Laura joined Bolt Burdon Kemp in July 2024 as a solicitor in the Abuse claims team. She works alongside Joseph Carr specialising in bringing claims for compensation on behalf of survivors of abuse.
Laura has extensive experience of working with vulnerable adults with complex needs and supporting survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, torture, trafficking and modern slavery.
Prior to joining Bolt Burdon Kemp, Laura completed her training and qualified as a solicitor in January 2021 at a large London-based firm. As a member of the Public Law and Human Rights Team, she specialised in representing claimants involving claims against public authorities, judicial review proceedings, community care and immigration. She also worked closely with clients to progress Windrush compensation scheme claims and secure the release of clients unlawfully detained under the former government’s Rwanda scheme. Laura has a particular interest in holding the State, and government bodies to account for unlawful decisions and failures that have impacted individuals’ lives.
Before retraining as a solicitor, Laura worked in frontline women’s services across London. At the Nia Project she managed refuge accommodation in Hackney for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. At Nia she also worked as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (IDVA) and presented high-risk cases as part of the Haringey domestic violence Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and provided an IDVA service at the Haringey Specialist Domestic Abuse Court. Following this Laura spent several years coordinating a support service for women involved in on-street prostitution in Tower Hamlets while she completed her studies part-time.
Laura studied Social Anthropology with Development at the University of Sussex and later converted to law, completing the Graduate Diploma in Law and Accelerated Legal Practice Course part-time at BPP University Law School with Distinction. At law school, Laura was involved in several pro bono initiatives and received an award for outstanding contribution to the BPP Housing Legal Advice Clinic. At BPP she also completed a research internship with the Anti Trafficking Legal Project that was short listed for Best Pro Bono Activity at the 2014 Attorney General Student Awards. She also has experience as a safeguarding trustee for a charity in Hertfordshire, supporting women affected by trafficking or sexual exploitation.
Laura’s international experience includes working with community development NGOs in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as anti-trafficking projects supporting women in Thailand and Cyprus.