Sophie Firth
Sophie Firth is an excellent advocate who fought our corner.
Chambers and Partners (2026) - Employment (Band 3)
About
Sophie is a specialist employment barrister. Her practice includes all areas of employment law, from whistleblowing to wages and everything in between.
She is recommended in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for employment law.
The guides say she is “everything one wants in a barrister”. She has been described as “an outstanding advocate”, “commercially astute” and “fiercely bright”.
Sophie prides herself on being approachable to clients, and explaining complex legal concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
She is a member of Parklane Plowden’s equality and diversity committee. She also does pro bono work via the Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Scheme (ELIPS) and Employment Law Appeal Advice Scheme (ELAAS).
In her spare time, Sophie enjoys playing football (badly) and, when she can get away, snowboarding and surfing (also badly).
Areas of Expertise
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Accolades
Sophie Firth
She was an outstanding advocate who advised meticulously on the areas of appeal as well as achieving a successful outcome at the original hearing.
Chambers and Partners (2026) - Employment (Band 3)
About
Sophie is a specialist employment barrister. Her practice includes all areas of employment law, from whistleblowing to wages and everything in between.
She is recommended in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 for employment law.
The guides say she is “everything one wants in a barrister”. She has been described as “an outstanding advocate”, “commercially astute” and “fiercely bright”.
Sophie prides herself on being approachable to clients, and explaining complex legal concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
She is a member of Parklane Plowden’s equality and diversity committee. She also does pro bono work via the Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Scheme (ELIPS) and Employment Law Appeal Advice Scheme (ELAAS).
In her spare time, Sophie enjoys playing football (badly) and, when she can get away, snowboarding and surfing (also badly).
Sophie is an experienced employment lawyer who acts for both Claimants and Respondents in the public and private sector.
She is frequently instructed by NHS Trusts, and other examples of her recent clients include a major national broadcaster, an employment solicitor bringing claims against her former employer and a firm of solicitors being sued by a former Partner.
Sophie is frequently instructed in complex discrimination cases in relation to various protected characteristics, including disability and gender reassignment.
She has significant experience in dealing with whistleblowing claims, including interim relief.
Sophie also has experience of the more technical aspects of employment law, including TUPE, equal pay, the National Minimum Wage Regulations and the Working Time Regulations.
Some examples of her recent work:
- Fernandez v Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust 2304390/2023 (for the Respondent) – successfully defended constructive unfair dismissal and discrimination case relating to proposed mandatory covid vaccination for healthcare workers
- Irwin v Experian Limited 2601913/2020 (for the Respondent) – successfully defended menopause-related discrimination case
- Hosni v Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 2602063/2022 (for the Respondent) – successfully defended race discrimination claims brought by a consultant anaesthetist. The Respondent was also successful in obtaining costs against the Claimant
- Al-Jehani v the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and UCL 2207672/2020 (for the Claimant) – complex and sensitive whistleblowing case involving over 100 alleged protected disclosures relating to the suspected commercialisation of human organs
- Mehat v Mehat Six Bells Limited 1600414/2023 (for the Claimant) – successfully represented a wife in a claim under the National Minimum Wage regulations who, despite working at least 40 hours per week in her husband’s family’s convenience shop was never paid a wage. Tribunal held that the family business exception in s58 of the Regulations does not apply limited companies – understood to be the first case to consider that issue
- Kennedy v Spooner Industries Ltd 1804904/2021 (for the Claimant) – successfully resisted Respondent’s material factor defence in equal value claim
- Acting for a firm of solicitors in pregnancy/sex discrimination, victimisation and constructive dismissal claims brought by a former partner
- Acting for an employment solicitor in a large regional law firm ranked in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners bringing a disability discrimination and victimisation claim against her former employer
- Acting for a major national broadcaster in discrimination claims involving allegations against high-profile individuals
- Advising a commercial cleaning company on whether a school caretaker had TUPE transferred to its employ from the school
- Acting for an NHS Trust in a claim brought by an on-call employee under the National Minimum Wage Regulations and the Working Time Regulations
- Advising a residential training provider on how to avoid discriminating against trans and non-binary applicants and employees
Sophie is an employment specialist with extensive experience of dealing with unfair dismissal cases at Tribunal, where investigatory processes come under scrutiny.
She is part of the Investigations team and is keen to develop her practice in this area. She happy to accept instructions regarding internal workplace investigations, disciplinary procedures and grievances.
Chambers and Partners (2026) - Employment (Band 3) - "She was an outstanding advocate who advised meticulously on the areas of appeal as well as achieving a successful outcome at the original hearing." "Sophie Firth is an excellent advocate who fought our corner."
The Legal 500 (2026) - Employment (Tier 2) - "Sophie is commercially astute, well reasoned, and reassuring to clients. She is strong on all fronts. Clients will be particularly impressed by her advice notes, which clearly set out key issues, risks, and the recommended approach. She is loved by both public and private sector clients."
Chambers and Partners (2025) - Employment (Band 3) - "She has a phenomenal brain and works really, really hard. She's going to be a star of the future." "Sophie is exceptionally well prepared and offers clients pragmatic advice that is detailed and identifies risks. She is a go-to for cases involving complex gender identities or belief discrimination." "She was easy to work with, kept me updated and put our client and witnesses at ease. She grasps issues extremely well and achieves very good outcomes."
Legal 500 (2025) - Employment (Tier 2) - "Sophie is responsive, tenacious and very technically adept. She is a measured and robust advocate.'"
Chambers and Partners (2024) - Employment (Band 3) - "Sophie is very technically and commercially aware and her advice is always strong. Sophie is good with clients and a sound advocate in Tribunal." "I've always been very impressed by her enthusiasm and tenacity."
Legal 500 (2024) - Employment (Tier 2) - "She is always well-prepared, diligent and thorough in her work. An impressive cross-examiner who knows how to get to the nub of an issue."
Chambers and Partners (2023) - Employment (Up and Coming) - "Sophie Firth has built a strong reputation for her work in National Minimum Wage Regulations claims, as well as offering experience in gender reassignment discrimination matters. She is a well-regarded barrister who is active in all areas of employment law."
Legal 500 (2023) - Employment (Tier 2) - "Sophie is fiercely bright, astute and has the ability to get right to the heart of the issue. A strong advocate with an intimate knowledge of all aspects of employment law. Her advice is commercially sound."
Chambers and Partners (2022) - Employment (Up and Coming) -"She's tenacious, good with clients, robust, positive and enthusiastic. She's everything one wants in a barrister." "Always well prepared, willing to give an invaluably definitive opinion on a case and willing to go the extra mile in preparation for the hearing."
Legal 500 (2022) - Employment (Tier 2) - "A confident and effective cross-examiner who provides comprehensive and detailed advice."
ELA
PIBA
Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
BA (Hons) English, University of Cambridge - First Class (2009); MA (Cantab).
GDL and BPTC, BPP Law School Leeds (2013-2014).
