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Sophie Beesley

Call: 2012

"Sophie is simply one of the most impressive clinical negligence juniors. She is meticulously prepared, a clear thinker and a persuasive advocate. She has developed an outstanding practice in claimant clinical negligence work."

The Legal 500 2024

"Sophie is absolutely excellent: she has very good tactical awareness in putting a case together. She is also able to empathise well with clients."

Chambers & Partners 2024

"Sophie is highly astute. She is an excellent tactician." "She gives straightforward, intelligent and practical advice. She is very good with clients as she is empathetic but also has a good sense of authority. She approaches cases in a helpful, positive and practical way."

Chambers & Partners 2023

"Sophie is one of the most impressive junior barristers doing claimant clinical negligence work at the Bar, with an impressive work ethic."

The Legal 500 2023

Overview

Sophie was called to the Bar in July 2012 and joined Old Square Chambers in October 2013. She specialises in clinical negligence and personal injury cases, and inquests. Sophie’s only defence work is through her appointment to the Attorney General’s B panel where she represents the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence and Home Office in similar cases, and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in public law matters. Sophie is ranked in both the UK’s leading legal directories, Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. Sophie sits as a Deputy District Judge.

Sophie’s particular interest is in sensitive cases where clients are vulnerable or affected by trauma. Her current cases include childbirth deaths and injuries, stillbirths, preventable suicides, management of mental health in outpatient settings, post-traumatic stress disorder (with a focus on the Armed Forces and in the context of sexual abuse and violence), modern slavery and inquests and fatal accidents, including murders in immigration detention and probation hostels.

Sophie’s original degree was in psychology. She came to the Bar after a successful career with Deloitte and The Prince’s Trust. She was deputy director of a domestic violence legal pro-bono service, a magistrate and bench chair for over ten years, and established and still runs a charity supporting a children’s home in South Africa. In 2018, supported by the Pegasus Trust, Sophie undertook human rights cases in Australia for the Aboriginal Legal Service. In 2019/20, she was sole counsel to the Paterson Inquiry.

This background underpins the recognition Sophie has received for building trust between clients, solicitors and experts, and for responsive and reliable client care.

In her free time Sophie enjoys being outdoors. Her family are from Cornwall where she escapes to the coast path. She loves sailing and has competed in the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Her partner is a talented chef and Sophie enjoys eating his efforts. The dream is of a bolthole by the sea and a dog (small disagreement as to whether that will be an Italian Greyhound or an Alsatian).

Appointments

  • 2017 Attorney General’s C Panel of Counsel to the Crown
  • 2021 Attorney General’s B Panel of Counsel to the Crown

Qualifications

  • First Class BSc Psychology Degree (Hons) from the University of Warwick.
  • Outstanding on the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
  • Distinction in the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
  • ADR Group Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator
  • Certificate in Counselling Skills from City University, London

Prizes

  • 2018 Pegasus Scholarship to undertake legal voluntary work abroad
  • 2012 Lincoln’s Inn Student of the Year for achieving the highest BPTC result
  • 2012 Bristol Law School prize for achieving the highest BPTC result
  • 2012 Carol Crowdy prize for the highest mark in the BPTC Civil Litigation and Evidence module
  • Winner of 2012 Albion Chambers’ family advocacy and criminal advocacy competitions
  • Winner of 2012 Guildhall Chambers’ civil & commercial advocacy competition
  • Winner of 2012 Master’s award in the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators national mediation competition
  • 2012 Lincoln’s Inn Megarry scholarship
  • 2011 Lincoln’s Inn Lord Denning scholarship (major BPTC award)

Professional Recommendations

“Sophie provides clear and concise advice and has a great eye for detail.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Sophie is absolutely excellent: she has very good tactical awareness in putting a case together. She is also able to empathise well with clients.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“She has the benefit of being extremely clever and incredibly empathetic. She is a strategic thinker who always gets great results, and is well prepared for conferences and hearings.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Sophie is an all-rounder, seemingly capable of dealing with any clinical negligence case, and always to a very high standard.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“She is thorough and thoughtful in her conclusions on cases and instantly puts the client at ease with her clear knowledge and expertise ultimately leading to successful outcomes.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Sophie is brilliant with clients, making them involved and empowered whilst guiding them through difficult and complex medicine and legal reasoning.”

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Sophie gives detailed and practical advice. She is approachable and very responsive. She has impressive attention to detail and fantastic quantum skills.”

The Legal 500 2024

“Sophie is simply one of the most impressive clinical negligence juniors. She is meticulously prepared, a clear thinker and a persuasive advocate. She has developed an outstanding practice in claimant clinical negligence work.”

The Legal 500 2024

“She gives straightforward, intelligent and practical advice. She is very good with clients as she is empathetic but also has a good sense of authority. She approaches cases in a helpful, positive and practical way.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Sophie’s quantum skills and exceptional attention to detail make her stand out.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Sophie is highly astute. She is an excellent tactician.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“She has an astonishing work ethic.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Sophie is able to put clients at ease in what can be a very difficult and stressful situation for them.”

Chambers & Partners 2023

“Sophie is one of the most impressive junior barristers doing claimant clinical negligence work at the Bar, with an impressive work ethic.”

The Legal 500 2023

“Sophie is incredibly impressive. She is a dedicated and efficient worker. She achieves wonderful results for claimants in clinical negligence claims.” “‘ Sophie is a consummate professional- an astute and thorough advocate, always well prepared and knowledgeable but also empathetic, sensitive and warm with clients. Clients feel readily assured that they are in safe hands.”

The Legal 500 2022

“She is incredibly bright, always thoroughly prepared and approachable to both clients and solicitors. She is also very tactically astute.” “Always on top of the issues and her emotionally intelligent approach means that clients respond well to her.” “Provides a very high standard of opinions and advocacy in court.” “She has excellent quantum skills and very good attention to detail.”

Chambers & Partners 2022

“She develops a good rapport with her clients which helps put them at ease. She’s also very impressive on her feet and her written work is exceptional.” “She’s very brave, very quick and works to a high standard.” “Very approachable and thorough.” “A very good advocate. She is clear and fair.”

Chambers & Partners 2021

“Sophie is technically excellent, with strong legal knowledge far beyond her years call. She is loved by clients given her personable, courteous and compassionate nature. However, get her in the courtroom or in a negotiation with the other side and she is a force to be reckoned with.” “Combines strong legal knowledge and technical ability with excellent client skills.”

The Legal 500 2021

“Identifies the issues quickly and has a lively manner with clients. She’s sensitive in her dealings with them while giving clear and sound advice.” “Very impressive, thorough and detailed. A safe pair of hands.” “She’s intelligent, clear, approachable and very quick in responding to instructions. She’s good at dealing with both clients and experts.”

Chambers & Partners 2020

“A very fine advocate who is very good on her feet.” “Very client-friendly and very personable.” “Very meticulous in the way she drafts documents, very engaging with clients and very proactive.”

Chambers & Partners 2019

Expertise

Clinical Negligence & Personal Injury

Inquests & Inquiries

Administrative and Public Law


Recent and current work

Key contacts

Evie Cocker

Junior Team Leader Assistant
Evie Cocker Telephone Clerk020 7269 0300 Email Clerk
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Out of hours

William Meade (Senior Clerk)

07970 649 755