Sophia Purkis

Practice Areas

Sophia is recognised as a leading practitioner in civil fraud claims. She specialises in the resolution of commercial and personal disputes, particularly those involving allegations of fraud, misfeasance and breach of trust.

Sophia has over 25 years’ experience helping a broad range of clients - individuals, companies and organisations – to seek legal redress or to defend themselves against claims. She is astute and commercial whilst also recognising the personal effect fraud claims have on individuals and corporate reputations.

Many of Sophia’s clients live or have businesses abroad which can add unwanted complexity to their claims. She is used to working on disputes which span jurisdictions and to making applications to the court in this country to assists disputes in other jurisdictions, for example with worldwide freezing orders.

Sophia has represented clients in some of the country’s leading fraud claims. She does not shy away from taking an innovative approach to claims and will use insolvency and other procedures to seek the most effective outcome for clients.

Sophia is the Vice Chairman (civil) of the Fraud Lawyers Association and a former committee member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association. She write regularly for the legal press on issues affecting litigators in England.

Work Highlights

Recent highlights include:

• Representing shareholders and former directors accused of misrepresentation, conspiracy and deceit by the purchaser of their business who is a well-known conglomerate.

• Acting for trustees based in Dubai in connections with a claim by a discretionary beneficiary for fraud concerning the establishment of a trust based in Mauritius which was migrated to the Cayman Islands.

• In a multiparty action valued in excess of £100 million, representing a former partner in a firm of solicitors accused of dishonest assistance and conspiracy to defraud in the provision of investment schemes designed to be tax efficient.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

England and Wales