About Laura
Laura is an 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
Tuesday 16th June 2020 (this may be subject to change depending on government advice regarding COVID-19) | Registration & refreshments: 09.30am | Start: 10.00am | Finish: 14.00pm
Conducting a Workplace Investigation – Practical Advice for Schools
We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a conference at our London office on Tuesday 16th June to explore issues around conducting a workplace investigation in an education setting. Our key note speaker will be Sarah Jacobs, …
Winckworth Sherwood, Minerva House, 5 Montague Close. London SE1 9BB
Speakers: Andrea Squires Theresa Kerr Sarah Jacobs
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Winckworth Sherwood LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with the registered number OC334359 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Our VAT registration number is 183 8680 66. A list of members is open to inspection at the registered office, Minerva House, 5 Montague Close, London SE1 9BB. The term 'partner' is used to refer to a member. Our SRA ID number is 570274.