Sophie East

Sophie holds a Master of Laws from Harvard Law School and worked for four years as an Associate in the international arbitration team at White & Case in New York. She has extensive international arbitration experience including acting for international organisations, military and defence contractors, and sovereign states.

In both 2020 and 2021, Sophie was named in Benchmark Asia-Pacific's Top 100 Women in Litigation which recognises leading female litigators who have participated in some of the "most impactful litigation matters in recent history." Sophie was named runner up for New Zealand Litigation Lawyer of the Year at the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Awards 2021. Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2021 also ranks Sophie as a leading "Litigation Star."

Sophie is ranked as a leading individual for dispute resolution by The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024.

Sophie is named in NZ Lawyer's Elite Women 2022 list. She’s also recognised as a commercial arbitration lawyer of the year in the Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2023.

Watch Sophie's interview w​ith Newsroom on the New Zealand Law Commission's review of the law relating to class actions and litigation funding.​

ANZ Bank – Wellington developer claims
Successfully defended ANZ Bank in a NZD$50 million claim by a property developer relating to the sale of a commercial building in Wellington.  Acting for the Bank in subsequent disputes with the same borrower.

Arvida AL Holdings Limited
Acting in an approximately NZD$50 million breach of warranty claim against Lendlease, the vendor of five retirement villages in Auckland, arising from significant weathertightness issues at three of the villages.

Lambie Trust dispute
Acting for the beneficiary of a substantial Trust in claims against the Trustee, with the initial stages of this matter going all the way up to the Supreme Court.

Asia Pacific Village Group (APVG) and Metlifecare proceedings
Acted for APVG in a dispute over APVG’s termination of a NZ$1.5 billion transaction to buy the Metlifecare retirement village business as a result of the emergence and spread of COVID-19. This was one of the first pieces of litigation in New Zealand resulting from COVID-19 and the transaction itself was named M&A Deal of the Year at the 2021 New Zealand Law Awards.  Referring to the litigation aspects, the Judges noted that “The case raised complex issues including the impact of COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic on the interpretation of MAC clauses.”

Feltex Carpets class action
Defence of the former directors of Feltex Carpets in a class action proceeding brought by a group of investors and funded by a professional litigation funder. This was the largest prospectus liability claim ever brought in New Zealand and the first class action.

Bank fees class action
Acted for ANZ Bank in defence of a class action brought by customers over the charging of certain account and credit card fees.

Reinsurance arbitration
Acting for an insurer in a claim for NZ$18 million under a reinsurance policy.

CCCFA compliance
​Regularly advises lenders on compliance with the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, including in several ongoing inquiries by the Commerce Commission.

FMA/NZX inquiries
Acted for several listed companies in regulatory inquiries relating to continuous disclosure obligations and the content of disclosure documents.

High Court earthquake claims insurance litigation
​Counsel for Southern Response in a number of High Court cases concerning claims for insurance cover as a result of damage caused by the Canterbury earthquakes.