Laura Thomas
Employed Barrister
24-26 Museum Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 1HZ
Experience
Laura is head of the Corporate Criminal Defence team. She is an employed barrister who joined Birketts in 2007.
Laura joined Birketts from London Chambers and specialises in corporate criminal defence, advising and representing a range of clients, including local authorities and private sector. Her areas of expertise include health and safety, environmental regulation, Trading Standards prosecutions, food law, transport and logistics, road traffic defence, private criminal defence and contentious licensing. She represents clients in the Magistrates and Crown Courts and the Court of Appeal. As well as defence work, Laura is a member of the highly acclaimed Attorney General's Approved List of Prosecutors and as such has valuable prosecution experience.
Laura was called to the Bar in 2001 having graduated from Christ Church, Oxford University. Her career began in the Chambers of William Clegg Q.C., 2 Bedford Row, London where she remained for over five years. While in chambers she prosecuted and defended heavyweight criminal cases in the Magistrates', Crown Courts and the Court of Appeal and specialised in regulatory law, regularly prosecuting and defending in health and safety cases.
Other Information
Laura has particular expertise in health and safety and previously worked at the Health & Safety Executive Solicitor's Office; advising on health and safety prosecutions of national importance. She has further conducted legal training for HSE Inspectors as well as speaking at health and safety seminars within the City of London. In addition, she significantly contributed to the Butterworths' publication 'Health and Safety Law: Enforcement and Practice by Matthews and Ageros'.
Laura is recommended by Legal 500 for health and safety, transport, environmental and licensing; "Barrister Laura Thomas' court experience and organisational skills are impressive", Legal 500 [UK 2009]. In the 2010 edition, clients say that she ". . . excels on regulatory matters."