Laura Bayley.
What others say:
"She's absolutely a go-to barrister for any DBS matter. She's incredibly knowledgeable in that area, a very down-to-earth barrister and someone I feel comfortable instructing on cases."
"Her written advice is of a very high standard and she suggests innovative solutions instead of just proceeding to court. All my clients swarm to her."
"Her advocacy is very measured and effective in difficult cases." Leading Juniors (Chambers and Partners 2025)
- 'Laura is an incredible, instinctive lawyer. She manages to absorb and recall vast amounts of case evidence and documentation, has a detailed knowledge of the law and legal processes, whilst all the time fiercely advocating for her client making them feel heard and confident in her and the legal process.' Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2025)
- 'Consistently professional, compassionate, always ready to take on a challenge and secure excellent outcomes. Her expertise in DBS appeals is unrivalled. She is a firm favourite with instructing solicitors and clients.' Leading Juniors (Chambers and Partners 2024)
- 'A master of her brief. She is pragmatic and exceptionally good with strategy. Her advocacy is engaging and impactful.’ Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2024)
- 'Laura is an incredible force. She is extremely knowledgeable, sensitive and hard-working. She is exactly who you would want in your corner'. 'She is technically excellent with strong client care skills'. Leading Juniors (Chambers and Partners 2023)
- Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2023)
- 'Very approachable and knowledgeable. You feel in safe hands when she's on the case; she comes across as very experienced and her advocacy is really impressive.' Professional Discipline - Leading Juniors (Chambers and Partners 2022)
- Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2022)
- "Laura is passionate about her clients and is quick to grasp complex issues and how best to resolve them expertly. She is gentle yet firm when needed and continually demonstrates compassion, empathy and understanding in cases that are challenging and time-sensitive in nature." – Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law – Leading Juniors (Legal 500 – 2021)
Practice profile:
Laura is a highly regarded Professional Discipline and Regulatory Law specialist with a busy inquest and Disclosure and Barring Service ("DBS") appeal practice.
Laura is recognised for her careful case preparation, considered legal submissions and persuasive advocacy, with an approachable style and emphasis on providing excellent client care.
Laura's core practice is in representing professional registrants, regulated entities and regulators, and appellate work in NMC, CQC, Ofsted and DBS barring appeals. Her breadth of expertise means that Laura is able to assist clients in a variety of associated proceedings. She regularly undertakes inquest work, on behalf of families, interested persons and organisations. Laura advises and represents individuals facing DBS barring decisions, including appeals to the Upper Tribunal.
In 2019, Laura was appointed to the Health and Safety Executive's List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates.
Laura provides accurate and reliable written advice on all aspects of Professional Discipline, Regulatory Law, evidence and appeals.
Laura's current practice is founded upon a successful criminal defence practice. She continues to appear in the Crown Court, having successfully represented defendants in a wide range of cases, including blackmail, serious violence against the person, robbery, burglary, fraud and other dishonesty offences, weapons offences, sexual offences, drug offences and road traffic matters.
Laura is qualified to accept instructions from clients through the Direct Access scheme.
Laura frequently provides external training in her areas of specialism to external organisations, Regulators and fellow legal professionals.
Laura is also a qualified pupil supervisor.
Professional memberships:
- Criminal Bar Association
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
- Health and Safety Lawyers’ Association (HSLA)
Practice Areas:
Laura has particular expertise in Fitness to Practise proceedings, specialising in healthcare regulation. She represents registrants facing serious allegations involving sexual misconduct, dishonesty, patient and baby deaths. Laura brings sensitivity, experience and forensic legal analysis to complex and challenging cases, often involving multiple registrants and numerous expert witnesses. She has appeared in the full range of tribunal proceedings before regulators including:
- General Medical Council / Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service
- General Dental Council
- General Pharmaceutical Council
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
Laura has experience in advising and assisting registrants in appeals from tribunal decisions and those brought by the Professional Standards Authority ("PSA").
Following her appointment to the HSE List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates, Laura has been building a practise in representing government regulators and regulated entities. She has appeared for the Care Quality Commission ("CQC") on appeal against enforcement proceedings, at inquests and defended in criminal proceedings brought by the CQC.
Laura regularly advises individuals on appeals against DBS barring decisions, a growing area of regulation, and appeared in associated Upper Tribunal hearings. She also advises on appeals against disclosures included in enhanced record checks.
Laura has an growing practise in Coronial proceedings, representing interested persons, corporate entities and Regulators, often in complex and lengthy inquests, including those engaging Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and those requiring juries.
Notable cases:
DM v DBS (2023)
Successful appeal against barring decision related to a teacher allegedly failing to appropriately safeguard a student.
NMC v AA (2023)
All allegations found not proved when defending a nurse accused of force feeding and covertly administering medication to vulnerable adults.
BACP v SH (2023)
Represented a registrant before a practice review committee panel. The PCP did not uphold the allegations and no sanction was imposed.
MF v NMC (2022)
Successful appeal following serious procedural irregularities in the nurse's fitness to practice case. Did not represent at first instance.
Inquest touching upon the death of BC and ME (2022)
Represented the lorry driver during an inquest arising from a collision between a bus and a lorry on the A47.
R v Amey Rail (2021)
Represented the Office of Rail and Road prosecuting a case brought under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for failure to ensure lifting operations involving lifting equipment were properly planned, supervised, and carried out in a safe manner. Amey Rail Limited was fined £600,000 after pleading guilty to the offence.
Inquest touching upon the death of AB (2021)
Instructed to represent one of the midwives employed by East Kent University NHS Foundation Trust.
GMC v KG (2020)
Successful application for restoration to the Register for a GP previously struck off following findings of fraud.
NMC v S (2020)
Avoided removal from the register where registrant had been convicted of offences of fraud and was serving a suspended sentence of imprisonment.
H v DBS (2020)
An important case clarifying the need for DBS to undertake a separate risk assessment when considering the separate Vulnerable Adults' and Children's Barred Lists.
CQC v ADR (2019)
Successfully defended appeal against Notice of Decision to close a failing care home in the First Tier Tribunal.
B v DBS (2019)
DBS removed B from both barred lists following successful granting of permission to appeal before the Upper Tribunal.
NMC v HR and others (2019)
14 charges were found to have no case to answer and an allegation that the registrant had contributed to the death of a patient, or contributed to the loss of chance to prevent the death of a patient was found not proved. The panel concluded that there was no misconduct in the case.
NMC v AB and others (2019)
No case to answer on 15 charges and facts were found not proved on most remaining charges faced by a Deputy Home Manager following closure of the Home by the CQC. The panel found that there was no current impairment of fitness to practise.
NMC v J (2018)
No case to answer against a senior Community Mental Health nurse charged with contributing to the death of a patient.
NMC v AH (2018)
No case to answer against a Regional Operational Manager of a Care Home group wrongly accused of failing to investigate allegations of abuse against nursing home residents.
HCPC v N (2018)
No case to answer on charges of lack of competence against senior Occupational Therapist.
NMC v HR (2018)
No case to answer against a prison nurse accused of causing or contributing to a death in custody at HMP Doncaster
Policies:
Laura Bayley news.
Laura Bayley considers the recent case of Sawati
Laura Bayley considers the scope and impact of the inquiry
Spring 2021 update from our Reg team
An update on recent cases and guidance
An important update following the recent case of Beckwith
An important regulatory update with profound implications for inquests
