Lara is a children law specialist. She regularly undertakes cases involving complex issues such as coercive and controlling behaviour, capacity issues or addiction. Lara has appeared unled in the High Court as well as being led in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Lara acts in cases concerning surrogacy and assisted conception, in which she draws on her previous experience working for Donor Conception Network.

Lara joined 36 Family as a tenant following successful completion of her pupillage in Chambers in 2021. She was supervised by Kate Grieve, Rhys Taylor, Chris Carr and Emily James. She was among those shortlisted by the Legal 500 for Pupils Team of the Year.

Key cases & testimonials

Second junior counsel for the successful first appellant in the Supreme Court case Re H-W (children) (No 2) [2022] UKSC 17. The appeal concerned the principle of proportionality, and the substantive case concerned issues of sexual abuse and neglect.

Junior counsel for the successful appellant in IG (Child Abduction Habitual Residence Article 13b) [2021] EWCA Civ 1123. The appeal concerned issues of habitual residence and grave risk of harm under Article 13b.

Areas of expertise

Lara’s practice focuses on children proceedings. Lara regularly acts in matters involving contested fact-finding and welfare issues. Lara is noted for her client care skills in dealing with sensitive cases.

Lara has acted as junior in the long-running matter reported as Re H-W, including at Court of Appeal and Supreme Court level.

Many of Lara’s cases involve international elements. These may be aspects of a domestic case, immigration issues, or cases concerning international movement of children.

Further information

Lara has a Masters in Law with Distinction from University College London. Her first degree was in Russian and Philosophy, also from University College London.

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