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 specialises in public family law cases representing all parties in care proceedings, deprivation of liberty and adoption proceedings. She also undertakes private children work, including representing rule 16.4 guardians. She has a particular interest in representing neurodivergent parents and children, whose needs are often misunderstood or ignored.
Laura has experience of care proceedings with an international element, including placement outside the jurisdiction and the potential transfer of proceedings under Articles 8 and 9 of the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention.
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.
