Areas of expertise
Industries
Languages
English
French
Since joining VBB in September 2022, Sophie Sundaram has gained experience in all areas of our trade practice including sanctions, regulatory and trade defence matters.
She has advised a wide range of high-profile clients, from foreign governments to leading international companies in a broad range of sectors.
Sophie has a particular interest in issues concerning regulatory divergence between the EU and the UK. She regularly advises clients on compliance with both EU and UK regulations such as sanctions, sustainability and product-related legislation.
In this respect, she benefits from a strong academic background in both EU and UK law, having completed a Bachelors in UK law at the University of Cambridge and a Masters in European Legal Studies at the College of Europe prior to joining VBB.
Representative matters
- Advising a number of companies on how to divest from Russia in compliance with EU sanctions, including preparing licence applications.
- Advising several multinational companies and shipping insurers on the compliance of proposed transactions under EU and UK sanctions law.
- Assisting several companies and associations, including in the digital sector, with their internal sanctions compliance obligations.
- Advising foreign governments on new EU regulations and trade policy directions, including their compatibility with EU law, WTO rules and preferential free trade agreements.
- Advising a company on potential legal avenues to advocate for amendments to EU legislation.
- Advising several companies on their risks and obligations under EU Green Deal legislation such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.
- Advising numerous companies on regulations applicable to their products upon import to the EU and UK.
Pro bono
Sophie plays an active part in the firm’s DE&I initiatives.
Academic
- L.L.M. in European Legal Studies, College of Europe (Bruges), 2022
- BA in Law, University of Cambridge, 2021
- Erasmus Studies, University of Poitiers, 2020
Publications
- US “America First Trade Policy” and EU Competitiveness Compass: Key implications for EU trade policy, VBB News Alert
- EU Forced Labour Products Ban Regulation Enters into Force, VBB News Alert
- Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive: Update, VBB News Alert
- Op-Ed: “Giving the Commission carte blanche in trade defence investigations? (Eurobolt– C 517/22 P)”, EU Law Live: Co-author
News & insights
1 min
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Briefings
UK announces new sanctions package against Russia on fourth anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine
26 February 2026
5 min
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Briefings
EU sanctions against Russia – what to expect from the forthcoming 20th EU sanctions package
16 February 2026
