Laura Shepherd

Practice Overview

Laura became a tenant at 30 Park Place in 2017 following successful completion of her pupillage where she expanded her knowledge and gained experience across all of Chambers’ practice areas.

Since becoming a tenant, Laura has developed a busy Criminal, Civil and Public Law practice.

As part of her criminal practice, Laura regularly appears in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court. She prosecutes regularly for the CPS and her ability has also been recognised in her approval as a Level 2 Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel advocate after just over a year since being taken on as a tenant. Laura is also happy to accept instructions in respect of Local Authority prosecutions for licensing, planning, and enforcement matters.

Laura has experience in a wide range of cases including sexual offences, violent and public order offences, drugs, dishonesty and fraud offences and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 proceedings.

As part of her Civil Practice Laura regularly represents both Claimants and Defendants in Small Claims and Fast Track Trials, CCMCs, and applications.

Her Public Law practice is rapidly developing particularly in the areas of Licensing, Education, Court of Protection, and Immigration.

After having studied English at Oxford University Laura went on to study for the GDL and Bar Course in Birmingham.  Whilst studying for the GDL Laura volunteered for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, advising clients across a wide range of topics including debt, housing and benefits. This experience gave Laura the opportunity to hone her skills in advising members of the public, and particularly in dealing with vulnerable people.

Notable and Reported cases

• Chancery and Commerical

  Laura accepts instructions to advise, draft documents, and represent clients across a wide range of chancery and commercial matters relating to wills and probate, unpaid contracts, breach of contract, unfair contract terms, credit hire, possession actions, rights of way, adverse possession and boundary disputes.

  Laura is developing a successful practice in contractual disputes and has represented clients at CCMC, small claims, fast track and multi track trials in respect of such matters.

  She is regularly instructed in a broad range of civil applications including applications to: set aside judgment in default, resile from pre-action admissions, set aside judgment following non-attendance at trial, strike out, obtain relief from sanctions, and obtain disclosure.

• Court of Protection

  Laura is developing a Court of Protection practice, both in relation to residence and welfare, and property and affairs. Laura accepts instructions from Local Authorities, Health Boards, RPRs, the Official Solicitor and family members in relation to applications to the Court of Protection. Laura accepts instructions in contested property and affairs disputes to include the appointment and removal of deputies and attorneys.

  Laura has recently been involved with the National Independent Safeguarding Board Wales’s publication, A Practitioner’s Guide: Basic Legal Principles, which was co-authored with Ruth Henke QC, and Abla O’Callaghan. Laura focussed mainly on Deprivations of Liberty and Data Protection and Information Sharing. 

• Crime

  Laura regularly represents defendants at all stages of the criminal court process. Laura has represented the Prosecution and Defence in a wide range of trials including Sexual Assault, Assault on a Minor, ABH, Fraud by Abuse of Position, Benefit Fraud, and Burglary. Laura is an approved Level 2 Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel advocate.

• Education

  Laura accepts instructions to advise, draft case statements and represent clients across a range of education law matters including admission, exclusion and SENTW appeals. Laura is actively involved in providing presentations and training with the Education Law Team at 30 Park Place. In particular, Laura has recently given a talk at the Welsh Education Law Conference 5 concerning The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, Draft Additional Learning Needs Code for Wales, and Draft Education Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2019.

• Immigration and Asylum

  Laura represents clients and accepts instructions across a range of Immigration and Asylum appeals and associated applications.

• Licensing

  Laura is happy to accept instructions relating to licensing matters at all stages of the process. Laura represents both Local Authorities and licensees and is happy to accept instructions in relation to alcohol licensing, taxi licensing, caravan licensing, animal licensing, and sex establishment licensing.

  In November 2018 Laura gave a talk at the Institute of Licensing’s National Training Conference on Lucy’s Law (the banning of third-party sales of puppies and kittens). Laura is particularly interested in the current campaign to get Lucy’s Law enacted in Wales. 

• Local Government and Planning

  Laura accepts instructions relating to Local Government and Planning matters, in particular having advised Local Authorities on the duties imposed by various acts, and how these duties relate to one another

• Personal Injury

  Laura is quickly developing a successful practice representing both claimants and defendants in all areas of personal injury and clinical negligence including road traffic accidents, employers’ liability, occupiers’ liability, slips and trips and credit hire. She accepts instructions to draft and advise on liability and quantum, pleadings and wider issues including on a Conditional Fee Agreement basis.

  Laura has been successful in Fast Track and Small Claims trials for both the Defendant and Claimant, in particular: obtaining judgment for a minor who slipped in a restaurant; successfully defending a claim against an employer for an accident on a production line;  and successfully arguing that a Credit Hire agreement was unenforceable.

  Laura also regularly accepts instructions to draft pleadings, even in complicated cases. She has utilised her experience and knowledge in the Public Law domain to draft complicated particulars in a sexual harassment claim.

• Regulatory and Inquests

  Laura is pleased to accept instructions for regulatory matters, inquiries and inquests. 

• Appointments
  • Level 2 Prosecutor
• Related Publications

  Amendments to Mental Health Act 1983 made under Coronavirus Act 2020

  A Practitioner’s Guide: Basic Legal Principles, with Ruth Henke QC and Abla O’Callaghan, for the National Independent Safeguarding Board Wales

  Lucy’s Law and Third Party Sales – talk at the Institute of Licensing National Training Conference 2018 alongside Marc Abraham (Lucy’s Law Campaigner) and chaired by Sarah Clover

  Appealing and the Code – talk at 30 Park Place’s Welsh Education Law Conference 5 alongside Oliver Harris

• Memberships
  • Institute of Licensing
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • UK Environmental Law Association
• Education
  • Degree – English Language and Literature, 2:1, Oxford University (2013)
  • Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), University of Law, Birmingham – Commendation (2015)
  • Bar Practice Training Course (BPTC), University of Law, Birmingham – Very Competent (2016)
• Awards
  • Lord Justice Sachs Entrance Exhibition