Laura Addy undertakes criminal work at all levels in the criminal justice system and is ranked as a Leading Junior for Crime in the 2025 edition of The Legal 500.
Laura’s work is predominately defence work in the Crown Court. She is routinely instructed to defend in serious criminal cases including murder and other serious violence, serious and complex sexual offences whether historic, stranger or recent, regularly dealing with drug or financial conspiracies as well as other dishonesty matters.
‘Laura is outstanding in every aspect. She is incredibly intelligent with immaculate preparation. An authoritative advocate.’
Laura is known to have a gentle, patient and understanding manner with clients and witnesses. She regularly is briefed to represent those who have their own challenges including those who are suffering from significant mental health difficulties. Laura’s Court manner is such that she affords trust and respect from the Judges who know Laura can be relied upon to present her case carefully, thoroughly, properly and with a persuasive turn of phrase. Laura ensures every client’s case, no matter how big or small, is presented in the best possible way and to ensure the best outcome for each and every one. Every client’s case is given the personal touch as everybody’s case is individual and unique and Laura appreciates how significant Court cases are in the lives of her clients.
Like her defence work, Laura’s prosecution work regularly sees her deal with serious offences, including attempt murder, multi-handed legally complex drugs conspiracies and conspiracies to pervert the course of justice.
Laura is always fully prepared, able to deal with the unexpected, she thinks quickly on her feet and the Court and her clients appreciate her ability and professionalism such that she has repeat clients that routinely ask for her to represent them again and Judges ask Laura to assist the Court where Defendants are unrepresented.
Notable Cases
· R v Yasutake – Defending lead defendant being prosecuted for preventing lawful burial when his sister was found mummified in their house. The Defendant and his family suffered from an extremely rare psychiatric disorder in which they collectively lived an isolated life and wholly believed that the deceased was still alive. Laura defended from the outset of the case to it’s conclusion which resulted in the CPS recognising that the family needed support and monitoring rather than punishment and did not proceed with the prosecution.
· R v GY – Led in a success prosecution of a Defendant charged with attempt murder when he slit the throat of a child and attempted to slit the throat of a second child. Complex legal argument regarding psychiatric evidence and the extent of such evidence at trial given the Defendant was fit and capable fo forming intent.
· R v D – Defendant charged with coercive controlling, five strangulations and two rapes was acquitted following a lengthy trial in which, through cross-examination, the complainant’s account was discredited.
· R v Martin – Defendant charged with sexual assault of a child under 13. Acquitted after mother conceded in cross-examination that she had doubt when her daughter reported the incident.
· R v Hudson – Led in a defence murder in which client and another strangled a friend when under the influence of drugs. Client had been unfit until shortly before trial therefore the case required quick preparation and understanding of the defence case in the context of the pathology and forensic neuropathology.
· R v P and others – Successfully leading a prosecution of a multi-handed drugs conspiracy. The Defendant was a convicted drug dealer at the highest level. Drugs were found in his business premises and he claimed this was a conspiracy against him by the police. There were multiple last minute defence statements, a multitude of additional witness requirements during the course of the trial, extensive legal arguments in relation to surveillance or lack thereof, arguments as to the admissibility of evidence (telephones) and purported dealer lists and that the Defendant wished to adduce sensitive information which ultimately had to be clarified with outside agencies and adduced in camera.
Public Access
Laura Addy may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Contact Laura’s clerks
Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202
Rebecca Wilson on 0113 213 5203
- Ranked Tier 2 in Crime (general and fraud) in The Legal 500 (2025)
‘Laura is outstanding in every aspect. She is incredibly intelligent with immaculate preparation. An authoritative advocate.’ – The Legal 500 (2025)
Laura Addy is a B-List Specialist Regulatory Advocate.
Laura has a background in general criminal. This has led her to successfully develop a practice in areas of regulatory crime. She has significant experience in prosecuting and defending in local-authority prosecutions dealing with varying matters from noise abatement appeals, environmental matters to fishing law. More recently such work has found Laura representing Defendants in a number of different cases who have faced trading standards offences and dealing with cases of judicial review.
Notable cases
- R v Danter – East Yorkshire builder who assisted York residents in the Christmas floods was prosecuted for fraud when he undertook remedial work on the flooded properties and asked for money for items he then did not purchase for the work. Flooded homes were left in a worse state of repaid than after they were flooded and the complainants were £48,000 out of pocket.
- R v Butler – repeated Contempt of Court Act proceedings for breach of restraint order.
- R v Lee – trading standards prosecution for fraud where horses obtained under false pretenses and then resold with false paperwork and representations.
- GSPK v Harrogate Borough Council – prosecuted a noise abatement appeal in which following the Court being advised of the legal tests the Defence conceded the case after hearing the evidence of the first witness.
- Kershaw v The Crown court at York – Judicial review.
- Hillsborough prosecution disclosure work – Tasked to review large volume of disclosure documents and assess whether the status of those documents.
Coronial law
Laura has also developed a particular interest and expertise in inquest work, including those with a jury. She has represented the local authority and care homes in cases where the death of an individual in their care has raised human-rights issues. Laura has most recently represented a paramedic in the highly publicised case concerning the death of Hayley Gascoigne, a young mother who suffered a cardiac arrest at Hull Crown Court and Mr Smith incorrectly identified Miss Gascoigne’s heart rhythm. It was found that Mr Smith’s error did not contribute to the death as Mr Gascoigne’s chances of survival at the time he arrived were less than 50%. As a result of this case the Coroner recommended that all Court buildings should have defibrillators. So every time one is seen in the Court building it can be said that this is due to this case.
Laura Addy has significant experience for both sides in local-authority prosecutions dealing with the Environmental Protection Act
Notable cases
- Inquest touching upon the death of James Nigel Butterfield – jury inquest in to the death of a hotel porter when the Harrogate Majestic hotel suffered devastating fire. Death deemed an accident.
- Inquest touching upon the death of Terence Hunter – an inquest into the death of a man who was in supported housing where Article 2 was engaged as a carer visited and left Hunter after she found him slumped over the television, but due to his alcoholism thought he was just asleep rather than dead. Inquest considered whether his life could have been saved if he had been given medical attention at this point, but due to the fact that the time of death was uncertain it could not be said on the balance of probabilities that intervention at this stage could have saved him.
Public Access
Laura Addy may accept Public Access work, where she can be instructed directly by a member of the public rather than a solicitor.
Contact Laura’s clerks
Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603
Patrick Urbina on 0113 213 5250
