neighbouring property.
• Drafting particulars of claim in a six-figure claim for property damage arising from an escape of water in a large domestic property.
• Drafting particulars of claim in cases arising out of tree root subsidence.
• Advising a company in relation to a significant escape of water at a sports stadium.
• Advising a gas provider in a claim arising from damage caused to a gas main during construction works (during pupillage).

Sophie benefits from experience gained as a trainee solicitor in the White & Case London commercial litigation and international arbitration teams in London and in Singapore where she worked on a number of multi-jurisdictional construction cases.

Sophie is led by Carlo Taczalski in a £multi-million dispute advising the fund that invested in a hotel development in claims brought against the engineer and designer in respect of multiple defects following the insolvency of the main contractor.

Sophie was instructed as junior counsel by the Claimants at the disclosure stage of Munícipio de Mariana and others v BHP Group (the Fundao Dam disaster litigation).

Sophie has provided written advice in relation to:

• Allegations made against solicitors for failing to issue proceedings against the correct parties.
• Allegations made against solicitors in relation to the scope of work in a £multi-million property transaction.
• Allegations made against solicitors for failing to provide correct advice on limitation resulting in the inability to bring parts of a claim.
• Allegations made against a master thatcher.

Sophie is growing this area of her practice and is a member of Sport Resolutions Pro Bono Service.

Recent examples of her work include:

• Advising a footballer in relation to a claim made under an insurance policy.
• Successfully striking out a claim brought against a sports club stemming from an individual’s expulsion from the club.

Sophie’s personal injury practice spans RTAs, Employers’ Liability and Public Liability claims. She is often instructed in claims where fraud and/or fundamental dishonesty is in issue. Sophie’s recent work includes:

• Successfully defending the owner of a children’s play area in an Occupiers Liability Act case.
• Setting aside judgment in default and resisting a costs order in a case brought by a claimant who had alleged an injury against her employer.
• Representing a well known hotel after a visitor sustained bed bug bites.
• Representing a school in relation to a teacher bringing a Covid-19 related claim against her employer.
• Advising and drafting defences for local authorities in claims arising from alleged hazards on the road or pavement.
• Successfully representing a school in relation to a claim brought by an employee who sustained an injury in the workplace.

Sophie benefits from pupillage seats with Jack Macaulay, David Myhill and Helen Pagett. For example, she assisted Jack Macaulay as a pupil with Compton v TDR Groundworks and others: a 4 day trial in a HAVS case securing a finding of fundamental dishonesty.

Whilst working as a judicial assistant Sophie worked on Paramount Shopfitting Company Ltd v Rix [2021] EWCA Civ 1172, a mesothelioma claim which assessed a widow’s dependency where the deceased had built up a substantial family business.

Inquests

Sophie acted as sole counsel in a three-week jury inquest. The inquest concerned the death of a 24-year old man on the same day he was released from police custody. Sophie acted for a healthcare professional. At the conclusion of the inquest the Coroner ruled that it would not be safe for the jury to find that the acts or omissions of police officers or healthcare professionals had probably caused or contributed to the death and withdrew the issue from the jury. The healthcare professional was not criticised during the inquest and no Regulation 28 report was issued. The case received national press coverage:

BBC News

Wales Online

Sophie has also acted for care homes in relation to the deaths of residents.