Sophia Dzwig

• Successfully represented insurers in a HKIAC arbitration on a trade-credit insurance policy with Nicholas Craig KC.
• LCIA arbitration for unfair prejudice under s.995 Companies Act 2006 with Andrew Fletcher KC and James McWilliams.
• LCIA arbitration on a trade-credit insurance policy with Colin Edelman KC and Peter Ratcliffe.
• Appeal under section 69 Arbitration Act 1996 from LMAA arbitration arising out of Petrobras bribery and money-laundering convictions (HPOR Servicos de Consultoria Ltda v Dryships Inc [2018] EWHC 3451 (Comm)) with Ali Malek KC.
• Junior counsel for a state in an arbitration under an investor-state treaty.
• Tribunal secretary in LCIA arbitrations.
• As a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court, assisted Sir Michael Burton at hearing of enforcement application under s.103 Arbitration Act 1996 in J (Lebanon) v K (Kuwait) [2019] EWHC 899 (Comm) (later in the Supreme Court Kabab-Ji SAL (Lebanon) (Appellant) v Kout Food Group (Kuwait) [2021] UKSC 48).

Sophia was awarded Media and Arts Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2025. She is ranked in Band 2 for art & cultural property law by Chambers & Partners’ 2025 UK Bar Guide and 2025 High Net Worth Guide, and as a Tier 1 Leading Junior for art and cultural property by Legal 500’s 2025 UK Bar Guide.

In 2025, Sophia was shortlisted by Chambers & Partners as a Star Junior for the High Net Worth Awards, and by Legal 500 as Media and Arts Junior of the Year.

• Acted for an auction house in claim for breach of a consignment agreement.
• Acted for an auction house in title dispute over paintings left with it for valuation and research.
• Expert opinion on English law for insurers in a Zurich Commercial Court dispute over diminution in value of a stolen and damaged painting.
• Advised an auction house on issues arising from sale of stolen Chinese artefacts.
• Alongside her busy practice, in 2021 Sophia undertook the Institute of Art and Law’s Diploma in Art Profession Law and Ethics, for which she received a high Distinction.

• Claim arising from sale of a portfolio of assets in the coronavirus-related market crash in March 2020 – acted for a bank with David Simpson.
• Sole counsel for a bank in relation to a freezing order under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 against a defendant convicted of mortgage fraud.
• Claim against forex trading platform retaining client’s money, with Rajesh Pillai KC.
• Claim for recovery of £290,000 loan (sole counsel).
• Claim and advice relating to penalty clause in hire contract (sole counsel).
• Assisted Sir Ross Cranston in the Cranston Review arising out of criminal misconduct at HBOS Reading.
• Claim relating to a letter of credit with Ali Malek KC.
• Obtained Civil Restraining Order as sole counsel in cryptocurrency-related dispute.
• Advising on Consumer Credit Act 1974 repercussions of improper service and notice.
• Sole counsel in numerous other banking and finance cases in the County Courts, including County Court trials.
• Co-author, “Margin calls during global crises: practice note” Practical Law with Adrian Beltrami KC and David Simpson (https://3vb.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Margin-calls-w-025-5316.pdf)
• Co-author, ‘Bank Resolution: Key Issues and Local Perspectives’ INSOL with James Potts and Hodge Malek KC.

Sophia is ranked by The Legal 500’s 2025 UK Bar Guide as a Leading Junior in Fraud: Civil.

• Successfully representing a key defendant group, including personally making submissions, in Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners, a £1.4bn fraud and unjust enrichment claim by the Danish tax authority, with Andrew Onslow KC, David Head KC, Christopher Bond, Tom De Vecchi and Hannah Glover.
• Sole counsel for a bank in relation to a freezing order under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 against a defendant convicted of mortgage fraud.
• Acted for a defendant to a claim by the Kuwaiti national pension fund arising from alleged payment of secret commissions, with Adam Kramer KC and Ian Higgins
• Acted for the National Crime Agency with Andrew Sutcliffe KC in proceedings for freezing order and civil recovery order arising from alleged money laundering.
• Member of the Serious Fraud Office’s Panel of Counsel (Proceeds of Crime International Assistance Division, Panel C).
• Appeal under section 69 Arbitration Act 1996 from LMAA arbitration arising out of Petrobras bribery and money-laundering convictions (HPOR Servicos de Consultoria Ltda v Dryships Inc [2018] EWHC 3451 (Comm)) with Ali Malek KC.
• Sole counsel in numerous enforcement applications in the High Court, including amendment of freezing order, winding up of a company, charging orders and orders for sale, arising out of fraud and unjust enrichment claim.
• As a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court, assisted Jacobs J in 5-week trial in Vald. Nielsen Holding A/S Newwatch Ltd v Baldorino & Ors [2019] EWHC 1926 (Comm), now a regularly cited authority in fraudulent misrepresentation caser.

• LCIA arbitration for unfair prejudice under s.995 Companies Act 2006, arising from breakdown in multi-million pound family business, with Andrew Fletcher KC and James McWilliams.
• Advised on unfair prejudice petition, arising from breakdown in multi-million pound family business, in a Caribbean jurisdiction.
• Numerous appearances as sole counsel in insolvency and bankruptcy applications.
• As a Judicial Assistant in the Commercial Court, assisted Jacobs J in 5-week trial in Vald. Nielsen Holding A/S Newwatch Ltd v Baldorino & Ors [2019] EWHC 1926 (Comm) relating to management buyout at an undervalue.

Sophia is ranked by The Legal 500’s 2025 UK Bar Guide as a Leading Junior in Insurance and Reinsurance.

• Insurance contribution claim relating to defective cladding with Tom Weitzman KC.
• Expert opinion on English law for insurers in a Zurich Commercial Court dispute over diminution in value of a stolen and damaged painting.
• Advising insurers (as sole counsel) on coverage under D&O policies in relation to minority shareholder/ derivative claims (multiple cases).
• Advising on war and terrorism (LMA 3030 standard wording) coverage of political protests, with Tom Weitzman KC.
• Acting for insurance broker in negligence and breach of contract claim relating to a fatal industrial accident with Tom Weitzman KC.
• Successfully represented insurers in a HKIAC arbitration on a trade-credit insurance policy with Nicholas Craig KC, involving structured trade finance and coverage/ avoidance issues.
• LCIA arbitration on a trade-credit insurance policy with Colin Edelman KC and Peter Ratcliffe, involving structured trade finance and coverage/ avoidance issues.
• Advising Premier League football club on business interruption insurance coverage with Adam Kramer KC.
• Successfully acted for the claimant in Acorn UK Finance Ltd v Markel [2020] EWHC 922 (Comm), £16m professional indemnity insurance avoidance trial, with Adam Kramer KC.

• Acted for Sir Frederick and Amanda Barclay in claim for breach of confidence, misuse of private information, Data Protection Act 2018/ GDPR breaches and conspiracy, successfully obtaining urgent doorstep-delivery up injunctions and related press restrictions, with Hefin Rees KC and Cleon Catsambis.