"Sophie combines a fierce intellect with meticulous attention to detail. She is also tactically astute."
LEGAL 500 2022
Sophie Holme is a leading junior with a strong reputation for representing Claimants and Defendants in clinical negligence and personal injury claims. Sophie acts in cases involving the full range of medical specialisms and a wide range of injuries.
In inquests, Sophie has experience of difficult cases involving a wide range of healthcare matters involving medical and psychiatric treatment including prison deaths and those within Hospital Trusts. Sophie appears on behalf of families, Trusts and represents the interests of doctors. Sophie is happy to consider acting pro bono in appropriate cases given the difficulty faced by many seeking to fund representation in the coronial setting.
Sophie has significant experience of Regulatory and Discipline law and has enjoyed considerable success acting for nurses before the NMC and as prosecuting for the GDC.
Sophie is tier 1 ranked in Legal 500 for clinical negligence which describes her as ‘a phenomenally capable counsel who combines intellectual rigour, impeccable judgement, attention to detail, and determination.’.
Sophie has a wide experience of personal injury cases including employers' liability, occupiers' liability, highways, road traffic accidents, animals' act, product liability, industrial disease, fatal accidents, MIB cases, CICA appeals and CRU appeals.
Sophie’s main area of expertise are claims concerning multiple or complex injuries. Sophie is sought after for her strong focus on client care and robust advice. SSHE is regularly instructed in claims involving serious spinal injuries and has particular expertise in this field.
Sophie is happy to work on a nil-uplift CFA basis in appropriate cases.
Sophie is tier 1 ranked for clinical negligence in Legal 500 with experience advising on cases in the full range of medical contexts. She has a keen eye for the forensic analysis required to successfully claim and defend in this field. By way of a limited example, she has advised on the following range of cases in recent years:
By way of example, Sophie acted successfully on the following reported cases:
DS (in her own right and on behalf of the estate of GS) v (1) DR JM (2) PB (3) UT (2019) – Lawtel - £239,545 delayed diagnosis of bladder cancer.
AE v Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2020) – Lawtel - £241,569 surgical injury accelerating back and spinal conditions.
AB v Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2019) – Lawtel – £902,841 hepatobiliary injury leading to sepsis and multiple amputation
IW v Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust – Lawtel - £1,329,073 lower limb amputation arising as a result of delayed treatment of infection.
CL (on her own behalf and on behalf of the estate of AL, Deceased) v (1) DB; (2) DS (2018) – Lawtel- £692,718 psychiatric disorder caused by inappropriate prescription.
RC v Airedale NHS Foundation Trust (2016) – Lawtel - £119,949 obstetric management leading to hysterectomy, infertility and psychiatric injury.
Sophie is happy to work on a nil-uplift CFA basis in appropriate cases
Sophie is experienced in healthcare regulatory work. Her NMC work has included successfully defending a broad variety of allegations including assault by practitioners, medication errors, fatal overdoses, alcoholism, drug addiction, record keeping errors etc.
Sophie has experience representing both the interests of medical professionals and relatives of the deceased at inquests. She also represents families whose relatives have died as a result of suspected clinical negligence. In addition, she has experience of advisory work leading up to the inquest including: evidence, disclosure, Article 2 issues, the need for a jury, expert evidence and funding in the inquest context.
Clinical Negligence
‘Sophie combines a fierce intellect with meticulous attention to detail. She is also tactically astute.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Clinical Negligence
‘A phenomenally capable counsel who combines intellectual rigour, impeccable judgement, attention to detail, and determination.'
Ranked: Tier 1
Clinical Negligence - Band 2
Praised for her representation of both claimants and defendants in surgical negligence cases. She also has substantial experience in Article 2 inquests. Further expertise lies in birth injuries as well as delay and failure to treat claims.
Strengths: "Has meticulous attention to detail and is extremely thorough in her consideration of all issues in a case relating to both liability investigations and quantum investigations. She is very down to earth and approachable and puts clients at ease." "She is a pleasure to work with and is excellent on paper."
Clinical Negligence
"A very safe pair of hands on high value and complex cases."
Clinical Negligence
Praised for her representation of both claimants and defendants in surgical negligence cases. She also has substantial experience in Article 2 inquests. Further expertise lies in birth injuries as well as delay and failure to treat claims.
"She is bright, personable and utterly reliable. Clients love her empathetic nature and ability to grasp issues quickly. She is quick to respond to instructions, offers sensible and measured advice and is always on the end of the telephone if needed." "She is incredibly meticulous and always takes time to analyse cases methodically and thoroughly. She is extremely capable and very good with clients and experts alike, with a very sympathetic approach. Her apparently calm manner belies her ability in a fight."
Recent work: Advised on an Article 2 inquest concerning a death from gallstone-related pancreatitis following delay in providing surgical treatment.
Clinical Negligence
Leading Junior - Band 3
Praised for her representation of both claimants and defendants in surgical negligence cases. She is also adept at handling inquests.
Strengths: "She is absolutely meticulous, has forensic attention to detail and a lovely client manner. She's also very tactically able." "Always willing to pick up the phone and talk things through before sending papers over, very down to earth, good in conferences and always gives solid, practical advice." "Very precise and thorough - she takes time to understand complex issues."
Recent work: Defended a registered general nurse in a negligence case concerning allegations of failure to observe and monitor patients.
Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
Leading juniors
‘She is very reasonable yet uncompromising in a fight.’
Clinical Negligence
Leading Junior (Up and coming Individual)
Acts for claimants and defendants, gaining significant recognition for her clinical negligence practice. In addition, she also offers expertise in personal injury and serves as counsel at inquests.
Strengths: "She's very precise and thorough. She takes time to understand complex issues and is good with clients and experts alike." "A safe pair of hands and detail-orientated." "Incredibly meticulous and very good in a fight."
Recent work: Successfully defended a nurse accused of inappropriate practice.
Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
Leading juniors
'She is meticulous, reasonable and has an ability to fight for her client.'
Clinical Negligence
Leading Junior (Up and coming Individual)
A rising presence in the field of clinical negligence with additional expertise in personal injury work. She is instructed on behalf of both claimants and defendants.
Strengths: "She is very thorough and precise. She takes the time to understand complex issues and is good with clients and experts alike." "She is very pragmatic, and clients love her."
Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
Leading juniors
'Extremely caring with vulnerable clients, but doesn't mind getting her hands dirty in a fight'.
Clinical Negligence
Leading Junior (Up and coming Individual)
Heavily focused on clinical negligence, with a small portion of her practice consisting of personal injury work. She principally acts on behalf of claimants. Expertise: "She is a rising star, extremely good with clients, and her written advice is excellent."
For further information and enquiries please contact:
Personal Injury: Caroline Evans or Olive Kavanagh or Emily Webb
Clinical Negligence: Caroline Evans or Olive Kavanagh or Emily Webb
Regulatory & Discipline: Olive Kavanagh or Stephen Arnold
