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Sophia Ali

Posted on: January 6th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I joined the Residential Real Estate Team at Lawrence Stephens in 2025. Prior to this, I worked in the new build team of a regional firm for six years. I have acted for a range of clients, from first-time buyers to clients purchasing retirement properties. The developers I worked with would use our team as the ‘panel’ (or preferred) solicitor for their purchasers, showcasing our knowledge and expertise in this area. 

My focus is always on providing clear advice, ensuring my clients feel supported and informed at every stage of their journey. I pride myself on delivering a seamless experience, resolving challenges efficiently, and building strong relationships with both clients and developers, based on trust and results.

Outside of the office, I enjoy cooking, baking & attending family gatherings. 

Experience highlights

  • Acted for a first-time buyer on the purchase of a flat for over £2 million.
  • Worked in a small team acting for purchasers completing on 40 properties in one day.

Sarah Gallagher

Posted on: August 3rd, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens in 2023, with nearly a decade’s prior experience working in the new build real estate market.

My primary client base is formed of purchasers of both leasehold and freehold new build properties, inside and outside of the Greater London area and developers selling plots at a variety of developments. Whilst my specialism is largely new build work, I also act for those selling and purchasing residential properties of all varieties, including shared ownership, HNW and UHNW.

I have acted as the recommended solicitor on several developments constructed by national housing developers of a household name, ensuring an efficient service whilst also ensuring that my client’s needs were prioritised throughout. More recently, I acted on a prime Manchester development, whereby I personally dealt with the exchange of over 200 plots within a four-month period.

I pride myself on providing a high level of service to each of my clients, applying specialist technical knowledge to each case but also remaining approachable and prioritising each client’s individual needs. I maintain a risk adverse but commercially sensitive approach and always make myself available for any queries that my clients might need answered.

I have been recognised within the new build market as providing an efficient, structured and detailed service to my clients, with previous clients describing me as “dealing with the whole process with a professionalism, speed and warmth that all solicitors should aspire to”.

In my spare time,  I enjoy cooking (and, of course, the resultant eating). I also try to go out running at least twice a week, although the arrival of my son late last year has meant that most of the running that I do currently is after him.

Experience highlights 

  • Acted for a prominent international ultra-high net worth client purchasing at the Battersea Power Station Development for over £4m
  • Acted for clients purchasing through an assignment, where instructed both before and after notice to complete had been served
  • Acted for a high-net-worth client purchasing 10 units at a development for a collective price of over £8m