About
Laura joined Edwards Duthie Shamash as a solicitor in March 2020, and became a partner in April 2024.
Laura has been ranked as a ‘leading associate’ in the Legal 500 2025 and as a Band 3 lawyer in Chambers & Partners 2025.
Laura has over sixteen years’ experience of specialising in Court of Protection and Community Care law and is an Accredited Legal Representative (ALR) under the Law Society Mental Capacity Accreditation Scheme. Laura is also a Solicitor-Advocate, having obtained Higher Rights of Audience.
Laura is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor, as well as family members, RPPRs and Advocates, to represent vulnerable adults who are involved in Section 21A Deprivation of Liberty Mental Capacity Act 2005 proceedings, as well in Section 16 Mental Capacity Act 2005 proceedings relating to capacity and best interests on a number of matters such as residence, care, contact with particular individuals, foreign travel, contraception and engaging in sexual relations and consent to marriage.
Laura also advises on the following issues:
- The interface between the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Safeguarding issues
- The Inherent Jurisdiction
- Property and financial affairs
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
- Issues relating to the Care Act 2014
- Carer’s rights
- Judicial Review
- Continuing healthcare
- Transition from Children’s Act 1989 to Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Section 117 aftercare
- Matters relating to the Human Rights Act 1998
“Intelligent, sharp and insightful. Highly committed to her clients and always ready to fight their corner, but still measured and sensible. A very good knowledge of substantive law in the area.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Very competent, experienced, effective.”
The Legal 500 2022
Ranked as an ‘Associate to watch’, and was described as “an impressive, conscientious solicitor and she’s very committed to her clients.” and ” brilliant at keeping on top of the evidence – her attention to detail is excellent.”
Chambers and Partners 2022
Ranked as a Band 3 lawyer, “She is good at cutting through what is important.”; “Laura does really good job on very challenging applications.”
Chambers and Partners 2023
Ranked as a ‘Rising star’, “Laura Mannering is extremely experienced. She is a fantastic lawyer, with a good eye for the points that should be taken.”; “Laura Mannering is a standout individual. She has a fantastic bank of legal knowledge in the area. She is extremely personable but is prepared to be robust where circumstances require this”.
Retaining her ranking as a Band 3 lawyer – “Laura Mannering is a standout individual. She has a fantastic bank of legal knowledge in the area. She is extremely personable but is prepared to be robust where circumstances require this”.
Chambers and Partners 2024
Laura was ranked as a leading associate in Legal 500 2025, and retained her ranking as a Band 3 lawyer in Chambers & Partners 2025 where she was described as ‘excellent. She is very clear so judges really like her, and outside court she has a very informal and chatty approach which clients really like.’ and ‘Laura is really outstanding. She is incredibly empathetic and a consummate professional – she really cares about the clients and that comes through in the quality of work;
“Thank you all for all your hard work and support throughout, you have given us the opportunity to make our voices heard, one which we will always be grateful for”
a client, 2024
Reported Cases
- BHCC v KD [2016] EWCOP B2
- RB v Brighton & Hove Council EWCA Civ 561
- London Borough of Southwark v NP & Ors EWCOP 48
- AEL, Re (Mental Capacity Act 2005) EWCOP 9
- In the matter of P (Discharge of Party), Re EWCA Civ 512 (16 April 2021)
- Kent County Council v P (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v NHS Kent and Medway Commissioning Group (formerly NHS South Kent CCG) EWCOP 3
- Esper v NHS NW London ICB (Appeal : Anonymity in Committal Proceedings), Re (Rev1) EWCOP 29 (10 July 2023)
- XY, Re (Rev1) EWCOP 37 (T3) (22 July 2024)
Career
- Paralegal, Mackintosh Law October 2008 – June 2009
- Trainee Solicitor, Mackintosh Law June 2009 – 2010
- Assistant Solicitor, Mackintosh Law 2011 – 2020
- Solicitor, Edwards Duthie Shamash March 2020 onwards
