Sophie Newbould

Sophie has been involved in infrastructure and complex commercial procurement and contract disputes for over 20 years now.

After several years in industry (construction and telecoms), Sophie specialised in technology and governance in an International Business Law Masters (2005); qualified as a UK business lawyer in 2008, and moved swiftly into local government shared services and Central Government/regulated markets complex data, digital and technology (DDaT) projects as lead advisor and negotiator.  In her effort to provide disruptive client legal and business services, Sophie set up Newbould & Co Solicitors in 2017, with strong emphasis on data solutions for client business growth.

Sophie has worked with the following organisations and projects over the past six years:

• MOJ in 2014-15 on their <£1blln Future IT Solutions Programme under dispute with two major primes.
• PWC in 205-16 on its successful application as the first Big 4 firm to be appointed on a Central Government legal services panel.
• The Police ICT Company in 2017 as the commercial lawyer advising on national policing data, digital and technology procurements.
• Home Office Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESN) 2017-18 on contract changes and issues settlement with Motorola and other contracts.
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office 2018 Brexit impact review of global and national commercial contracts.
• Met Office >£1Bn supercomputer competitive dialogue procurement preparation in 2019.
• 4th National Lottery Licence competitive dialogue, providing legal and risk advice to this major programme Senior Leadership Team over 2020-21.
• The Bank of England Senior Counsel advising on information technology systems procurement, sustainability obligations and contract fraud mitigation systems and processes.
• Home Office and Border Force on the procurement of national critical infrastructure Future e-Gate Project for 2022+.

Frustrated at the scale of serious issues arising under large DDaT procurements and contracts, Sophie established technology company innov8law in 2020 to provide professions and organisations with business capability solutions that focus on the customer centric requirements and remove risks of implementing unsatisfactory and unaffordable systems likely to lead to customer business disruption and disputes.

Sophie is a regular speaker to members of the Association of Project Management (APM), TechUK and Westminster Projects Forum as well as contributor to the London Future Lawyer Week and ITechLaw Association European Conference.