Clerking team

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw

Senior Clerk – Civil, Commercial & Employment Clerk

Michael Wolff

Junior Civil Clerk

Martin Craggs

Assistant Senior Clerk

Lara specialises in personal injury work and has acted for both Claimants and Defendants in clinical disputes, public and employer liability cases, road traffic litigation, high value Criminal Injury Compensation cases, inquests and catastrophic injury litigation. Lara has a particular interest in cases involving acquired brain injuries and serious spinal injuries.

Lara was called to the bar by the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in 1999, having previously read law at Liverpool John Moores University, before undertaking a master’s degree in International and European law at Liverpool University.

Personal injury

Lara is very experienced in Road Traffic Accident litigation, employers liability, public liability and occupier’s liability cases.

Lara is regularly instructed in cases involving credit hire, allegations of fraud and ‘low velocity impact’ claims. Lara is familiar with all aspects and legal arguments in respect of credit hire having undertaken a high volume of these cases. Lara considers that it is important to have a close working relationship with  those that instruct her and is happy to assist with both strategy and any queries that may arise within the litigation from the outset.

Catastrophic & fatal accidents

Lara is experienced in the most severe and catastrophic injury claims, including brain and spinal injuries, injuries at birth and amputation cases.

In respect of high value and catastrophic injury claims, Lara is a strong believer in a team-based approach, and advises having a tactical and strategic plan in place from the outset to maximise or minimise the damages (and costs). In addition, Lara will be happy to discuss with you any particular matter which requires the instruction of an appropriate expert having built up extensive knowledge of many experts in many fields over the years.

Accordingly, Lara appears before courts at all levels and is engaged in all aspects of the litigation process from drafting pleadings and advising in conference through to schedules of loss, general application work, trials and appeals. Lara is also regularly instructed in respect of CCMC hearings across the country.

Cases

Lara appeared for the Claimant in the matter of PV, a severe brain injury case before a tribunal involving injuries to an infant. Damages circa £3 million were obtained at an assessment.

In the case of LvC, Lara was instructed as junior counsel in a case where the claimant, a motorcyclist, suffered a brain injury and blindness as a result of his injuries. The case involved ( in particular) issues surrounding contributory negligence and causation arising out of a failure to wear a crash helmet. Settlement circa £800,000.

Construction & property

Lara has a keen interest in housing disrepair and has extensive experience of claimant litigation. Lara has undertaken a wide variety of work having been involved in all aspects of the litigation process including conferences, drafting particulars of claim, interlocutory hearings and trials.

Lara has also been a guest speaker at the Liverpool Law Society in 2019 delivering a lecture on the Pre Action Protocol for Housing disrepair. Further, Lara regularly provides training to solicitors upon all aspects of disrepair litigation.

This is another area of law which requires a particularly tactical approach as it is heavily expert-based and Lara is happy to assist instructing solicitors in this regard.

Lara also has extensive experience in anti-social behaviour injunctions and unlawful eviction claims, having successfully represented both tenants and landlords alike.