Sophie Watson

Called 2021

About

Sophie has a growing practice specialising in personal injury, clinical negligence, inquests, and court of protection.

Before joining chambers, Sophie worked as a paralegal at top-rated national law firm in the Healthcare Litigation Department. Sophie managed her own case load of pre-action clinical negligence cases on behalf of NHS Resolution. Sophie now regularly acts in conference, and drafts advices and pleadings as part of her developing clinical negligence practice.

Sophie is regularly instructed to act at inquest. Sophie recently acted on behalf of a family in which the coroner made a finding of neglect.

Sophie also accepts instructions in various personal injury matters, including:

  • Occupier’s liability
  • Public liability
  • Employer’s liability
  • Road traffic accidents

 

Sophie is well acquainted with drafting pleadings and advising on such matters in respect of both liability and quantum.

Sophie accepts instructions in Court of Protection matters. She regularly acts on behalf the local authorities in health and welfare matters, typically arising from section 21A.

 

Areas of Expertise

Sophie regularly drafts pleadings and advices, and advises in conference in clinical negligence matters.

Sophie has previous experience, during her time as a paralegal, of managing pre-action cases, advising on liability and quantum, and assisting with conferences, settlement meetings, and trials.

 

 

Sophie is regularly instructed in road traffic accident, employers’ liability and public liability cases.

She has prepared numerous advices on liability, quantum, and pleadings in these areas.

Sophie represents parties at Inquest on a regular basis. Some of her notable cases include:

Representing the family in a matter of a 68 year old who tragically died from a bowel perforation which led to septicaemia. The coroner gave the conclusion of natural causes contributed to by neglect. Link to article here.

Representing a family of a 84 year old woman who died due to a brain haemorrhage following a fall in hospital. The Coroner found that the Trusts admitted shortcomings in care had more than minimally, negligibly, or trivially contributed to her death.

Representing a family of a 65 year old woman who died due to early cessation of antibiotics which led to the development of sepsis. The Coroner made a finding that there had been missed opportunities on the part of the hospital to advise the Deceased to continue the course of antibiotics.

Sophie is regularly instructed in matters involving credit hire. She is well versed with the core issues.

Sophie has a growing court of protection practice in health and welfare matters. She is regularly instructed by local authorities in section 21A applications.

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Leeds and District Medico Legal Society

Personal Injuries Bar Association

 

LLB Law, University of Hull – First Class (2016)

LLM Criminal Justice and Criminal Law, University of Leeds – Distinction (2018)

Bar Professional Training Course, BPP University – Very Competent (2020)

University of Hull Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship

University of Leeds Liberty Scholarship

John L Lambert Prize in Criminal Law and CPS Prize in Criminal Law