Sophie is an Associate at Mishcon de Reya, specialising in employment law. She began her legal career at magic circle firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, where she say on the Committee which established the Freshfields Associate Women’s Group.
Acting for both companies and individuals in all areas of employment law, with a particular focus on high value complex litigation in the Employment Tribunal and High Court, she has a large and varied client base across sectors including financial services, technology, fashion, legal and charities.
Sophie is a co-founder of Women in Law London (WILL), an active network with over 1,600 members from 350 different law firms and companies across London. WILL aims promote and engage the next generation of women leaders in law. It does so in a variety of ways, including providing members with networking opportunities and talks/ workshops and through engaging with law firm management on issues facing women in the profession. WILL has gained support from high profile speakers such as the Lord Mayor of London and Shami Chakrabati. It has also secured a research partnership with Kings College London, through which it was able to conduct a large survey of its members who reported their experiences of the profession and their career aspirations. In connection with her work with Mishcon de Reya and with WILL, Sophie has spoken at diversity conferences and events including University of Cambridge and City Law School.
Why First 100 Years is important
The power of the role model cannot be overstated. For me, there are few stories as inspiring as that of Maud Crofts. In refusing to accept the University of Cambridge’s decision not to award her well-deserved First Class law degree (because how could a woman hold a degree?) and in refusing to accept the Law Society’s decision to refuse her entry to the Law Society (because how could a woman call herself a solicitor?), she and her female contemporaries whipped up the storm which changed the legal landscape forever. These stories must be celebrated, as must those of countless other successful women who have followed in Maud’s footsteps and practices law over the last 100 years. The First 100 Years Project will be a powerful and creative expression of all that the profession has achieved, and a reminder of the fact that we can (and should) achieve so much more.
