Sophia Rogers

Sophia has extensive experience of private client matters. Following secondments in the Channel Islands and the Caribbean, she is also experienced in offshore private client work.

She handles a wide variety of trust cases, advising trustees and beneficiaries, including claims concerning variations, anonymity applications, removal and breach of trust claims, Public Trustee v Cooper applications, construction claims and issues concerning the invalid appointment of trustees, indemnities, amendments, changes of proper law and dealing with offshore firewalls.

She is regularly instructed in cases involving wills and estates including cases regarding testamentary capacity, knowledge and approval, undue influence, forgery, formal validity, construction and rectification of wills, foreign property, proprietary estoppel, approval of settlements, will variations and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

Her recent work includes:

• Re H (Deceased) [2020] EWHC 1134 (Fam) – Representing the adult child claimant in a successful claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act. The claim featured issues of estrangement and mental health. Notably, the court awarded a contribution towards the claimant’s CFA uplift as part of the award
• MN v OP [2019] EWCA Civ 679 – Represented the appellant (led by Robert Pearce QC) in a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal of a first instance decision refusing an anonymity order in a high-value application under the Variation of Trusts Act 1958
• Re Forged Will (2018-2020) – Acting for the defendants in a high value probate claim, challenging the validity of a will on the grounds of forgery, lack of due execution and want of knowledge and approval
• Stephens v Heng & Ors (2018) – Represented a minor and unborn beneficiaries in a construction and rectification claim to include the deceased’s sisters as beneficiaries under a will and include the deceased’s step-children in the definition of the term “issue”
• Sinden v Sinden (2018) – Acted for the defendants to an Inheritance Act 1975 claim brought by their sibling. Adult child claim in respect of a high-value estate
• Jabin v Iqbal (2016) – Acted for the claimant in a three-day trial of a TOLATA and 1975 Act claim brought by an adult daughter, with issues including interests in foreign property in Pakistan
• Mahoney v Andrews (2015) – Represented the claimant in this probate claim raising issues of knowledge and approval and domicile where the deceased lived in France and, upon settlement, appeared at the application for approval of the settlement on behalf of a minor involving a will variation
• Re Smith (Deceased) [2014] EWHC 3926 (Ch) – Assisted during pupillage with the trial of a presumed undue influence case which considered the test for capacity to make an inter vivos gift
• Re Walker Deceased [2014] EWHC 71 – Assisted during pupillage with a probate case concerning testamentary capacity and knowledge and approval in circumstances where the deceased had suffered a fatal brain tumour and psychosis, and established that the correct test for testamentary capacity is the test set out in Banks v Goodfellow
• Loring v The Woodland Trust [2013] EWHC 4400 (Ch) and [2014] EWCA Civ 1314 – Assisted during pupillage with the trial and appeal of a will construction claim addressing the impact of section 8A of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 on the passing of nil rate bands under a will.

Sophia has significant experience in insolvency and company law disputes, including claims regarding insolvent estates, bankruptcy, company and partnership insolvency and shareholder disputes.

Her recent work includes:

• Durkan v Patel [2018] EWHC 3231 (Ch) – Acted for the trustee in bankruptcy in an application to impugn transactions under sections 423, 339 and 284 of the Insolvency Act 1986
• Wastell v Bailey-Flitter (2018) – Acted for the respondents in an unfair prejudice petition between shareholders and directors of a prep school
• Re Renwick Haddow (2016-2018) – Acted for the supervisor of an IVA to obtain a bankruptcy order in respect of this high profile individual, then later appearing for the trustee in bankruptcy in obtaining a suspension of discharge and in proceedings brought by the FCA against the bankrupt
• In the Matter of Mekobia Ltd (2015 – 2016) – Represented the petitioning creditor in successfully opposing an application by the company for an injunction restraining advertisement of a winding up petition ([2015] EWHC 1380 (Ch)) and obtaining a winding up order, before successfully opposing the company’s appeal of the winding up order
• Hurd v TPL Holdings [2014] All ER (D) 266 – Assisted during pupillage with defending an application to strike out a section 994 petition.

Sophia has a busy commercial practice and is instructed in a variety of disputes including claims involving the construction and breach of contracts, bonds and guarantees.

Her recent cases include:

• Guri v Krasniqi and Neziraj (2016) – Represented the defendants in successfully striking out the claimant’s breach of contract claim in relation to the sale of a business during a fast-track trial and then successfully opposing the appeal
• Mekobia Ltd v Brandmovers Ltd [2015] EWHC 969 (Ch) – Successfully opposing an appeal in a multi-million pound breach of contract claim concerning the provision of website development services
• Re an Investment Dispute (2015) – Acted for the claimant in a high value claim against an investment company by its clients in relation to beneficial interest in certain investments
• Re a Football Club (2015) – Defended a football club in a contractual claim in relation to coaching services
• Re an Airline (2014) – Acted for an airline in a breach of contract claim concerning issues under UCTA and the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999.

Sophia has developed an expertise in professional liability claims arising in the private client sector, where she has considerable expertise in trusts, wills and estates.

Her recent cases include:

• Re Negligence in Estate Administration (2018) – Represented the claimant/executor in a claim against solicitors for negligent advice in the administration of an estate
• Re Solicitor’s Negligence in Probate Claim (2016) – Acted for the claimant in a claim against a solicitor in respect of representation in probate proceedings
• Re a Will (2015) – Advised on a claim against a will drafter in relation to drafting a will.

Sophia has experience in a wide range of property law matters, including claims under TOLATA, possession actions against residential and business tenants, licensees and mortgage possession actions.

Sophia developed experience in offshore litigation and trust disputes whilst working at leading firms in the Channel Islands and Cayman Islands.

Between August – September 2014, Sophia worked with the Ogier Litigation Team in Jersey on an extensive disclosure exercise in a complex trust dispute.

Between April – September 2015, Sophia worked on secondment as a Private Client and Trusts Consultant for Appleby in Guernsey. Whilst at Appleby, Sophia:

• Drafted trusts, foundations and a broad range of supplemental trust instruments including instruments of termination, release, indemnities, appointments, resignations, removals, changes of proper law, amendments and confirmations
• Advised trustees on the administration of trusts and provided advice on other trust related matters
• Conducted an in-depth legal review for a client trust company, which consisted of analysing trust documents, advising on liability and practical remedial steps the trustee could take to resolve the issues

Between October – December 2019, Sophia worked on secondment as a Consultant for Ogier in the Cayman Islands Litigation Team. Sophia assisted with:

• International trust disputes concerning issues of firewalls, exclusive jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands courts, beddoe relief, applications for directions, surrender of discretion to the Cayman Court and breach of trust
• High value probate matters including removal of personal representatives and construction of wills
• Company winding up proceedings.

• “Very approachable and easy to come to with questions.” “She’s very helpful, very sensible and always so thorough.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2021)
• “She is very approachable and easy to come to with questions.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2020)
• “She’s very helpful and very sensible. She’s always so thorough.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers HNW London Bar 2020)
• “Excellent attention to detail. She provides pragmatic advice and is very good at dealing with clients at conference. A very good advocate too.” (Chancery: Traditional, Chambers UK Bar 2020)

• Lincoln’s Inn Cassel Scholarship
• Lincoln’s Inn Hardwicke Award
• 2013: Bar Professional Training Course (City Law School)
• 2012: Harvard Law School – LLM
• 2011: Durham University – LLB (First Class Honours)

Prior to joining chambers, Sophia taught Contract Law to undergraduate law students at Kings College London. Whilst at Harvard Law School, Sophia served as a Submissions Editor for the Harvard International Law Journal.

• Chancery Bar Association
• COMBAR.

Read Sophia’s Privacy Notice, Data Protection Policy and Disposal Policy