Laura Baines

(2007) Barrister

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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.

Membership

Resolution
FLBA

Appointments

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

Legal Expertise

For more information or to get in touch with Laura please contact the clerks room who will be happy to assist you.

Public Law Children: Care Proceedings and Adoption

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.

More about Public Law Children: Care Proceedings and Adoption

Private Law Children: Residence and Contact

More about Private Law Children: Residence and Contact

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.

More about Private Law Children: Contact and Residence Disputes Under the Children Act 1989

Professional Info

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

Laura regularly provides training for clients of Chambers. She is always happy to discuss delivering bespoke in-house training.

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.

Cases of note

Cases of Note

Laura Baines, a barrister at No.18 Chambers, is highly regarded for her expertise in family and immigration law. She regularly represents local authorities, parents, guardians, and children in both public and private law proceedings, including complex care cases and domestic abuse matters. Her dual specialism in immigration law enables her to handle cases involving cross-border issues and human rights considerations. Recognised by the Legal 500 as a leading junior, she is praised for her articulate advocacy and ability to connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. Her meticulous preparation and compassionate approach make her a trusted advocate in sensitive and high-stakes cases:

Laura Baines reported in Re X [2021] EWFC B85

More about this case

A Local Authority v H & Ors [2025] EWFC 316

High Court case involving fatal injuries to a child and a complex matrix of medical and lay evidence.

More about this case

News articles

News

Summary of Peterborough City Council v Mother & Ors [2024] EWHC 493 (Fam)

This was an application by the Peterborough City Council (“LA”) for a deprivation of liberty order (“DOLS order”) in respect of SM who is 12 years old with profound and...

Re Z and X (Visit to Ukraine) [2024] EWHC 314 (Fam)

This case concerned two children aged 16 and 11 with the Applicant Father seeking an order to spend time with them specifically that the children travel to Ukraine for a...

Laura Baines reported in Re X [2021] EWFC B85

I represented the Children’s Guardian in this case, which was in the grand scheme of cases we often deal with a long-running public law case [14 months] that had commenced...

SB v M [2021] EWFC 49 (11 June 2021)

Application by a Mother for permission to relocate to a country in Africa with the parties’ son, N aged 12. The Father opposed the application and if permission was refused he...

Re S (A Child: Finding of Fact) [2020] EWCA Civ 1382

The appeal arises from a fact-finding hearing within care proceedings. In terms of background the main issue in the proceedings was how A (a girl then aged 2) came by...

A Local Authority v W (No2) (Finding of Fact Hearing) [2020] EWFC 68

This was a judgment handed down by MacDonald J following a Fact-Finding Hearing to consider how S suffered a hypoxic head injury when nearly 3 months old in early June...

CTD (A Child: Rehearing) [2020] EWCA Civ 1316

In summary the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal from a decision placing the father and a family friend in the pool of potential perpetrators of non-accidental injuries to the...

T and J (Children) [2020] EWCA Civ 1344

This was an appeal brought by a mother against findings made in care proceedings concerning her two sons, T now aged rising 7 and J now 4. On 1st July 2018...

The enforceability of a recital - BSA v NVT [2020] EWHC 2906 (Fam)

In 2018 the Mother commenced proceedings under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989. The parties agreed a consent order concluding those proceedings on 11th December 2018. In summary the...

Laura Baines speaks at the launch of the International Education Forum Executive Business Network

No.18 are delighted to announce that Laura Baines will be speaking at the launch of the IEF Executive Business Network at the Bournemouth Highcliff Marriott Hotel on Friday 23 October....

Reviews

‘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

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 an excellent barrister on every level. She has a fabulous way with people in that she can relate to everyone, whether professional or lay client. She has an enviable knowledge of the law, and her advocacy is skilled and articulate.

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

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

Client-focused and provides down-to-earth advice.

Legal 500

Recommended for immigration cases

Legal 500

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

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

Very experienced in immigration and asylum matters.

Legal 500

Very knowledgeable and quick on her feet

Legal 500

Laura is brilliant, Professional and I couldn’t have done it without her on my side as well

Richard Griffiths & Co

She is quick to grasp the essence of a case

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

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

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

Very experienced in immigration and asylum matters.

Legal 500

Seminars

Seminars & Events

Care Seminar

Tuesday 19th of November 2024

Our Care Seminar is aimed at those currently practicing all aspects of Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings and those who are otherwise interested. We are planning on an...