Sophie Kemp

Sophie is a barrister specialising in public, regulatory and professional discipline law. In Chambers UK 2012 Sophie is recommended as up and coming in Professional Discipline and Regulatory where she is “pinpointed for her ‘solid and thoughtful’ approach to sensitive cases.”

Public Law

Sophie advises individuals and organisations on judicial review, inquests, public policy, data protection and FOIA. She acted for the Law Society in its judicial review of regulations restricting the costs recoverable by acquitted defendants and was a member of the team acting for relatives of victims in the 7/7 Inquest. Sophie acts for regulatory bodies in statutory appeals to the High Court and also advises organisations on regulatory and complaints procedures.

Regulatory and Professional Discipline

Sophie has considerable experience acting for individuals and regulatory bodies in Fitness to Practise and misconduct cases. She is one of the lead advocates representing the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)(formerly the Health Professions Council (HPC) before its Fitness to Practise panels in complex and sensitive cases, appearing for the HPC against physiotherapist Steph Brennan following his involvement in Harlequins’ ‘Bloodgate’ scandal.

Sophie was also part of the team defending the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire police against allegations of misconduct following an investigation by the IPCC. She also defends professionals facing allegations brought by their regulatory and professional bodies, including the General Medical Council and the Association of Child Psychotherapists.

Sophie was called to the Bar in 2004 and was a tenant at Dyers Chambers before joining Kingsley Napley in 2007.

Selected matters in which Sophie has acted:

• Acted for the Law Society in its judicial review of government regulations restricting the costs recoverable by acquitted defendants.
• Part of the team acting for relatives of victims in the 7/7 Inquest.
• Advocate for the HPC before the Fitness to Practise panel hearing misconduct allegations against Steph Brennan arising out of the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal.
• Member of the team acting for the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire police in relation to misconduct allegations.

What is said about Sophie:

• “solid and thoughtful approach to sensitive cases”
• “calm and approachable”

Articles and Publications:

• Contributing author to Kingsley Napley: Serious Fraud, Investigation and Trial, Fourth edition (2008)
• The Lawyer, Ruling on acquitted defendants will speak volumes, June 2010 (written with Stephen Parkinson)
• New Law Journal, Reimbursing acquitted defendants, June 2010 (written with Stephen Parkinson)
• The Independent, Double standards shame our treaty with America, 1 August 2009 (written with Jill Lorimer)
• ARDL Quarterly Bulletin, Rugby Football Union: new rules bring new challenges, Summer 2009
• Health Service Journal, The impact of the civil standard of proof in Fitness to Practise proceedings, January 2008

Professional Memberships and Associations

• Committee member of the Young Public Lawyers Group (YPLG)