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"Sophie Wood is on the ascendancy - she is super bright and tactically astute, with a great strategic awareness of her cases."

The Legal 500, 2025

"Sophie is an exceptionally talented and incredibly smart lawyer who is able to handle the most complex of cases, both factually and legally, with ease...she is a star deserving of recognition."

Steven Vullo KC, Twelve Tabulae Chambers

Sophie is a Partner with extensive experience in advising corporate and individual clients involved in a wide range of internal, criminal and regulatory investigations and public inquiries.

White collar, business crime and POCA

Sophie advises individual and corporate clients involved in a wide range of complex white collar financial crime and regulatory investigations conducted by the SFO, HMRC, FCA, ICO, GLAA and DoJ. The cases Sophie advises on are typically large, complex and often involving a number of multi-jurisdictional aspects with requests for Mutual Legal Assistance, Red Notices and extradition. Sophie has also conducted a number of internal investigations in matters involving fraud and regulatory non-compliance and has acted as an independent legal advisor for various individuals engaged in internal and external investigations. Sophie recently provided criminal law advice to Genting Casinos for the successful landmark Supreme Court appeal against Phil Ivey, in which the longstanding test for dishonesty was overturned. 

Sophie has significant experience in advising on all aspects of money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), including the making of SARs, restraint and confiscation. Recently Sophie advised on the successful 2021 Supreme Court case CPS v Aquila in which the priority of a proprietary claim over a confiscation order was challenged. Sophie has advised HNW businesses within the regulated sector, from the art world to those regulated by the Gambling Commission, of their obligations under POCA and the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017.

Environment Law, Health and Safety and Trading Standards

Sophie has acted for companies, directors and employees caught up in domestic and international investigations led by the Environment Agency, Health and Safety Executive and Trading Standards in relation to offences concerning breaches of advertising standards legislation, unfair trading, health and safety breaches and allegations of illegal shipments of waste.

Public Inquiries and Human Rights Law

Sophie has worked on large scale public inquiries, including the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in which she represented core participants. Sophie has also advised on the international obligations placed upon non-State actors under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Prior to joining Kingsley Napley, Sophie practised at 2 Bedford Row, instructed as defence and prosecuting counsel for the CPS, Department for Work and Pensions and the Probation Service. Alongside presenting cases at court, Sophie drafted legal arguments and advised on charging decisions.

Sophie is ranked as Leading Associate in Legal 500 and is listed in the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025. 

NOTABLE CASES

White collar crime

  • Representing of bank employee in HMRC investigation of historic film scheme
  • Representing former CFOs and a director of a multinational company in relation to a DoJ investigation
  • Representing of a Non-Executive Director of a listed company investigated by the FCA
  • Representing clients in corruption investigations/prosecution in the Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Acting for senior business people in compelled s2 SFO interviews

Environment Law, Health & Safety and Trading Standards

  • Representing a company in respect of alleged breaches of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and Environmental Protection Act 1990
  • Representing a number of employees in relation to an HSE investigation regarding a non-fatal accident
  • Acting for a business owner in various Trading Standards prosecutions (including allegations of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering) and requests for enforcement undertakings in relation to fraud offences and breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2002
  • Representing a company director accused of offences under the Hallmarking Act 1979, Trade Marks Act 1994 and breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2002

Animal rights issues and welfare offences

  • Advising a multi-national corporate experiencing harmful animal rights protests
  • Advising individuals accused of causing unnecessary suffering to protected wildlife under the Animal Welfare Act 2006

Other

  • Representing soldiers facing allegations arising from various historic fatal incidents
  • Providing criminal law advice on dishonesty to our Dispute Resolution team and counsel, acting for Genting Casinos, in the landmark Supreme Court win
  • Acting for individuals suspected of misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice
  • Acting for witnesses involved in investigations concerning misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice
  • Acting for individuals accused of serious sexual offences (including prosecutions conducted by Operation Yewtree) and allegations of violence

 

What clients and directories say

Legal 500 2023 and 2024 UK

Leading Associate 

Global Investigations Review - 40 under 40

Featured Individual

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • DELF: Defence Extradition Lawyers
  • WWCDA
  • Fraud Lawyers Association 
  • Women in Criminal Law
  • Featured in Middle Temple’s 2019-2020 ‘Celebrating a Century of Women in Law’ exhibition
  • Kalisher Trust Scholar, 2011
  • Middle Temple Jules Thorn Scholar, 2009 and 2010
  • Called to the Bar 2011
  • 2025 Pro Bono Recognition List

 

Over the past nine years I have known Sophie, I have seen her ability to manage large-scale investigations, digest and assess huge volumes of material and offer sound strategic advice, judgement and creative solutions. These analytical skills, combined with excellent client care, inspire confidence in counsel and clients alike."

Steven Vullo KC, Twelve Tabulae Chambers

Insight from Sophie

View all

Blogs

Fashion brands face further greenwashing scrutiny

Health and Safety / Corporate Manslaughter – Q1 2024

Fraud case roundup

Environmental Law Quarterly Update – Q4 2023

Health and Safety / Corporate Manslaughter – Q4 2023

Health and Safety / Corporate Manslaughter Quarterly Update – Q3 2023

Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q3 2023

NHS trust and hospital ward manager charged with criminal offences following the death of patient

Expanded liability under new national security acts

Environmental Law Quarterly Update – Q2 2023

Health and Safety / Corporate Manslaughter Quarterly Update – Q2 2023

The role of Eurojust, and the UK, in tackling international crime

Health and Safety / Corporate Manslaughter Update – Q1 2023

Environmental Law Quarterly Update – Q1 2023

Waste company and director held to account for death of employee

Health and Safety and Corporate Manslaughter Quarterly Review - Q3 & Q4 2022

Health and Safety Quarterly Update – Q2 2022

Health and Safety Quarterly Update – Q1 2022

Environmental Law Quarterly Update Q1 - 2022

Review of recent corporate manslaughter cases: Deco-Pak, Bosley Mill, Aster Healthcare

Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q4 2021

Gambling Sector: Compliance and Enforcement Report reveals concerns over weak AML controls

Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q3 2021

Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q2 2021

Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q1 2021

Arrests of care home workers following COVID-19 outbreaks: a review of criminal liability

Sentencing environmental offences: Reflections on the Thames Water £2.3m fine

Thames Water fined for “entirely foreseeable” pollution

National Grid fined £4 million for incomplete records

You are what you package your food in - Food Standards Agency consults on changes to food contact materials offences

Return to sender: Illegal waste exports are returned to the UK

Care home ordered to pay £167,670 for health and safety breaches

The new Sentencing Code - what is it?

Crown Censure for the MoD after health and safety failings

Directors disqualified following history of health and safety and waste law breaches

Companies in hot water: environmental performance deteriorates further

COVID-19: Can you be prosecuted for opening your shop?

Returning to work and COVID-19: Could employers face health and safety prosecutions for infections in the workplace?

Modern Slavery Act 2015: Under Review

ICC Crime of Aggression comes into force

Department of Transport focuses in on drones – time to register and know the rules

GEO Group UK Ltd and Nestore Primecare Services Ltd face unlimited fines after CPS decision to institute health and safety prosecution

Arrow Recycling fined in Health and Safety Executive prosecution for cardboard crushing

New inquiry launched into the use of drones

Police drones – the new investigation tool of choice

Drones: a rise in near-misses and an increased government focus

Khmer Rouge leaders’ life sentences to remain

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