Sophie
Sheldon

Sophie is a Partner in the Digital Business Group, advising clients across the financial services and fintech, technology and telecommunications sectors on complex commercial, technology and regulatory matters. She has particular expertise in large-scale technology and outsourcing arrangements, operational resilience, third-party risk management, data protection and the deployment and governance of emerging technologies, including AI.

Sophie regularly supports major banks, asset managers, payment firms, insurers and technology providers on business-critical technology transformations, regulated outsourcing programmes and digital operating models. Having spent time on secondment with leading financial institutions and worked extensively with both financial services firms and their technology suppliers, she brings a practical understanding of the commercial, operational and regulatory drivers on all sides of a transaction. This enables her to deliver advice that is both strategically informed and commercially realistic.

A significant part of Sophie's practice focuses on helping financial institutions navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, including operational resilience requirements, outsourcing and third-party risk rules, digital operational resilience, AI governance and data regulation. She advises on the legal and regulatory implications of adopting innovative technologies, including a strong focus on AI, and drafts and negotiates the technology, data and commercial agreements that underpin those initiatives.

Sophie is the AI Lead for the Financial Institutions Sector and co-leads the firm's Buy, Build and Invest group, a key part of Simmons' Emerging Technology offering. She is recognised for helping clients bridge the gap between legal requirements, regulatory expectations and technology innovation.