Barrister Profile
Before being called to the Bar, Laura had extensive experience in the areas of child protection and public family law matters as a paralegal for Lancashire County Council. In the past she has used her spare time to focus on family issues having worked with Preston Women’s Refuge and the National Centre for Domestic Violence when at Bar school. To widen her experience Laura also worked as a solicitor’s agent across the North Western Circuit for LPC for 2 years before pupillage.
Laura is a leading junior in the Legal 500 specialising in family law and immigration law. She continues to practice family law particularly Public and Private children work and the cross over this brings with immigration law.
Expertise
Family: Care & Children
Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings
Laura is a specialist children barrister who has vast experience in public law matters having acted for the local authority, parents and Guardians as well as the children themselves. Laura accepts instructions in all public family law matters and has undertaken a range of hearings, often appearing in the High Court. She frequently appears in fact finding and final hearings involving issues of neglect, substance misuse, non-accidental injuries, mental health, domestic violence, psychological abuse and sexual abuse as well as matters of jurisdiction.
Laura has extensive experience dealing with vulnerable clients, both adults and children and has a particular passion for it being recognised in the Legal 500 as “very good in communicating with clients, especially those with learning disabilities”.
Laura’s experience in house as a paralegal at Lancashire County Council has allowed her to understand the way public children matters work.
Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989
Laura is a specialist children barrister being recognised in the Legal 500 as “well versed on the law and very knowledgeable”. She has undertaken a range of hearings involving child arrangement orders, specific issue and prohibited steps orders including jurisdictional issues. Laura specialises in representing the children via their Children’s Guardian when the need arises for their separate representation. This has led to a number of multi-day fact-finding hearings involving complex issues including implacable hostility and parental alienation, adult mental health issues and serious findings of abuse.
Membership
- Resolution
- FLBA
Awards
- Legal 500 2017 for Immigration
- Legal 500 2018 for Family and Immigration
- Legal 500 2019 for Family and Immigration
- Legal 500 2020 for Family and Immigration
- Sibel Dedezade Pro Bono Award for the BVC – Inns of Court School of Law, London
Publications / Seminars
Laura regularly provides training for clients of Chambers. She is always happy to discuss delivering bespoke in-house training.
No 18 Seminars
Personal Info
Outside of Chambers, Laura is a keen traveller having ventured to Japan, Kenya, Tanzania, Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea as well as inter-railing across Europe. Laura lived in China for two months in 2009 and while there worked in a law firm. She is a keen snowboarder, horse rider and runner (having completed the Goofy Disney Challenge in 2016 and the Disney Marathon in 2009 as well as a number of Great North Runs).
Laura is regularly involved in raising money for various charities. She has organised a Charity Netball tournament, which raised funds for Cancer Research UK and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAART). Laura also had involvement in the Chambers Bake Off to raise money for our NHS Heroes and the Bingo night raising money for Yellow Door.
News
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Summary of Peterborough City Council v Mother & Ors [2024] EWHC 493 (Fam)
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Re Z and X (Visit to Ukraine) [2024] EWHC 314 (Fam)
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A Fantastic Year For No.18 Chambers In The Annual Legal 500 Rankings
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Laura Baines reported in Re X [2021] EWFC B85
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SB v M [2021] EWFC 49 (11 June 2021)
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Re S (A Child: Finding of Fact) [2020] EWCA Civ 1382
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A Local Authority v W (No2) (Finding of Fact Hearing) [2020] EWFC 68
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CTD (A Child: Rehearing) [2020] EWCA Civ 1316
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T and J (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 1344
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The enforceability of a recital - BSA v NVT [2020] EWHC 2906 (Fam)
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STOP PRESS :NO.18 CHAMBERS INCREASES RECOGNITION IN THE ANNUAL LEGAL 500 RANKINGS FOR FIFTH YEAR RUNNING
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Laura Baines speaks at the launch of the International Education Forum Executive Business Network
Newsletter Articles
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FS v RS and JS [2020] EWFC 63
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Lucy (care proceedings) [2020] EWHC 2801 (Fam) (09 October 2020)
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Re C (A Child: Adoption) [2020] EWFC 66
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Lancashire CC v G (Unavailability of Secure Accommodation) [2020] EWHC 2828 – where the court was left with no option but to authorise a 16 year old’s placement in an unregulated placement under deprivation of liberty authorisation.
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C (A Child: Care Proceedings) [2020] EWFC B46
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Re A (Children) (Remote Hearing: Care and Placement Orders) [2020] EWCA Civ 583
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Online parenting courses for Child Arrangement Proceedings
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An Immigration Judge “Wholly Failing To Meet Standards That Are Demanded By The Office Of A Judge And Expected By The Parties”
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To record or not to record professionals in care cases?
What others say
Very experienced in immigration and asylum matters.
(Legal 500)
Laura is a very sensible and pragmatic barrister. She is unflappable and a calming influence. Her knowledge of the law is extremely good. ’(Tier 2).
(Legal 500)
Laura is a fantastic all round barrister who excels at every level. Her real strength is her ability to relate to her clients and present information in an easy to understand format whilst offering an excellent service. She is also a strong advocate in court.
(Legal 500)
Laura is brilliant, Professional and I couldn’t have done it without her on my side as well
(Richard Griffiths & Co)
Client-focused and provides down-to-earth advice.
(Legal 500)
Miss Baines always has a thorough grasp of each case. She is methodical and logical in her working. Miss Baines is always happy to provide an ear and an opinion. Ms Baines is very good in communicating with clients, especially those with learning disabilities. She is extremely patient and nothing is too much trouble for her. She is well versed on the law and very knowledgeable
(Legal 500)
Very experienced in immigration and asylum matters.
(Legal 500)
Recommended for immigration cases
(Legal 500)
Very knowledgeable and quick on her feet
(Legal 500)
Laura is an outstanding advocate, who is always well prepared and is extremely knowledgeable. She has a good eye for detail and can think quickly on her feet. She is warm, patient, and approachable, which results in clients instantly feeling at ease with her. Laura has a sensible approach but is always client focused and does her utmost to achieve the best possible result for them
(Kirti Patel & Alexandra Morgan – The Children’s Legal Practice)
Strengths - the depth of her knowledge and experience. Her thorough preparation before cons and hearings and her manner with clients and solicitors alike.
(Legal 500)
I have instructed Laura for over 6 years. She is very capable and professional. She has the highest level of client care with both lay clients and professional clients. Laura is always well prepared and deals with an array of complex cases. Laura is particularly good at representing vulnerable clients.
(Samantha Jeanes, Abels solicitors)
Ms Baines is a highly competent, confidential and caring Barrister and Advocate. She always goes the extra mile to ensure that clients have the opportunity to feel they have been able to provide full instructions, endeavours to put them at ease as much as possible. She is thorough and always prepared. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to represent any party within care proceedings.
(Teresa Campone, Eric Robinson solicitors )
She is quick to grasp the essence of a case
(Legal 500)
I have instructed Laura on numerous occasions in a variety of both public law and private law cases. She is a barrister of the highest calibre, demonstrating excellent legal knowledge and advocacy skills with a rare ability to instantly put people at ease with her easy going and down to earth manner, making her popular with both professional and law clients alike.
(Jennie Swaby, Larcomes solicitors )
Laura Baines at No.18 Barristers Chambers has established expertise in immigration cases, in which she is well known for representing both appellants and the Home Office.
(Legal 500)
‘A measured barrister whose cross-examination is always well-considered and appropriate to the witness she is dealing with. She has the right amount of compassion and empathy to mix with her legal mind.'’ (Tier 2).’
(Legal 500)