Laura Wonnacott > Ashfords LLP > Exeter, England > Lawyer Profile
Ashfords LLP Offices

ASHFORD HOUSE
GRENADIER ROAD
EXETER
EX1 3LH
England
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Laura Wonnacott

Work Department
Position
Associate
Career
Laura is an Associate in the Employment Team with experience of advising clients on a wide range of employment law and UK immigration matters. Laura has been qualified for 3 years.
She provides advice and HR support to clients, in both the public and private sector, on all areas of employment law. Laura has experience of defending employment law claims including claims for unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing.
Laura also advises on UK immigration matters, including migrant workers’ right to work in the UK, EEA Nationals’ status in the UK, sponsor obligations, sponsor licence applications and visa applications.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
- London Borough Council: Advising the council on all employment law issues including complex disciplinary and grievance procedures involving allegations of discrimination, suspension pending the outcome of a police investigation, National Minimum Wage and holiday pay issues and defending claims for unfair dismissal and discrimination.
- National care provider: Putting both employment and immigration expertise to use in defending a claim for unlawful discrimination in the context of immigration status.
- Property agents: Advising on all employment law issues including a redundancy process, dismissals for poor performance and long-term sickness absences.
- Large restaurant chain: Successfully appealing civil penalties issued for the employment of illegal workers and carrying out an immigration audit and reporting on compliance with Home Office regulations on right to work checks.
- Start-up accelerator: Making an urgent application to transfer an existing employee and his family to the UK under the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer route.
Lawyer Rankings
South West > Employment > Immigration
Ashfords LLP advises employers and individuals on right to work issues, including EU nationals’ right to reside and the points-based system, and also handles the immigration aspects of corporate transactions. The practice also stands out for its expertise in the tech, healthcare, and hospitality sectors alongside niche experience in marine and seafarer cases. Praised for her ‘exceptional blend of expertise, dedication, and client-focused approach’, team leader Kirsty Cooke assists on a wide array of recruitment, employment, and HR matters for regional and national clients. At the associate level, Laura Wonnacott is a key name with specialisms covering the marine sector as well as family visa applications.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Real estate > Commercial property: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Real estate > Construction
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Employment > Employment: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy and projects
- Private client > Family
- Employment > Immigration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Transport > Shipping
- Real estate > Social housing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Real estate > Commercial property: Bristol
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Bristol
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Employment > Employment: Bristol
- Real estate > Environment
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Public sector > Health
- Employment > Health and safety
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Public sector > Local government
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Planning
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Bristol
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Insurance > Professional negligence