About Laura
Laura is a Senior Associate in the Education team and works within the School Support Service specialising in Special Educational Needs and Disability. Laura also advises on a range of Education matters.
Laura qualified as a solicitor in 2005, specialising in Commercial Real Estate and Real Estate Finance before training as a primary school teacher in 2009. Laura taught in both the maintained and independent sector before moving into the Special Educational Needs service for two local authorities in South West London.
Laura is also a School Governor.
Recent Experience
- Acting for schools and multi academy trusts in disability discrimination claims
- Advising schools and governing bodies on admissions and exclusions
- Advising a school on an allegation of discrimination on religious grounds
- Advising schools on complaints policies and procedures
- Reviewing and advising a school on their uniform policy
- Advising schools on data protection issues
- Advising a school on a potentially defamatory website article
- Advising schools on safeguarding matters
- Delivering training sessions for schools and local authority staff on SEND legislation and process
- Managing SEND Tribunal appeals across two South West London local authorities
Professional Memberships
Law Society of England and Wales
Career Experience
June 2019 to date: Associate, Winckworth Sherwood
2016 - 2019: Deputy SEND Service Manager & Tribunals Manager, Achieving for Children (provider of Children’s Services for Kingston and Richmond)
2010 - 2016: Teacher, Royal Borough of Kingston and London Borough of Wandsworth
2008 - 2009: Solicitor, Devonshires
2005 - 2008: Solicitor, McGrigors LLP
2003 - 2005: Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper
1998 - 2002: Human Resources Officer roles in the private and public sectors
Upcoming Events
Thursday 3 December 2020 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Education Webinar – Disability discrimination and the additional challenges of Covid-19 from a schools HR perspective
There is no denying that Covid19 and the myriad of ever-changing government guidance has placed significant pressure on schools and[…..]
Online.
Speakers: Aida Smajlovic Cassandra Hurley
Thursday 10 December 2020 | 10:00am - 11:00am
Education Webinar – Brexit and the New Immigration Rules: What Schools Need to Know
With the end of the UK’s membership of the EU, and the transition period that followed, new immigration rules will[…..]
Online.
Speakers: Aida Smajlovic Kezia Daley
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