Laura Searle

B v T
Laura acted for a claimant in a multi track claim for a dishonoured cheque in which it was argued by the defendant that there had been no concluded underlying agreement. She successfully obtained a favourable ruling on the preliminary issue as to the existence of an agreement and went on to negotiate an agreement at the door of court.

Re S Ltd
Laura represented a local IT company who had designed and built a website for a client who then refused to pay its invoice, citing a number of alleged technical faults with the site. Taking the time to understand the business and the intricacies of website design enabled her to effectively represent her client at the trial and obtain full payment of the amounts outstanding.

S v W
Laura drafted the Defence and Counterclaim for an individual who was disputing his architect’s invoice in a particularly complex project where there was also a potential unfair contract terms defence under the forerunner to the Consumer Rights Act 2015. She went on to successfully defeat the claim at trial.

H v R Ltd 
The claimant had filed extensive Particulars of Claim claiming breach of consumer rights legislation and protection from harassment legislation. By making clear focused submissions setting out why the claimant’s arguments were misconceived in law, Laura was able to defeat the claim in its entirety.

L v P
Laura was instructed to act in a case in which the licensor brought proceedings against a licensee for breach of a licence agreement by unlawful subletting and successfully obtained summary judgment for the injunctive relief sought together with payment of costs.

S v C
Laura advised the tenants who were facing claim for rent arrears, including giving frank advice on the merits of a counterclaim for breach of the landlord’s statutory and contractual obligations and evaluating the realistic options for settling the dispute.

In August 2016, Laura was seconded to the Environment Agency in Exeter to work with the Property Law Team. She had to hit the ground running and quickly get to grips with the files assigned her to be able to advise on a range of issues, including the construction of licence and lease agreements, the Agency’s statutory powers of entry and intra-UK jurisdictional issues.

F v S Ltd
Advising in writing and in conference in a case concerning an accident at a boat yard. Laura had to acquired a detailed understanding of the technical aspects of such work to be able to comprehensively advice on prospects.

L v Ltd
Advising on quantum and an appropriate settlement figure in a case in which the claimant ran a business and wished to claim for loss of profits and loss of chance. Robust advice was required on the likelihood of those aspects of the claim proceeding and the evidenced required in order to make out those losses.

C v Z
Laura acted for a claimant in a claim against his employer for injuries suffered as a result of being assaulted at work by a vulnerable service user (X). By considering in depth the defendant’s policies and records, she was able to construct a case on errors made in relation to the levels of observations that X was placed under at the time of the incident.

X v Y
Advice on prospects in a complex case where the date of the claimant’s knowledge under s14 of the Limitation Act 1980 was in issue. This necessitated extensive research and consideration of the vast body of case law that exists interpreting those limitation provisions.

Re A
Laura represented a mother with a chronic degenerative condition. She worked effectively with the mother’s advocate and the intermediary to ensure that she gave clear advice that was easy to understand, thus ensuring that the issues were narrowed and resolved at IRH without having to put her client through the stress of a final hearing.

Re L
Laura’s client was a young mother whose young baby had presented with unexplained injuries. By establishing a good relationship with her client and approaching the case with sensitivity, Laura was able to guide her through the process of the initial case management hearing.

Re D
Laura recently represented the Local Authority on an urgent application to the court in ongoing care proceedings made after the child suffered unexplained injuries in her parent’s care. The case required careful cross examination and presentation of the evidence to persuade the court to endorse the proposed change to the care plan and remove the child to foster care.

Re F
Laura was able to bring an application for a CAO to an early conclusion at the FHDRA by advising her client on a realistic framework for future contact and negotiating a detailed agreement with the respondent at the door of court.

Re K
In a recent case, by carefully cross-examining the Cafcass officer at the final hearing, Laura successfully defeated an application for a Child Arrangements Order by a father in a case where there were historical convictions and there had been previous local authority involvement.

Re A
Laura represented a client who required an interpreter who unfortunately arrived late at court due to traffic difficulties. She had to employ sound conferencing skills to elicit instructions from her client with limited time so as to ensure that an effective hearing can take place.

Re H
Laura recently represented a mother before the High Court in proceedings in which a determination was required as to whether the child was habitually resident in the UK. Laura’s comprehensive skeleton argument clearly drawing the court’s attention to the relevant case and arguments was crucial to the case being heard on the day and avoiding unnecessary expense or delay for the client.

Re D-M
Laura received urgent instructions to advise on and draft an application on behalf of a European national involved in care proceedings in the UK to transfer jurisdiction under Article 14 BIIA. By producing a detailed advice, she was able to guide her instructing solicitors through the process enabling an application to be made and fully argued at the next hearing.