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 ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the Legal 500 2026 and as a Band 2 lawyer in Chambers & Partners 2026.
Laura is the author of A Practical Guide to Privacy, Transparency, Reporting Restrictions and Closed Hearings in the Court of Protection and one of the editors of the fifth edition of the Court of Protection Handbook.
Laura has over seventeen 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, and serious medical treatment issues.
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
Testimonials
- Laura was ranked as a next generation partner in Legal 500 2026, and as a Band 2 lawyer in Chambers & Partners 2026 where she is described as “an exceptional Court of Protection solicitor. She is kind, engaging and also brings a forensic attention to detail.” as well as “very experienced, pragmatic and straightforward in her approach to cases”.
- 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”;
- “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” – Legal 500 2021
- “very competent, experienced, effective” – 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.” – Legal 500 2024;
- 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
- “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.
Find out more about our Court of Protection services and watch our Guide to the Court of Protection videos giving you insight into what the Court of Protection is and what you might expect at the various stages of the process, including some explanation of the roles of the different people who are involved such as the judge, the solicitor, and your litigation friend.
Reported Cases
- W, Re: Capacity to Engage in Sexual Relations & Marry [2025] EWCOP 32 (T2) (26 August 2025)
- XY, Re (Rev1) [2024] EWCOP 37 (T3) (22 July 2024)
- Esper v NHS NW London ICB (Appeal : Anonymity in Committal Proceedings), Re (Rev1) [2023] EWCOP 29 (10 July 2023)
- MF v GF & Ors [2022] EWCOP 54 (07 December 2022)
- Kent County Council v P (by her litigation friend the Official Solicitor) v NHS Kent and Medway Commissioning Group (formerly NHS South Kent CCG) [2022] EWCOP 3
- In the matter of P (Discharge of Party), Re [2021] EWCA Civ 512 (16 April 2021)
- AEL, Re (Mental Capacity Act 2005) [2021] EWCOP 9
- London Borough of Southwark v NP & Ors [2019] EWCOP 48
- BHCC v KD [2016] EWCOP B2
- RB v Brighton & Hove Council [2014] EWCA Civ 561
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
