Sophie Clarke

Head of Private Client Crime

Sophie Clarke joined Carson Kaye in 2020 and is experienced in representing clients in a wide range of criminal law matters. Sophie was promoted to Senior Associate in early 2025 before becoming Head of Private Client Crime at the firm.

Sophie is ranked as a ‘Leading Associate’ in the 2025 and 2026 editions of the Legal 500 publication. She has a reputation for excellence in her case preparation, legal ability, and client care. She has good instincts and a close eye for detail, upholding the highest standards across all aspects of her work and fighting hard to seek the best outcome in every case.

Sophie advises at all stages of a criminal matter, from the earliest and pre-charge stages, up to trial and beyond. Her expertise is broad and she routinely acts for clients in cases of gravity and complexity.

Prior to joining Carson Kaye, she trained and qualified at top commercial law firms before transferring to criminal practice. Sophie is an accredited police station representative and a qualified duty solicitor.

Sophie has a first-class Law degree (LLB) and a Distinction-grade Master’s degree (LLM) in Criminal Justice. She is also part of an Advisory Board for the University of Exeter Law School.

Pre-Charge and Early Representation

Sophie has represented numerous clients at the pre-charge stage of a case, including at the point of the critical police interview under caution and helping clients navigate the investigation process.

Often at the earliest stages of a case, Sophie advises as to whether any proactive steps need to be taken, such as evidence gathering and early engagement with the police. Sophie makes representations on behalf of clients persuading the police or relevant prosecuting authority not to charge matters, or to divert or discontinue prosecutions.

Serious and General Crime

Serious Crown Court work is central to Sophie’s practice. She has defended clients in cases including murder, manslaughter, drugs and sexual offences, terrorism, serious violence, firearms, kidnap, public order, and driving causing death/serious injury.

Sophie is adept at handling serious cases from the outset and prides herself on her meticulous preparation and sensitive handling of cases of all natures.

She also frequently represents clients in the Magistrates’ Court, including for driving offences.

Fraud and Financial Crime

Sophie acts for clients accused of fraud and money laundering offences and routinely advises in relation to matters under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 including confiscation and cash seizure.

She has also acted on large-scale fraud and financial crime cases, including cases prosecuted by the FCA and SFO.

Appeal

Sophie advises and represents clients on appeals from the Magistrates’ Court to the Crown Court and from the Crown Court to the Court of Appeal.

Inquests

She also acts for Interested Persons in inquest proceedings, including at the pre-inquest and inquest stages.

Notable Cases

Examples of Sophie’s cases include:

Homicide

R v K and Others: Acquittal on all counts of client charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to burgle in relation to the death of a drug dealer whose home contained substantial amounts of drugs and cash.
R v K: Acquittal of 17-year-old client accused of murder as a secondary party relating to stabbings at a London train station, following successful submission of no case to answer at the close of the prosecution case.
R v K: Acting for lead defendant in a case of murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, securing manslaughter plea and ultimate sentence of nine years’ imprisonment.
R v M: Acquittal after trial of a client charge with ‘one-punch’ manslaughter following an altercation between stag party groups in a night club.

Serious violence

R v S: Acquittal after trial on all counts of a client charged with attempted aggravated burglary and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
R v E: Securing a plea to simple Section 20 GBH and a suspended sentence for a young university graduate of previous good character originally charged with Section 18 GBH and racially aggravated Section 20 GBH relating to an act of violence in a pub garden in Fulham.

Sexual offences

R v M: Defending allegations of rape made against client by two separate complainants, one a member of his own family.
R v W: Representing client accused of rape of former partner in relation to a video capturing an act allegedly done without consent.

Drugs offences

Defending clients charged with a wide range of drugs offences, including importation offences, multi-handed, multi-kilo drugs conspiracies and supply offences, offences involving the use of EncroChat handsets and county lines operations.
Securing numerous suspended sentences in drugs supply cases.
R v M: Acting for a lorry driver involved in the importation of over 100kg of Class A drugs, securing overall sentence of 4 years and 8 months’ imprisonment.
R v B: Prosecution offering no evidence in relation to possession of Class A drugs by young university student at a football ground.

Public order

R v T, T and T: Defending three members of the same family charged with offences relating to the incitement of racial hatred through the production of a recording of sounds and performance of songs, as well as the dissemination of alleged terrorist publications.
R v S: Securing Community Order for client convicted of racially aggravated public order offences at Waterloo Station.
R v P, T and Others: Achieving suspended sentences for two clients involved in disorder between rival football supporters at a pub in Putney.
Acting for clients accused of public order offences and/or violence at football matches.

Other notable cases

R v CB, JB, and Others: Acquittal following four-month trial of two young clients accused of being part of a ‘bomb hoax’ conspiracy relating to the placement of improvised explosive devices in a high-profile public location with the alleged aim of targeting two barristers, one also a member of the judiciary.
R v J: Representing client in alleged gold fraud said to be to the value of approximately £400,000.
R v W: Acting for a former police officer accused of perverting the course of justice.
R v D: Representing a former Serco officer accused of misconduct in a public office.