Sofia has broad experience acting and advising on a wide range of complex, high-profile commercial and regulatory disputes, including enforcement actions and competition, product liability, negligence and contractual disputes.

Notable Experience

• Representing key New Zealand regulators, including the Commerce Commission and Financial Markets Authority, in significant regulatory enforcement proceedings against various companies, including proceedings in relation to cartel conduct, misleading and deceptive conduct and market manipulation
• Acting for the New Zealand Ministry of Education in a high-profile product liability claim against a building products manufacturer for losses arising out of defective cladding on school buildings
• Advising an airline in relation to various competition law matters, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's investigation of Qantas' proposed acquisition of Alliance Airlines, and an application to the ACCC for authorisation of a charter alliance agreement
• Advising a payment provider in relation to the ACCC's high-profile misuse of market power proceedings against Mastercard
• Representing Oyster Group, a leading New Zealand property management company, in a negligent misstatement claim against an engineering firm

Background

Sofia was admitted to the bar in New Zealand in 2019 and is enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. Prior to joining PCB Byrne in 2024, Sofia worked as an associate in New Zealand and Australia, including at the Office of the Crown Solicitor for Auckland and in the competition and regulation team of one of Australia's leading commercial law firms. Sofia recently completed an LLM at the University of Cambridge and holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations and French Language) from the University of Auckland. Sofia is fluent in Russian and proficient in French.

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