Sophie Newman

Associate

Sophie Newman

Associate

Email Sophie

+44 (0)1865 813790

Oxford

Download VCard

Services

Sectors

Sophie is an associate in the commercial dispute resolution team and works in the firm’s Oxford office. She assists with a broad range of commercial disputes, acting for both private individuals and corporate clients.

Her practice covers a diverse range of areas, including advising on commercial contract, shareholder and banking disputes, regulatory compliance, debt recovery and professional negligence claims. She is recognised by the Legal 500 as a key lawyer in the firm’s professional negligence team. Sophie has been involved in UK and cross-border litigation and arbitration, has experience of taking claims through the County Court and the High Court, and was part of the team that acted for the Consumers’ Association in the seminal Supreme Court case of Phillip v Barclays. She also works closely with the firm’s corporate, commercial, IP and IT, and employment teams.

I believe that having an empathetic understanding of the client’s position, rather than just the law underpinning it, is key to being a successful litigator. The most satisfying part of my job is the ability to work as a team with my clients and colleagues to identify and deliver commercial solutions to contentious issues.

Sophie Newman, Associate

Sophie graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in human, social and political sciences in 2016, following which she worked as a major gift fundraiser for both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. Between 2019 and 2021 she undertook the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course, achieving a distinction in both. Sophie joined the firm in 2021 as a trainee and qualified as a solicitor in 2023.

Recent work highlights

Quincecare duty

Acting for the Consumers’ Association (Which?) as an intervening party in Philipp v Barclays Bank, an APP fraud case in which the Supreme Court disagreed with the Court of Appeal’s decision that the ‘Quincecare’ duty of care could apply to an individual customer’s instructions.

Global distribution agreement dispute

Advising a global luxury camping brand on a dispute regarding exclusive distribution agreements in multiple territories, involving multijurisdictional arbitration proceedings and complex commercial settlement negotiations.

Ponzi scheme negligence claim

Acting for liquidators in a professional negligence claim against a pseudo-bank for breaches of its Quincecare duty by facilitating customers’ investments in a Ponzi scheme.

Exclusive distribution agreement

Advising a large US-based medical technology company on a dispute with a UK manufacturing firm regarding their licensing and exclusive distribution agreement.

Tax advice dispute

Acting for a city trader in a professional negligence claim against his accountants in respect of negligent tax advice.

Unfair prejudice petition

Acting for a director-shareholder in respect of an unfair prejudice petition involving the diversion of group company assets by another director-shareholder for personal gain

APP fraud

Advising a high-net worth individual who fell victim to APP fraud on the Financial Ombudsman Service complaints process and subsequently bringing a claim against the paying bank to reclaim her lost funds.

UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal

Advising a professional cyclist on his appeal of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding alleged EPO use and the resulting ban from the sport.

Sanctions advice

Advising a multinational company on the jurisdictional scope and impact of numerous sanctions regimes and their legal and commercial implications.

APP fraud

Advising a high-net worth individual who fell victim to APP fraud on the Financial Ombudsman Service complaints process and subsequently bringing a claim against the paying bank to reclaim her lost funds.

UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal

Advising a professional cyclist on his appeal of the UCI Anti-Doping Tribunal’s decision regarding alleged EPO use and the resulting ban from the sport.

Sanctions advice

Advising a multinational company on the jurisdictional scope and impact of numerous sanctions regimes and their legal and commercial implications.

External recognition
Rankings from respected legal directories reflect the reputation our lawyers have earned across their key sectors and areas of practice.

What people are saying

Penningtons is that unusual combination of a powerhouse of a firm, working on high-profile and intensive cases, but staffed by individuals who are warm and approachable human beings.

Legal 500

Related news and insights
Event
Family law
29 Bedford Row Bite-size Barristers
Thursday 22 January 2026
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Penningtons Manches Cooper, 9400 Garsington Road, Oxford Business Park, Oxford, OX4 2HN
Event
Commercial fraud and asset tracing
OxFraud drinks reception
Thursday 15 January 2026
6:30pm – 9:30pm
The Lighthouse, 1 Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1HH
All insights