Sophie Walker

Inquests
 
Sophie has a flourishing inquest practice, where she acts exclusively for bereaved families.  She is regularly instructed in jury inquests involving death in police custody, police deaths and deaths in prison.

Her knowledge of criminal and prison law is also utilised when representing families where the deceased was subject to probation supervision at the time of death.  Sophie was part of the successful team in bringing the first reported case of the application of Article 2 to a death in an Approved Premises Devall v Ministry of Justice [2022] EWHC 1608 (QB).

Sophie has become increasingly called on for community mental health cases, where the person was discharged from in-patient settings shortly before their death.  Notably, in 2024 she obtained a conclusion of neglect in a community mental health case, due to the repeated failure of staff to consult with family members leading to ineffective care and discharge planning.

Sophie works on a pro bono basis representing trans-led charities following the death of service users.  In 2022, she represented the Kite Trust in the inquest into the death of Danny France, and along with Liam Evans, represented the Clare Project in the inquest of Matty Sheldrick in 2024.  Unusually, both charities were awarded Interested Person status, allowing them to fully participate in the inquest process.

Civil Actions against Public Authorities

From the start, Sophie has put state accountability at the centre of her practice. Early in her career she was part of a systemic challenge following the illegal strip search of three Claimants at HMP Peterborough.  The High Court held that the failings were serious, systemic and widespread, and the legal framework relied on by the Secretary of State was ineffective to ensure that Sodexo had adequate systems in place, in breach of Article 8. LW, KT, MC & Faulder v Sodexo Ltd & Secretary of State for Justice [2019] EWHC 367 (Admin). Since then, she has built a practice representing bereaved families through the inquest process to the civil claim, bringing damages claims under the Fatal Accident Act and the Human Rights Act.

Sophie is increasingly sought for her experience bringing failure to investigate challenges against police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service.  These includes the failure to investigate cases of forced prostitution, serious sexual assault and an attack targeting a disabled person.

Immigration

Sophie practices asylum and immigration law, appearing regularly in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber.  She represents those facing deportation, with particular experience on cases where the person arrived in the country as a child and has been convicted of drug related offences.

Sophie also works on public and civil challenges to immigration decisions.  She has brought successful challenges to the imposition of an Electronic Monitoring condition on foreign national offenders, and trafficking decisions.  She has achieved settlements for those unlawfully detained by the Home Office.

Family

Sophie has many years of experience representing victims of domestic violence in Private Children proceedings and Family Law Act cases.  She receives regular instructions to represent parents at complex fact-finding hearings.