Civil



Laura has a particular interest in personal injury cases and regularly represents both Claimants and Defendants in the County Courts. She has experience in writing advices and drafting pleadings in relation to road traffic accidents, employers’ liability and public liability claims for personal injury. Laura has also successfully negotiated settlements at the door of the court where the case did not have good prospects of success.



Laura gained valuable experience of Employment claims during her pupillage under the supervision of Philip Jones and recently conducted a 2 day Employment trial in the Employment Tribunal in an unfair (constructive) dismissal claim.



Laura has further experience of landlord and tenant disputes in possession claims, has appeared in the High Court in bankruptcy claims and advised in relation to the recovery of costs on appeal. She looks forward to extending her civil practice.



Criminal and related work



Laura regularly appears in the Magistrates’ Courts appearing on behalf of both prosecuting authorities and defendants. She is instructed regularly by the Department for Work and Pensions prosecuting benefit fraud cases. She also appears on behalf of defendants throughout all stages of the criminal process and has conducted numerous defence trials in the Magistrates’ Courts. She has experience appearing in the Crown Court and drafting defence pleadings. Rosina Cottage (a grade 4 prosecutor) was one of her supervisors during pupillage. Laura has been instructed in two Crown Court trials listed in late 2010 and intends to build upon the busy and varied criminal practice she has already established.



Family



Laura has experience in a variety of family cases. She has acted for local authorities, parents and children in public care proceedings as well as representing parents in private family law matters. Furthermore, Laura has conducted numerous ancillary relief hearings, including a final hearing for a claimant involving issues over alleged fraud and unreasonable conduct on the part of the respondent. Laura looks forward to developing her family practice.

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