Sophie Schultz > Stephenson Harwood > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Stephenson Harwood
1 FINSBURY CIRCUS
LONDON
EC2M 7SH
England

Work Department

Commercial Litigation

Position

A specialist property litigator with over 15 years’ experience, Sophie helps clients navigate the complexities of property law and resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively. She advises property investors, developers, lenders, corporate occupiers and individuals on every manner of property dispute. Sophie has particular expertise in rights of light and disputes relating to property development.

She is renowned for her legal knowledge and ability to get to the bottom of a tricky issue.  Sources quoted in Chambers UK have praised her “phenomenal” knowledge (2015) and described her as a “walking brain” (2014) that is “able to tie the opposition up in knots” (2011).

Sophie regularly acts on a wide range of landlord and tenant disputes, representing both landlords and tenants, including lease renewals, forfeiture, dilapidations, service charge and agreement for lease disputes.

She also has extensive experience in the development sphere, advising both developers and neighbours on claims (including injunctions) relating to nuisance, rights of light, trespass and party wall matters, restrictive covenants and easements. She is equally at home using her experience to help developers navigate and pre-empt claims as assisting neighbours assert their rights.

Other experience includes adverse possession, boundaries, easements, insolvency-related issues, joint ventures, leasehold enfranchisement, professional negligence, residential property and sale and purchase disputes.

Sophie gives practical advice which goes straight to the heart of an issue. She deploys her expertise in the law and strategy to secure the best result for her client at the earliest possible stage.  Clients express their appreciation of having her in their corner to fight their side.  She has a track record of achieving excellent results.  She aims to resolve disputes without court proceedings wherever possible.  Often straightforward ‘without prejudice negotiations’ are most effective but she also has experience of mediation, arbitration and expert determination.

She is a solicitor advocate and member of the Property Litigation Association. Sophie has written for Property Week, Estates Gazette, Landlord & Tenant Review and FM World.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Real estate > Property litigation

(Next Generation Partners)

Sophie SchultzStephenson Harwood

Stephenson Harwood offers a ‘committed, efficient service’ for clients involved in any aspect of property litigation. The team is led by Andrew Myers, who is regarded as ‘one of the best in the business’ and has decades of experience supporting clients with dilapidation claims, tenant insolvency, restrictive covenants and vacant possession strategies. Sophie Schultz acts on some of the largest professional negligence claims in the market, while also specialising in rights of light and development matters. Andrew Bambury is another key name, regularly advising on lease renewals, dilapidations and enfranchisement matters.