Sophia Leeder

Training and experience

Sophia advises on all areas of family law, including separation agreements, divorce, financial issues following separation and divorce, child contact and residence (or ‘custody’) issues and pre and post nuptial agreements. She also advises couples who are not married or in a civil partnership on issues arising on relationship breakdown, such as disputes over property, child contact and residence and financial claims for the maintenance of children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act.

Sophia acts for and against individuals across a broad range of industries and backgrounds – including hedge fund founders, entrepreneurs and those with family wealth arising from landed estates. She acts for individuals located in the UK and overseas, with many clients based in Europe, the U.S. and the Middle East. She has a strong interest in dealing with applications to the English Court for financial settlement following an overseas divorce. Sophia also has in-depth knowledge of the issues facing companies and trustees involved in financial proceedings upon a divorce and has a wealth of experience in advising such third parties.

Sophia qualified as a solicitor in 2011; prior to joining Stowe, she worked in the Family team of an international law firm based in London. Sophia has a First Class Honours degree in History and achieved a Distinction in the LPC.

Specialisms

Sophia’s practice focuses on financial matters upon divorce and she has a wealth of experience in drafting pre-nuptial agreements for clients. Sophia is known for her knowledge of the law on pre-nuptial agreements, having presented on the topic in the context of trust interests to STEP Guernsey. She has also been invited to join panel discussions on pre-nuptial agreements at AIJA international conferences.

Sophia’s practice involves a great deal of international work; she has presented on international wealth planning and matrimonial regimes at a STEP Germany conference in Frankfurt.

Approach

Sophia focuses on client care and strives to provide the highest level of professionalism. She understands and recognises the very difficult nature of family law issues and is an empathetic ear to her clients whilst also providing sound, pragmatic legal advice.

Accreditations

Recognised as a key lawyer in Legal500 for “”experience handling international work regarding both finances and children, and close links with firms in Switzerland and France””.

Sophia was recognised in the eprivateclient NextGen Leaders list and has received a Future Leaders Award from Citywealth.