Laura Paisley

Call 2015

“The client just called me. The joy in his voice could really move mountains.”

Shamika Bonner-Francis, Taylor Rose MW, following an acquittal for knife-point Attempted Robbery in Guildford Crown Court, January 2022

“With steadfast commitment and a keenly proactive approach, Laura recently secured an acquittal for our client in an incredibly challenging Crown Court trial. Outstanding work!”

Wayne Leeming, Reeds Solicitors LLP, following an acquittal for Controlling and Coercive Behavior in Oxford Crown Court, February 2022

Expertise

Laura accepts instructions in criminal matters at all levels. She has a busy trial practice in the Crown Court and is also commended for her persuasive advocacy skills at sentence.

Notable Crime cases


R v U [2023] Lewes Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for rape involving a young defendant of good character.

R v W [2023] Lewes Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for GBH with intent, two counts of ABH and one count of robbery. The defendant offered a plea to a reckless section 20 offence which the Crown did not accept. Following trial, the defendant was convicted of the section 20 offence alone.

R v L [2023] Kingston Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for three counts of making indecent images of a child.

R v A [2023] Southwark Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for affray.

R v S [2023] Leicester Crown Court

Trial counsel for offence of sexual activity with a child.

R v N [2022] Croydon Crown Court

Trial counsel for 5-count indictment including arranging or facilitating child sexual offences. Four witnesses were dealt with pursuant to the proceedings under Section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

R v D [2022] Guildford Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for a knife-point attempted robbery.

R v W [2022] Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court

Financial penalty imposed for possession of indecent images of children, which normally attracts a starting point of immediate imprisonment.

R v G [2022] Canterbury Crown Court

Defence counsel in a case involving numerous historic child sex offences including attempted rape. Negotiated acceptable pleas and successfully persuaded HHJ to sentence without the need for a Newton Hearing.

R v S [2022] Hove Crown Court

Secured suspended sentence for five offences of sexual activity with a child.

R v P [2022] Oxford Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for offences of controlling and coercive behaviour and related domestic violence offences.

R v S [2021] Chichester Crown Court

Trial counsel for 8 count historic sex indictment including rape of a child.

R v S [2021] Chichester Crown Court

Sentence of defendant currently serving an extended sentence for child sex offences facing four further historic child sex offences. Parole date was not impacted by the new sentence.

R v J [2021] Maidstone Crown Court

Secured suspended sentence for offences of GBH with intent and attempted robbery.

R v S [2021] Southwark Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for offences of racially aggravated assault on an Emergency Worker and assault by beating.

R v M [2020] Court of Appeal

Drafted grounds of appeal, as fresh counsel, in support of a reduction in sentence for murder to account for time spent on remand. Appeal allowed on the papers. (R v McInerney [2020] 8 WLUK 265)

R v T [2019] Portsmouth Crown Court

Acquittal after trial for two firearms offences.

Laura has a keen and growing interest in White-Collar crime.

Notable Business Crime & Fraud cases


R v L [2021] Woolwich Crown Court

Led junior counsel for a circa £2 million value stamp fraud resulting in acceptable pleas.

R v V [2020] Wood Green Crown Court

Led junior counsel in a 2-day confiscation hearing regarding hidden assets, successfully persuading the Court that these amounted to a value of thousands and not millions as alleged by the Crown.

Laura is regularly instructed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a Case Presenter. She is often involved in presenting complex cases involving expert witnesses and intricate factual scenarios.

Notable Professional Regulation cases


NMC v F [2022] Nursing and Midwifery Council

3-week fitness to practise hearing with over 80 separate sub-charges.

NMC v C [2022] Nursing and Midwifery Council

4-week fitness to practise hearing with a self-representing Registrant.

NMC v M [2021] Nursing and Midwifery Council

2-week lack of competency fitness to practise hearing resulting in a Conditions of Practice Order.

NMC v G & Y [2021] Nursing and Midwifery Council

3-week fitness to practise hearing involving substantial expert evidence, including live evidence from multiple midwifery experts and a neonatologist.

NMC v P [2021] Nursing and Midwifery Council

Fitness to practise hearing resulting in a striking-off order

NMC v S [2021] Nursing and Midwifery Council

Fitness to practice hearing resulting in a striking-off order. This case gained the public’s interest

NMC v C [2018] Nursing and Midwifery Council

3-week fitness to practise hearing leading to a finding of current impairment. Successfully opposed an abuse of process argument.

The London School of Economics and Political Science 2011 – 2014

BPP University Law School 2014 – 2015

Exhibition Award and Poland Prize (Inner Temple 2014 – 2015)

  • Inner Temple Bar Liaison Committee Member
  • Former co-president of the Inner Temple Junior Bar Association

  • Junior Counsel to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Legal Team
  • Sport Resolutions Safeguarding Case Management Panel (SCMP)

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