NINA BENEST

Nina has over twenty years’ experience in the legal profession in Jersey. She was sworn in as an Advocate of the Royal Court in August 1999, having been called to the English Bar in 1996 (Middle Temple). Nina joined Benest & Syvret at its inception in October 1997.

As an Advocate, Nina regularly appears in Court as well as before other tribunals. As the Partner heading our dispute resolution and litigation team, she also has a wealth of experience undertaking lawyer led negotiations, mediation, arbitration and private FDRs as alternative means of resolving disputes, not just through the Courts.

Nina appeared in Downes v Marshall [2010] JRC 115B, in which the court redefined the test for Appeals from the Family Registrar to the Royal Court. In De La Haye v Walton [2013] JRC 021, Nina successfully represented the plaintiff in a case that developed the doctrine of rapport á la masse in succession cases.

Nina is a former chair of the Jersey Family Law Association and is an accredited member of Jersey's Children Panel and as such represents both children and primary carers in public children law cases.

Nina is an Associate member of the Jersey Construction Council and contributes to it's work by sitting on the Policy Sub Committee.

She is also a member of the Clergy Disciplinary Division of the Ecclesiastical Court.

Outside of the office, Nina is an accomplished musician and plays viola in the Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys gardening and trying new recipes from her extensive cookery book collection.

Clare Woodhouse

Clare graduated from the University of East Anglia, with a BA in European Cultural Studies followed by a Diploma in Law. Thereafter, she went on to do her LPC at APU in Chelmsford.

Clare did her training contract at a small high street firm in Norfolk called ‘Hood, Vores and Allwood’ before qualifying as a solicitor in 2004. She worked for 3 years at a firm called ‘Ward Gethin’ where she specialised in family law before moving to Jersey.

In Jersey, Clare worked at ‘Mourant’ for 13 years, in their Family Legal Aid Department as a senior associate.

Her specialisms include children matters, both public and private, as well as matrimonial and personal injury work.

She has also completed the Mind course and is a qualified Mental Health First Aider. Until recently she was a trustee for the Jersey Child Care Trust.

Clare has two lovely children who she spends as much time with, outside of work as possible. 

DARRY ROBINSON

Advocate Darry Robinson is a litigator with broad experience. He joined Benest & Syvret in July 2018, having previously worked within the Attorney General’s Office.

Darry is a leading advocate with a practice that encompasses many aspects of public and private law cases and civil litigation arising out of family law, human rights, local authority duties, and negligence. Darry’s civil practice encompasses high value claims in tort, including group claims. He is particularly well known for bringing civil claims against the Government of Jersey on behalf of victims whose human rights have been contravened and for bringing high value claims against the Government of Jersey for individuals who have suffered severe physical and psychological injury.

Darry is known for his confident manner in court, highly persuasive style of advocacy and excellent client care. He is an expert in administrative proceedings, judicial review and human rights.

Darry succeeded for the plaintiffs in the landmark human rights Royal Court decision of F, H, Y, W, T, S [2021] JRC280, which examined the principle of real and effective consent for the purposes of Art 17 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 and the lawful authority to accommodate children as a consequence of instigating police protection measures under Art 41 of the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 and proportionate and necessary responses of social services and the police to avoid subverting the statutory regime.

In the Royal Court case J -v- Chief Minister [2020] JRC215, Darry, acting on behalf of the appellant, successfully sought the dismissal of conditions imposed by the Chief Minister pursuant to Article 41 of the Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law 2012 preventing J’s family from accessing the Affordable Housing Gateway in Jersey and failing to recognise the needs of the children.

Darry advanced proceeding to the Court of Appeal concerning a child who had been unlawfully placed in a UK residential unit. There was an important legal issue that required resolution by the Court of Appeal and which related to all Jersey children placed in UK residential units under Jersey care orders.  Rather than proceeding to appeal the Government of Jersey lodged the Children (Arrangements to Assist Children to Live Outside Jersey) (Amendment) (Jersey) Law 2022 which was adopted by the States Assembly on 2 March 2022 to amend the Children Law and to enable the Court to approve arrangements for a child that is to live outside Jersey in suitable residential accommodation.

Darry is an accredited member of the Jersey Children’s Panel and is able to work for both children and parents.

Hobbies

Outside of work Darry likes spending time with his family and rowing. He has on a number of occasions competed as part of a team in the demanding Sark to Jersey rowing race.

SOPHIA MOUSTRAS

Sophia joined Benest & Syvret as an Associate in the Dispute Resolution team in June 2024. She handles a wide range of disputes, including property disputes, contentious probate matters, personal injury claims, public law proceedings, matrimonial matters, and criminal investigations.

Career Overview

Sophia brings five years of offshore legal experience to her role at Benest & Syvret. She was admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales in September 2022, following the successful completion of a two-year training contract at another offshore law firm in Jersey. During her training, Sophia rotated through three seats—Corporate, Finance and Funds, Dispute Resolution, and International Private Client and Trusts—spending eight months in each. Prior to her training contract, Sophia worked as a Paralegal in a Corporate, Finance and Funds team.

Before joining Benest & Syvret, she was an Associate in the Private Client and Trusts Team at the same firm where she trained. In this role, she primarily managed contentious trust disputes and assisted with trust advisory matters, providing comprehensive advice to all parties involved in a trust's lifecycle.

Sophia's diverse experience equips her with a well-rounded perspective, allowing her to effectively represent clients by applying insights from various legal disciplines.

Education

In 2018, Sophia graduated from Liverpool John Moores University, with a 2:1 Honours degree in Law. She then completed the Legal Practice Course in 2019 at BPP University, London, with elective studies in private acquisitions, debt finance, and employment law.

Future Aspirations

Sophia plans to undertake the Jersey Advocacy Exams to qualify as a Jersey Advocate in the near future.