Sophie Kerry

Solicitor in Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Education:

Sophie studied at Northumbria University Newcastle and completed an Integrated Master’s including a Dissertation, a Qualifying Law Degree and exemption from the LPC.

Main Areas of Work:

• Landlord & Tenant disputes, both residential and commercial;
• TOLATA disputes;
• Boundary disputes;
• Contract disputes;
• Debt disputes.

Great / Notable achievements at Wake Smith:

• Recently acted in several successful residential possession proceedings where costs awarded outside of the usual fixed costs regime.
  
  
• Acting Solicitor in various successful claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointments of Trustees Act 1996, most notably obtaining a full costs award on one particular case.
  
  
• Acting Solicitor at a successful Fast Track Trial for the Claimant, a company. Dispute regarding whether the Defendant, a de factor Director (also the Landlord of the Claimant) was entitled to retain monies from the Claimant’s company account for purported fees. Further, a counterclaim was entered regarding repayment of rent, it was successfully argued that there was a ‘rent free period’ supported by the Claimant’s financial accounts. As the Claimant also beat a previous Part 36 Offer at trial meaning further costs penalties were paid on an indemnity basis with a penalty payment thereby achieving almost a full recovery of costs.
  
• Sophie is also an active member of our networking group Wake Smith Link, our Charity Board and our Wellbeing Group.

Recent articles by Sophie Kerry

The Renters’ Rights Bill: The Second Reading
The Renters' Rights Bill: A new era for tenants and landlords
Is returning a tenancy deposit by cheque enough to comply with obligations before service of a Section 21 Notice?
Tenants - Renewing a commercial lease
Accessing adjoining building owner's land
Can a landlord end a Commercial Tenancy to use the premises for their own purpose?
Estate agents’ failure highlights landlord obligations
Are your neighbours watching you?