Laura Johnson KC

Laura’s practice is focused on claims that are high value, complex or sensitive, acting for both claimants and defendants. She is an experienced advocate, equally comfortable advancing appellate arguments on points of law as she is addressing a civil jury. Many of Laura’s cases are resolved through ADR and she frequently represents parties in JSMs and mediations.

Laura enjoys working as part of a team. Her client care skills are often commended in the legal directories. Whether acting for injured or bereaved individuals, or representing institutions facing public scrutiny in controversial cases, she is focussed on understanding the needs of the client and providing thoughtful advice setting a clear strategy. Many of her cases involve multiple experts and she is used to dealing with and advising on complex medical and quantum evidence.

Laura’s current claimant work encompasses serious brain and spinal injury, amputation, functional neurological disorders, complex psychiatric and fatal claims.  She is instructed in a range of claims of substantial value involving serious injury to children, including traumatic brain injury necessitating full time care for life with associated accommodation and MDT cost claims.   She has considerable experience of managing cases involving large numbers of medical experts and complex medical issues.  Laura’s expertise in clinical negligence work means that she is well placed to advise on such issues.

Laura is a popular and experienced trial advocate, regularly acting for defendants in a range of work, often involving significant legal complexity and reputational sensitivity.  She is very experienced in cases concerning the existence and scope of the duty of care, vicarious liability and those that intersect with discrimination and human rights law (for work involving public bodies, human rights and discrimination see Laura’s profile for Public Sector and Human Rights work).

Laura has long been recognised as a leader in the field of clinical negligence.  She acts for claimants and defendants and is very experienced in cases involving catastrophic injury, including brain and spinal injury. She is a popular and confident trial advocate, regularly instructed in substantial seven figure claims. She has a particular interest in novel legal issues and has appeared recently in the Court of Appeal and High Court in leading cases involving questions of consent and the duty of care owed to secondary victims.

Between 2020 and 2022 Laura was instructed in the Manchester Arena Inquiry, representing the interests of Greater Manchester Combined Authority on behalf of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, led by Andrew Warnock KC.

Laura has long been recognised as a leading junior in the field of actions against the police, acting exclusively for police forces.

Laura’s work encompasses misfeasance in public office, malicious prosecution, Human Rights Act claims for failing to conduct an adequate investigation, allegations of excessive force resulting in serious personal injury, wrongful arrest, vicarious liability claims for police officers accused of serious sexual misconduct, employers’ liability, occupational stress / harassment and claims concerning novel duties of care.

Throughout her career Laura has acted for public authorities in a broad range of work.  She has expertise in cases brought in negligence, under the Equality Act 2010 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

BA(Hons) Philosophy, Politics and Economics, St Anne’s College, Oxford