Laura Donald > BTO Solicitors LLP > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile
BTO Solicitors LLP Offices
ONE EDINBURGH QUAY
133 FOUNTAINBRIDGE
EDINBURGH
EH3 9QG
United Kingdom
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Laura Donald
Work Department
Clinical Defence
Position
Partner and Solicitor Advocate
Laura is a highly experienced solicitor advocate who has worked in the field of clinical negligence for over 20 years. Since 2009, she has practised exclusively in the healthcare field, representing medical and dental members of all three medical defence organisations: (MDDUS, MPS (including DP) and MDU (including DDU).
Her caseload is divided between clinical negligence, handling a caseload across both the Court of Session and Sheriff Courts, and professional discipline. She has been highly ranked for a number of years and continues to operate at the highest levels within her field, regularly carrying out her own advocacy in the courts in respect of Fatal Accident Inquiries, Public Inquiries and claims.
Laura has great experience before the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council and is increasingly being instructed in relation to other professions, generally conducting the interim stages without counsel. She has also represented students before University fitness to practise and disciplinary hearings.
Laura is applauded for her dynamic preparation and is considered “a force to be reckoned with”. She enjoys working with her clients to ensure the best outcomes for them. A “formidable opponent”, her empathy, tenacity, focus and efficiency are second to none and continue to make her a sought-after lawyer in the clinical defence sphere.
Career
Trained at Nightingale and Bell and qualified in 1990. Partner Dundas & Wilson LLP (2000 – 2009); Admitted as Solicitor Advocate (1996). Partner at BTO Solicitors LLP (2009).
Languages
English.
Memberships
The Law Society of Scotland; Association of Regulatory Lawyers (ARDL)
Education
Dundee University, LLB, Dip LP NP (1988).
Lawyer Rankings
Scotland > Insurance > Medical negligence: defender
(Leading individuals)Acting for major UK medical defence organisations, BTO Solicitors LLP represents doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in complex, high-value and fatal clinical negligence claims before Scottish courts. Public inquiries are another strength of the firm, as are cosmetic claims, which constitute a growing focus area for the team. The group is also regularly instructed by insurers and individuals to defend claims in the private sphere. Practice head Laura Donald is a seasoned litigator with significant experience in fatal accident inquiries and public inquiries, while associate Jill Harris acts for medical and dental professionals. Other key individuals include associates Jennifer King, Natalie McCartney and Cara Docherty, as well as former Brodies LLP partner Duncan Mawby, who joined the firm as a consultant in February 2023.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading individuals Scotland > Insurance > Medical negligence: defender
- Medical negligence: defender Scotland > Insurance
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: fraud
- Private client > Family
- Insurance > Medical negligence: defender
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Real estate > Social housing
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Employment > Employment
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and executries
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation
- Real estate > Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy (excluding oil and gas)
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Real estate > Construction