Laura specialises in public family law cases representing all parties in care proceedings, deprivation of liberty, secure accommodation and adoption.
Laura provides realistic and straightforward advice, combined with an approachable, sympathetic style. Laura has a reputation for her thorough preparation of the papers.
Prior to being called to the Bar in 2017, Laura had accumulated over a decade of experience as a solicitor specialising in public children law. She was an accredited Law Society Children Panel solicitor and obtained her Higher Rights.
Family Law: Children's Law
Overview
Laura is an experienced advocate in public law proceedings including care proceedings with an international element. She is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents, grandparents, kinship carers and Guardians.
Laura regularly represents vulnerable clients who are neurodiverse, have a learning disability, mental health difficulties and substance misuse issues. Laura was recently led by King’s Counsel in a case where they represented a mother from the Irish Traveller community who faced significant discrimination from the local authority.
Notable Cases
T and J (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 1344
Represented the local authority (led by King’s Counsel) in a mother’s unsuccessful appeal against findings made in the care proceedings.
H–M (Children) [2021] EWCA Civ 748
Represented the local authority (led by King’s Counsel) in a mother’s second appeal relating to a fact-finding hearing. The criminal proceedings and the family proceedings had reached incongruent outcomes, in that the mother was in the family court’s pool of perpetrators but was exonerated of causing injury in the criminal court. Jackson LJ’s judgment upheld the lower court’s decision to refuse her application to reopen and set out the proper approach when criminal and family court outcomes are incongruent.
