Laura Shepherd > 30 Park Place > Cardiff, > Barrister Profile
30 Park Place Offices
30 PARK PLACE
CARDIFF
CF10 3BS
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Laura Shepherd
Work Department
- Administrative Law
- Chancery & Commercial
- Court of Protection, Mental Health, Vulnerable Adults & Community Care
- Crime
- Education
- Immigration & Asylum
- Local Government & Planning
- Personal Injury
- Regulatory
Position
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.
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)
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
(Rising stars)Ranked: Tier 1Laura Shepherd – 30 Park Place Chambers ‘She is an articulate and persuasive advocate. She is meticulous in her preparation and is very popular with clients for her calm, straight-talking approach and clear advice. She is a pleasure to work with.’
Members of 30 Park Place Chambers have extensive experience acting for local authorities, health boards, family members and protected parties in relation to both deprivation of liberty safeguards and financial disputes in the Court of Protection. Members also regularly advise and represent individuals and statutory bodies in respect of powers and duties under the community care legislation. Head of team Rebecca Harrington is ‘very good with clients’ and is primarily involved in welfare cases. Nia Gowman is ‘knowledgeable, practical, and robust’ and with Welsh language proficiency is regularly instructed by local authorities, health boards, the Official Solicitor, and family members in Mental Capacity Act 2005 and inherent jurisdiction applications, as well as sitting as a deputy district judge. Rhian Jones represents a wide range of parties in relation to health, while Laura Shepherd gives ‘practical and clear advice’ and is building a Court of Protection practice founded on s21A appeals against standard authorisations.
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Education
(Rising stars)Ranked: Tier 1Laura Shepherd – 30 Park Place Chambers ‘She is a very promising junior with a particular flair for education law. Her advocacy and attention to detail are excellent.’
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Administrative and public law (including civil liberties and human rights)
(Rising stars)Ranked: Tier 1Laura Shepherd – 30 Park Place Chambers ‘As an advocate, she is tenacious and unflappable. She has an impressive depth of knowledge and gives clear advice. She is a very calm presence with clients and her preparation and attention to detail are second to none.’
30 Park Place Chambers is ‘an excellent set of chambers’ for public law work, with members regularly acting on behalf of government, public bodies, and claimants in high-profile cases. The ‘tireless’ David Hughes specialises in civil actions against the police, including judicial reviews of police decisions to caution and to refer cases to the CPS, as well as data protection claims against the police. Laura Shepherd is ‘tenacious and unflappable’ when representing local authorities and claimants in judicial review proceedings, particularly in relation to health and community care and education decisions. Rebecca Harrington also works with local authorities in the area of community care and often advises on issues pertaining to the interaction of English and Welsh legislative provisions. Christian Jowett‘s broad expertise includes judicial reviews and statutory appeals, while Christian Howells is a public and constitutional law specialist regularly instructed on behalf of claimants, governments, local authorities, and health boards. He recently acted for the claimant in Counsel General for Wales v Secretary of State for Business, a judicial review of the UK Internal Market Act 2020, with the Counsel General seeking a declaration that the Act cannot impliedly limit the Senedd’s legislative competence.