Laura Nelson

Year of call:

2016

Education:

2016 - University of Northumbria

First Class LLB (Hons) Exempting

BPTC - ‘Outstanding’

Career:

2017 - Pupil at Park Square Barristers, Leeds

2018 - Tenant at Park Square Barristers

Memberships:

North Eastern Circuit Criminal Bar Association Personal Injuries Bar Association

Awards:

2018 - Criminal Bar Association Advocacy prize

2016 - Wolfson Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn Buchanan Prize, Lincoln’s Inn Woon Global Human Rights and Access to Justice Prize

2015 - Cheong Kam Hee Memorial Prize

Laura Nelson accepts instruction for both advisory and litigation work in the Tribunals and County Courts. Paul accepts instruction to represents claimants and respondents across all levels of work, from preliminary hearings, judicial mediations to multi-week trials.

Laura accepts instructions across the range of employment matters involving:

  • Unfair dismissal (including automatic unfair dismissal and constructive unfair dismissal)
  • All forms of discrimination (direct and indirect discrimination, failure to make reasonable adjustments, and harassment)
  • Whistleblowing
  • Equal pay
  • Unlawful deduction from wages
  • Worker status
  • Redundancy
  • National Minimum Wage
  • Breach of contract (in the Employment Tribunal and County Court)
Laura is an experienced advocate with vast experience of personal injury claims, acting for claimants and defendants. Laura regularly deals with personal injury claims arising from accidents in the workplace, on the road, in prison or custody and in a public place. In addition, Laura had experience of illness and injury claims arising from accidents worldwide. Her involvement in such claims is not limited to trial only but includes all pre-trial applications and hearings.
Laura was appointed junior counsel to the Crown in 2023. Since that time, she has undertaken a wide range of work on behalf of a number of governmental departments including the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. She has been instructed in the COVID-19 inquiry. In addition, she regularly advises on matters including false imprisonment/unlawful detention and breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998.
Laura also has extensive experience of credit hire claims and is familiar with all of the usual arguments and all recent developments in case law.
 “I must say I was blown away by Laura, she was outstanding! Very personable to me and made me feel very much at ease, and phenomenal in court.” (lay client)

 

Laura is available for instruction on a wide range of hearings, including but not limited to:

  • Small claims track hearings
  • Fast track trials
  • Multi track trials
  • Disposal hearings
  • Case management conferences and directions hearings
  • Costs case management conferences
  • A wide range of interlocutory applications
  • Stage 3 hearings
Laura Nelson was exceptional, friendly and polite. She put my mind at ease during a stressful time. I would highly recommend Laura.  (lay client)

 

Laura also accepts instructions to draft pleadings and can advise on quantum, on an urgent basis where necessary.

Laura also provides training to firms upon request. Please get in touch should you wish to book Laura for a training session on any relevant subject matter.

Contact Laura’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

Laura routinely acts in cases where civil insurance fraud is alleged, and she is fully conversant with the law in relation to fundamental dishonesty and section 57 Criminal Justice & Courts Act 2015. She has acted in a range of matters in relation to suspicious or fraudulent claims arising from road traffic accidents in particular.

Laura’s experience includes cases involving staged accidents, low-speed impact, exaggerated personal injury and exaggerated credit hire. Laura has also acted in High Court proceedings for contempt of court, resulting from fraudulent claims.

Having undertaken a predominantly criminal pupillage, Laura is particularly well-equipped to deal with issues of fraud in cross-examination and in submissions. Laura is content to robustly defend such cases.  

Laura also accepts instructions to draft and/or amend pleadings and can advise on the merits of individual cases. 

Contact Laura’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207

Laura accepts instructions in a variety of regulatory and public law matters. Laura has both prosecuted and defended in a range of cases involving prosecutions brought by private agencies including local councils, the RSPCA and the DVLA. Laura has assisted in training local councils on how to bring successful prosecutions.  

Laura is delighted to have been appointed Regional C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown, enabling her to undertake work for all government departments.

Laura has also undertaken secondment work with the NHS, providing advice on a wide range of matters including conflict of interest, responsible commissioner queries and procurement queries.  

Prior to establishing her practice, Laura worked with Lawyers Without Borders in their Washington, D.C. office, supporting projects primarily focused on building capacity in respect of access to justice and the rule of law worldwide. Laura worked in collaboration with Nepalese legislators for several months, aiming to eliminate child labour within Nepal.  

Contact Laura’s clerks

Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603

Patrick Urbina on 0113 213 5250

Imogen Brown on 0113 2135225

Jenny Dwan on 01132135213

Laura’s work involves a variety of contractual and commercial disputes. She represents clients from pre-action stages through to trial and ably advises on all aspects of potential breaches and/or causes of action. 

Laura is also familiar with liability orders and has frequently been instructed to oppose the making of the same. 

Laura is also routinely instructed in chancery matters. Laura’s recent work has included representing clients in respect of insolvency proceedings, winding up petitions and bankruptcy orders. 

Contact Laura’s clerks

Senior Clerk – Andy Reeves on 0113 213 5252

Talia Webster on 0113 202 8609

Joshua Duree on 0113 213 5246

Mike Alexander on 0113 2135268

Ben Ellison-Tope on 0113 2135207