‘Laura thoroughly prepares her cases, pays great attention to detail and really goes the extra mile when it comes to client care.’ (The Legal 500 2023)
Overview
Laura joined St. Mary’s as a tenant in 2015 following the successful completion of her pupillage. She has a practice which encompasses a wide variety of family work including public and private law children, injunctions, forced marriage, and FGM.
Laura graduated in Law from the University of Leeds in 2012. From 2012 - 2013 she studied the BPTC at BPP Law School in Leeds achieving a ‘Very Competent’ and winning the Zenith Mooting Competition 2013. Laura was called to the Bar in 2013 and was awarded the Basil Nield Scholarship from the Inner Temple prior to commencing pupillage in October 2014.
Practice Areas
Laura is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents, interveners, and children in public law proceedings. She is experienced in all stages of proceedings, ranging from initial directions hearings to multi-day matters. She has been involved in cases involving serious suspected inflicted injuries to children, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and emotional harm. Laura has involvement in representing a range of professional and lay clients in standalone or composite finding of fact hearings involving injuries to children and serious abuse between parents, including sexual abuse. She has also represented individuals applying for standalone special guardianship orders and has considerable experience in cases involving parents seeking permission to revoke/oppose placement and adoption orders.
Laura is regularly instructed on behalf of parents and children in private law proceedings. She is experienced in all stages of proceedings, ranging from initial directions hearings to multi-day matters. She has been involved in cases involving serious suspected inflicted injuries to children, physical and sexual abuse, neglect and emotional harm.
Laura is very experienced in injunctive work in both seeking and defending the making of non-molestation and occupation orders.
Laura has provided written advice and representation in forced marriage matters and has an interest in cases involving FGM.
Cases & Publications
Recent cases
Laura represented a mother in private law proceedings who was alleging physical, emotional and sexual abuse against the father and was successful in securing findings of physical and sexual abuse against the perpetrator.
Laura represented a father in private law proceedings who was facing allegations that he had sexually, physically and emotionally abused the mother and sexually abused the parties’ daughter. The court made no findings against the father and instead made a positive finding that he had not abused the mother or child in the manner alleged.
Laura represented a father in private law proceedings who was facing allegations by the mother and wider maternal family of reckless shooting and sexual, physical abuse and emotional abuse of the mother. The court made no findings against the father and instead made a finding of collusion against the maternal family.
Laura represented a partner in public law proceedings who was facing allegations of deliberately inflicting three fractures to a child. Laura was successful in persuading the court that, on balance, the injuries were not deliberately inflicted resulting in the return of the children to the home of the mother and partner.
Reported Cases
O (A Child : Judgment: Adequacy Of Reasons) [2021] EWCA Civ 149
F (A Child) (Care Order : Deprivation of Liberty) [2021] EWHC 3527 (Fam)
Testimonials
‘Laura thoroughly prepares her cases, pays great attention to detail and really goes the extra mile when it comes to client care.’ (The Legal 500 2023)
“Laura is so thorough – she has done a sterling job on yesterday’s matter” – Solicitor
“I just wanted to say thank you very much for appointing Laura Martin to act as my barrister yesterday. She was absolutely fantastic and the consummate professional that you promised she would be. It was reassuring to have her act for me and she was very efficient in ensuring that the order was tight. I'm very grateful to you for making that decision for me” – Client
Contact Laura
For more information or to enquire about Laura's availability please complete the form below.