Sophie Evans

Call 2010

'Sophie has a clear intellect and couples this with an astute understanding of people and their issues. She is persuasive and someone you want to listen to.'

Legal 500 [2024]

“Sophie is an extraordinarily diligent, intelligent and effective advocate.”

"Sophie Evans is a well-respected junior, who is highly sought after by both the prosecution and the defence."

Expertise

Sophie is a sought-after advocate with extensive trial experience, focussed in particular on serious violence and organised crime.

She is regularly instructed on high profile cases, both led by King’s Counsel and as a junior alone.

Sophie is recognised for her diligence and organisation, and her ability to marshal large volumes of material.  She is known for her intelligent and analytical approach to cases.

She robustly defends her clients, tailoring her approach to the individual case and client.

Sophie is also proficient in matters involving expert evidence, including medical experts, financial experts, forensic experts and expert evidence concerning mobile phone data.

Sophie is a Level 3 CPS Prosecutor.

Notable Crime cases


R v RK (2023) Leicester

Instructed in a high-profile double murder, known as the “TikTok Murder Trial”.  The case required careful consideration of expert evidence and delicate handling of co-defendant evidence.  Led by King’s Counsel.

R v HA (2023) St Albans

Instructed in a murder trial where the defence was loss of control.  Led by King’s Counsel.

R v HS (2023) Maidstone

Representing a highly vulnerable young man who stabbed an off-duty police officer.

R v KL (2023) Maidstone

Defending in a complex rape trial.  The case required analysis of large amounts of unused and third party material, and significant preparation ahead of careful witness handling.  Led by King’s Counsel.

R v HT (2023) Bristol

Representing a defendant charged with conspiracy to import, export and supply “Spice” on a very significant scale.

R v LH (2022) Lewes

Representing the second defendant in a conspiracy to export significant quantities of Class A and Class B drugs to the USA and Australia.  The case involved large volumes of phone material and cell site data.

R v Z (2022) Cardiff

Secured an acquittal for a man accused of rape and intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm on his partner.

R v AH (2021)

Defending a man accused of section 18 GBH and rape of his partner, and assault of a child.

R v LD (2020)

Prosecution of a prolific indecent exposure offender.

R v GA (2016)

Secured acquittal as junior counsel in a multi-handed rape case.

R v LH (2021)

Successfully defending a young male accused of section 20 GBH, involving sensitive handling of young witnesses.

R v AM (2021)

Appearing for the prosecution in the Court of Appeal on an appeal against sentence by a defendant accused of breaching his restraining order.

R v LW (2019)

Successful defence of a young male accused of assaulting his 4 year-old stepson. The case required cross-examination of a medical expert and handling a vulnerable child witness.

R v TH (2018)

Junior counsel on an attempted murder, involving five co-defendants, acting for the first defendant.

Sophie has significant experience of fraud, business crime and associated offences, both as a prosecutor and defence advocate.

She is adept at analysing the large volumes of material that often arise in these cases.

Notable Business Crime & Fraud cases


R v PB (2023) Lewes

Representing a client acquitted after trial in relation to an offence of money laundering arising out of a sophisticated multi-million pound international art fraud.

R v SL (2021)

Prosecution of a dentist accused of high value fraud against the NHS.

R v SS (2021)

Prosecution of a female accused of fraud by abusing her position as HR and payroll manager for a company. The value of the fraud was £443,000.

R v SH (2020)

Prosecution of a female abusing power of attorney over her mother’s financial affairs.

R v CAH (2018)

Defence of a male accused of numerous offences contrary to the Insolvency Act and Companies Act in the winding up of his business.

Sophie regularly acts on behalf of lay defendants and local authorities in licensing matters.

Notable Criminal Regulatory cases


Lewes District Council v HB and AB (2022) Lewes

Successful prosecution for a local authority of two defendants accused of fraud by false representation in relation to their local authority owned home.

Mid Sussex District Council v AC (2021) Lewes

Representing a local authority at the appeal of a taxi driver against the revocation of his hackney carriage licence on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

RM (2020) Bexhill

Appearing at a Committee Meeting on behalf of an applicant applying for a premises licence for his shop.

Lewes District Council v DM (2019) Lewes

Successful prosecution for a local authority of a Defendant accused of fraudulently claiming the right to buy her local authority owned home.

Mid Sussex District Council v MA (2019) Lewes

Acting for a local authority in an appeal by a taxi driver of the decision to revoke his hackney carriage license.

Sophie has extensive experience of Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings. She has also acted on behalf of defendants and on behalf of Police Forces and HMRC in applications for forfeiture of sums or assets seized.

Notable Asset Forfeiture & Civil Recovery cases


HMRC v SD and BE (2022)

Acting for HMRC in an application for a Forfeiture Order in the sum of £50,000.

Surrey Police v JW (2021)

Acting for Surrey Police in an application for forfeiture of cash seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, involving evidence from a Financial Investigator.

R v NS (2021)

Acting for a Defendant in a high value Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 application. By seeking expert evidence and compiling written arguments, £100,000 was deducted from the amount sought by the Prosecution.

Surrey Police v DC (2020)

Acting for Surrey Police in an application for forfeiture of cash seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

STL v South Wales Police (2019)

Acting for a Claimant under the Police Property Act 1897.

Sophie has regularly acted for the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Case Presenter.

Sophie has also successfully defended professionals facing regulatory proceedings.

Notable Professional Regulation cases


Social Work England v JB (2022)

Successful defence of a Social Worker facing regulatory proceedings after sustaining a criminal conviction.

Sophie regularly appears on behalf of Sussex and Surrey police in civil applications including Domestic Violence Protection Orders, Stalking Protection Orders and orders relating to sexual harm.

She also has experience of acting for a variety of interests at Inquests.

Notable Public Law cases


Inquest into the death of BL (2022) Nottingham

Acting for a prison officer at the Inquest into the death of a remand prisoner at HMP Nottingham.  The Inquest was an Article 2 Inquest in front of a jury.

  • Cardiff Law School, BVC (Very Competent)
  • Jesus College, University of Oxford, Jurisprudence MA (Oxon)
  • Viscount Sankey Scholarship, Jesus College, University of Oxford

  • Criminal Bar Association member
  • South Eastern Circuit member
  • Sussex Bar Mess member

2024

Legal 500
Crime (South Eastern Circuit): ‘Sophie has a clear intellect and couples this with an astute understanding of people and their issues. She is persuasive and someone you want to listen to.’
Ranked: Tier 4

  • Sport Resolutions Safeguarding Case Management Panel (SCMP)
  • Pupil Supervisor

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