Laura Hughes > Browne Jacobson LLP > Nottingham, England > Lawyer Profile

Browne Jacobson LLP Offices

Browne Jacobson LLP
MOWBRAY HOUSE
CASTLE MEADOW ROAD
NOTTINGHAM
NG2 1BJ
England
Visit website 0115 976 6000 0115 947 5246

Laura Hughes

Laura Hughes photo
0115 976 6582 laura.hughes@brownejacobson.com View profile

Work Department

IPR admin and public law.

Position

Laura Hughes is public and administrative law lawyer, specialising in all aspects of decision making by public bodies.  She regularly advises on governance, regulatory regimes, consultation, appeals, judicial reviews, planning law, environment and inquiries.  Laura is client partner for a number of “household name” clients in the public sector, such as Welsh Government, the National Audit Office, Sports England, Natural Resources Wales, UK Sport, Qualifications Wales, Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Arts Council for England.  She is trusted by clients to run their most high profile matters, and advise on matters of strategic importance.

This year she has advised on a number of high profile and complex matters for her clients.  She has advised Qualifications Wales in relation to all matters concerning the cancellation of exams in 2020 and 2021, and on how grading should occur in the absence of assessments.  This involved regular attendance at QW Board, as well as being part of QW’s internal project team, and attending meetings with the Minister.  She has also advised Northern Ireland Audit Office in relation to their extraordinary audit of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Welsh Government on Building Safety legislative and organisational reform, Natural Resources Wales on strategic flooding issues and UK Sport on governance issues associated with the This Girl Can campaign. 

Career

Trained Browne Jacobson LLP; qualified 2003; assistant solicitor Browne Jacobson LLP 2003-07; partner 2011 to date.

Memberships

  • UK Environmental Law Association – member and chair of the East Midlands group , and member of the environmental litigation and nature conservation working parties.

Education

King Edward II High School, Morpeth, Northumberland; Sheffield University; Nottingham Law School (2000 LLB; 2001 LPC).

Lawyer Rankings

West Midlands > Real estate > Planning

Led by Richard Barlow and Laura Hughes, based in Nottingham, Browne Jacobson LLP is often engaged on significant projects across a range of sectors, including infrastructure and renewable energy, including tidal and wind farm plans, supporting both developers and local authorities at the intersection of environmental and planning matters. Key Birmingham partner Ben Standing specialises in planning for both public and private sector clients, with particular experience in energy, solar, nuclear and tidal developments, as well as residential matters.

East Midlands > Real estate > Planning and environment

The ‘superbly experienced’ Browne Jacobson LLP works for a wide range of public sector clients, including governmental bodies, local authorities and NHS trusts. The team is skilled at handling all forms of planning and environment matters such as consent orders, energy projects and environmental law. Laura Hughes has a particular specialism in nature conservation matters, while Richard Barlow handles a variety of high profile planning cases. Ben Standing specialises in the negotiation of complex section 106 agreements and applications for major development projects. Andrew Hopkin leads the firm’s criminal compliance and regulatory team, prosecuting a number of prominent environmental cases.

London > Public sector > Administrative and public law

Fielding public law specialists with in-depth knowledge of the workings of government, as well as the health and education sectors, Browne Jacobson LLP offers the full range of services to local authorities, central government departments, social housing and emergency services providers. Key contacts include Ros Foster, Richard Barlow, Ben Standing and Laura Hughes; the entire team contributes to the key practice specialisms which span inquiries, procurement, subsidy control and other public law areas.

Wales > Public sector

(Firms to watch)

Highly regarded for its public sector capabilities, Browne Jacobson LLP opened an office in Cardiff in July 2023, marking the firm’s expansion into the Welsh market. Laura Hughes and Gavin Hoccom are among the key names to note.

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