Sophie Kemp > Kingsley Napley LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Kingsley Napley LLP
20 Bonhill Street
London
EC2A 4DN
England

Work Department

Public Law

Position

Head of Department

Career

Sophie is an experienced public lawyer, advising on major Public Inquiries and Inquests, judicial review, police misconduct and data protection. She “grasps complex issues quickly and comprehensively” (Legal 500, 2015) and is currently acting in two major statutory inquiries. Clients describe her as a “consummate professional” and she is known for solid and thoughtful handling of sensitive cases.

Sophie acts for individuals, companies and regulatory bodies in judicial review litigation, and is very effective in resolving disputes at the pre-action stage for both claimants and defendants. Her clients include government agencies, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries,  the Law Society, the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, the General Dental Council, senior police officers, psychotherapy professionals.

Sophie has considerable inquiry experience representing individuals, institutions, public figures and senior professionals in major Public Inquiries, Inquests, IPCC investigations, and before Select Committees.

Notable cases:

  • Acting for families in the 7/7 Inquest following terrorist bombings in London
  • Representing core participants in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (the Jay Inquiry), investigating the extent to which institutions have failed to protect children from sexual abuse
  • Advising Metropolitan Police Commander in connection with the Under Cover Policing Inquiry
  • Advising Financial Conduct Authority employee in the Davis Inquiry
  • Advising Chief Constable of Cumbria in connection with Home Affairs Select Committee hearings

Sophie advises institutions, businesses and regulatory bodies on data protection compliance, conducting audits on the safe handling of personal information, advising on large scale redaction projects and responding to subject access requests made during litigation. She also acts for business and professionals in connection with freedom of information requests.

Sophie acts for members of the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) in IPCC and local misconduct investigations as well as acting in public law matters, including Public Inquiries and judicial review litigation.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Public sector > Education: individuals

Experienced in assistance in disciplinary proceedings, allegations of sexual misconduct, academic appeals, plagiarism, and harassment, Kingsley Napley LLP‘s education practice draws from the firm’s strengths on regulatory, criminal law and public law to assist students and their parents, as well as academic staff in a wide range of education matters. The department is led by Shannett Thompson who is an expert for education and healthcare and is experienced in relation to sexual misconduct allegations. Key members of the team are public lawyer Sophie Kemp, Matthew Hardcastle, who is an expert in police investigations involving child suspects, and criminal litigators Sandra Paul and David Sleight .

London > Public sector > Administrative and public law

(Leading partners)

Sophie Kemp Kingsley Napley LLP

The ‘outstanding’ public law team at Kingsley Napley LLP is spearheaded by Sophie Kemp, who regularly advises individuals, charities, and institutions on public inquiries and inquests. The ‘highly intelligent’ Nick Wrightson is recommended for his skills handling commercial and regulatory reviews. The team has been strengthened by the addition of Harry Carter and Natalie Cohen in January 2024. With more than three decades of experience as a government lawyer, Carter has extensive expertise in advising on public inquiries, such as the Grenfell Inquiry, the Covid-19 Inquiry, and the Infected Blood Inquiry. Cohen joins the team after gaining significant experience as a litigator for the government; her broad capabilities extend to judicial reviews, inquests, and human rights challenges. Adam Chapman retired in April 2024.

London > Risk advisory > ESG

(Firms to watch)

Kingsley Napley LLP is active across work such as cross-border investigations into allegations of human rights violations and whistleblowing cases related to malpractice in the workplace. Human rights expert Sophie Kemp leads the team.