2 Hare Court

Sophia Dower is a highly sought after junior, specialising primarily in criminal defence, as both sole counsel in serious and substantial cases and as a led junior.

She advises and acts for clients from pre-charge through to trial across the full spectrum of criminal offences, including murder, serious sexual offences and violence, kidnap, large-scale drug conspiracies, fatal road traffic offences and complex money-laundering and fraud.

Her ability to digest voluminous and technical evidence, her meticulous preparation, tactical skill, and ease in working with clients of all ages and backgrounds is widely recognised. She is repeatedly commended by judges and solicitors for the quality of her written and oral advocacy.

Her most recent instructions include, defending a motorist accused of causing the death of a cyclist through dangerous driving, representing a client accused of involvement in a highly organised multi-million-pound cocaine conspiracy, and acting for a businesswoman alleged to be part of a serious and complex international investment fraud.

In addition to criminal defence, Sophia is regularly instructed on public inquiries and is currently instructed as junior counsel on behalf of a Core Participant in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. She has contributed to a number of complex and large-scale disclosure reviews, including the inquiry into the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, assisting in a sensitive and multi-faceted disclosure exercise on behalf of a Premier League football club in relation to a FIFA investigation and assisting in the extensive review of material for The Sheldon Review concerning allegations of sexual abuse by individuals in football.

Sophia also enjoys a successful licensing practice. She has extensive experience in representing clients in their appeal against adverse licensing decisions taken by Transport for London before City of London Magistrates and the Central Criminal Court.

Outside of chambers, Sophia is a committed anti-death penalty advocate. She previously worked at the Office of Capital Defence Counsel in Mississippi for clients standing trial for capital murder charges where they were at risk of the death penalty if convicted.

Year of Call 2013.

CPS Panel Advocate – Level 2; Criminal Bar Association; South Eastern Circuit; Female Fraud Forum; Young Fraud Lawyers Association; Women in Criminal Law.

Bar Professional Training Course, BPP London; The Connor Scholarship, Middle Temple; LLB Law with Hispanic Law, University College London; Old Square Chambers Prize, University College London.