Sophia Hurst joins Essex Court Chambers

13 July, 2021

Members of Chambers are pleased to announce that Sophia Hurst has joined Essex Court Chambers.

Sophia is a busy junior barrister with a specialist commercial chancery practice encompassing a range of commercial litigation, civil fraud and asset recovery, shareholder/joint venture disputes, banking and financial services, and contentious trusts litigation. Sophia was called the bar in 2014 and joined Essex Court Chambers from Serle Court on Friday 9 July 2021.

Much of Sophia’s work has an international dimension; in addition to regularly appearing in the Commercial Court and Chancery Division, she is called to the bar in BVI and registered in DIFC and has a substantial practice before the courts of offshore jurisdictions and arbitral tribunals. Sophia is particularly interested in the issues of jurisdiction and enforcement commonly raised in cross-border disputes. Her current and recent work includes acting in the DIFC Court of Appeal for the successful respondents in Grand Valley General Trading LLC vs (1) GGICO Sunteck limited (2) Sunteck Lifestyles Limited [2019] DIFC CA 007 and as part of the claimant team in Toucan Energy Holdings Ltd & Anr v Wirsol Energy Ltd & Ors, a substantial Commercial Court dispute in the renewable energy sector.

Sophia is a contributing author to Gough on Company Charges (new edition forthcoming) and convenes the ComBar/ChBA working group on cryptocurrencies and smart contracts.

Joint Heads of Chambers, Joe Smouha QC and Huw Davies QC, whose comments are echoed by Senior Clerk, Joe Ferrigno, say “Sophia has developed a very impressive commercial chancery practice including contentious trust disputes, insolvency and asset recovery work and we are delighted to welcome her into Essex Court Chambers. Her well-established commercial fraud and offshore practice will add considerably to the range of expertise already offered by our existing juniors. Taking on Sophia presents Chambers with an excellent opportunity to welcome an outstanding chancery commercial junior.”

Sophia said “I am delighted to be joining Essex Court Chambers, and look forward to developing my practice here alongside so many talented colleagues. I remain indebted to Serle Court for all of their support in my career so far.”