Civil, Family and Mediation, Financial Remedies

Laura has a busy common law practice, although her focus is on Family law and Civil litigation. 

She frequently represents parents in both private and public law, the local authority and Guardians at all stages of proceedings. In respect of her public law practice, Laura has represented parents and the Local Authority where the care plans have been adoption and/or sibling separation. Laura has dealt with cases of alleged child abductions, dealt with vulnerable clients suffering domestic abuse, undertaken successful fact-findings and has experience with international clients. 

Alongside her children work, Laura is frequently instructed to represent clients in ancillary relief matters. Most recently, she was successful in obtaining a £35,000 uplift for her client at a final hearing after running a conduct argument. Prior to joining Westgate, Laura worked at as a family paralegal which has greatly assisted her ancillary relief practice. This role meant Laura was constantly drafting Form E’s, schedules, statements and questionnaires and can provide experienced assistance with such documents. 

Laura also accepts civil instructions including, but not limited to, housing, general negligence claims, personal injury, defending ASBIs and debt recovery cases. She is instructed on a weekly basis to provide quantum advices on injuries sustained by children as a result of road traffic collisions, food poisoning or Employers/Public liability. Laura has a particular interest in personal injury and clinical negligence, after specialising in this area at Bar School and working as a paralegal in the field. 

Laura has defended numerous clients in the Magistrates Court, handling a wide range of criminal offences from domestic violence, drug offences, offensive weapons public order and motoring offences. She also appears in the Crown Court to deal with case management and sentences.

She prides herself on her affable and professional manner with her clients. She believes it is important to actively communicate with Instructing Solicitors to reassure clients, in what is an extremely stressful situation for them, that their legal team are working collaboratively. 

Laura is an accredited Civil and Commercial mediator through the ADR Group and is currently able to take instructions. She has also authored a number of blogs, one of which was published by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

Member of Sussex Resolutions

BPTC: University of the West of England (Outstanding)  LLB: University of the West of England (2:1) Certificate of Honour at The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2016) ADR Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator