Senior Clerk - Family and Court of Protection
Assistant Senior Clerk (Children)
Family Clerk
‘Laura is an extremely experienced barrister who is entrusted with the most serious of cases in the Court of Protection. She is the epitome of calmness and professionalism, providing detailed and complex advice in a way which is accessible to lay clients, and her knowledge and experience in the Court of Protection, and her background in property and affairs, means that she is the complete package.’
Legal 500, 2025
Laura specialises in all aspects of Court of Protection law, with extensive experience in both the health and welfare and property and affairs jurisdictions.
Laura is regularly instructed to act on behalf of the Official Solicitor, local authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs and family members. She has experience of many aspects of health and welfare law in the Court of Protection, including serious medical treatment, Covid vaccinations, cases involving issues of coercion and control, challenges to contact arrangements, deprivation of liberty and best interests disputes. Laura has dealt with a number of complex cases, which have included disputes surrounding the correct legal framework for detention of an individual lacking capacity and the interplay between the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act.
Laura also has extensive experience from her previous practice in the practicalities of day-to-day property and affairs management. She is instructed in cases where deputies or attorneys have had their appointments revoked for misconduct, financial abuse cases, disputes surrounding P’s capacity and to advise on the appropriateness of deputyship in individual cases. Laura regularly accepts instructions in financial Court of Protection matters, including contested proceedings involving deputyship appointments and removal of attorneys and deputies.
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v PK & Anor [2025] EWCOP 17 (T3)
Led by Joseph O’Brien KC, successfully represented the daughter of ‘PK’ in this serious medical treatment case in the Court of Protection. They secured an order that it was in PK’s best interests to continue to receive clinically assisted nutrition and hydration via a nasogastric tube.
NYCCG v E (Covid Vaccination) [2022] EWCOP 15
Laura represented the (then) CCG before Mr Justice Poole in an application to have P vaccinated against Covid-19 which was opposed by his sister. The case was a notable judgment in which Poole J handed down guidance as to which dispute around vaccination should (and should not) be brought to court for determination. The case was reported on BAILII.
WU v BU, NC and A Council [2021] EWCOP 54
Laura represented the local authority with safeguarding responsibility for P. The case involved expert findings around the issue of coercive control, noted to be particularly insidious where a protected party is concerned. The court was also tasked with whether the threshold was passed for a forced marriage protection order in circumstances in which P had capacity to enter into a marriage. The case was reported on BAILII.
A Local Authority v AB (by her litigation friend, the Official Solicitor) [2020] EWCOP 39
Laura was instructed by the local authority in this case which considered the meaning of deprivation of liberty in the context of adults, one of the few cases to tackle this question since Cheshire West and Ferreira. The court was asked to consider the interaction between the two limbs of the acid test set down in Cheshire West to determine whether a person is confined. The case was reported on BAILII.
Re SB (Capacity Assessment) [2020] EWCOP 43
The second judgment in the case in which Laura represented AB, P’s mother, in a complex case involving questions of over P’s capacity. This judgment concerned an application to conclude proceedings without the instruction of an independent expert to conduct a further assessment of P’s capacity. The application was opposed by P’s mother. The case was reported on BAILII.
A Local Authority v AB and SB [2020] EWCOP 32
Laura represented AB, P’s mother, in a complex case involving questions of over P’s capacity in which the court was required to consider the likelihood of an improvement in P’s capacity over time, where her diagnosis was stable. The case was reported on BAILII.
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust v PW [2019] EWCOP 10
Laura represented the NHS Trust in a case involving a lower limb amputation. The case served as an important reminder of the obligations on treating hospitals where an application may need to be made in relation to medical treatment. The case was reported on BAILII.
Lincolnshire County Council v Mr AB [2019] EWCOP 43
Laura represented P, through his litigation friend, in one of the first reported cases to tackle the legality of whether a protected party can and should be supported to access sex workers in a jurisdiction where it is legal to do so. The case was reported on BAILII.
Laura accepts instructions from NHS Trusts and ICBs in cases under the Children Act 1989 which involve complex issues around deprivation of liberty under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Many of the cases Laura has appeared in have involved an interplay with the Mental Health Act 1983.
North Yorkshire County Council v C and Ors [2021] EWHC 2171 (Fam)
Laura was instructed by NHS England in this case which concerned a 15-year-old girl, M, with highly complex needs and a significant offending history. She was assessed as requiring admission to a medium secure unit in order to meet her needs, however was accommodated at a secure children’s home which was acknowledged by all involved as not capable of meeting her needs beyond the very short term. MacDonald J handed down a judgment part way through proceedings as the case is yet another example of a matter coming before the courts where there is no mental health provision available to meet a vulnerable child’s needs. The case was reported on BAILII.
Laura has a particular interest in inquests involving residents at care homes and hospitals who are deprived of their liberty under Schedule A1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
“Laura is a calm and authoritative voice of reason. A tremendously insightful junior.” Legal 500 2024
“Laura is a diligent, determined and committed barrister. She is persuasive and direct in court, fantastic on her feet, and unfazed by difficult cases. A fantastic negotiator who is exceptional with clients.” Legal 500 2023
Legal 500 Shortlisted Junior of the Year 2022, Government and Third Sector
“Laura is a very talented member of the Bar. She has a fantastic understanding of Court of Protection matters, is always completely on top of the case, and makes very sensible and pragmatic suggestions. Laura instills confidence in clients and instructing solicitors alike through her calm and measured approach.” Legal 500 2022 (Court of Protection)
“An exceptional junior barrister and far beyond her years in the field of Court of Protection work.” Legal 500 2021 (Court of Protection)
“An excellent advocate with genuine skill and specialist knowledge.” Legal 500 2020 (Court of Protection)
