Laura Coton

Introduction

Laura Coton specialises in criminal and regulatory law. She is regularly instructed by both prosecution and defence in the Crown Court.

Since joining chambers in September 2022, Laura has developed a busy practice, regularly appearing before the Crown Court in a wide variety of cases from million-pound fraud and class A drugs conspiracies to section 18 grievous bodily harm, kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, and serious sexual offences against children. She has completed Rape and Serious Sexual Abuse training as well as Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training.

Laura has successfully appeared before the Court of Appeal, such as the reported case of R v F [2023] EWCA Crim 597 where she successfully defended an Attorney General Reference after securing her client a suspended sentence.

Prior to joining chambers, Laura achieved a First-Class Honours, Distinction on the GDL, Very Competent in the BPTC and Distinction in her Master of Laws. She was awarded multiple scholarships and completed pupillage with the Crown Prosecution Service.

After successful completion of pupillage in November 2020, Laura became a Crown Prosecutor prosecuting high pressured and fast paced Magistrates/Youth Court trial and remand court lists. She quickly progressed through the ranks into the role of Senior Crown Prosecutor where she managed a heavy caseload across a full spectrum of offences including robberies, firearms, serious violence, road traffic, conspiracies, perverting the course of justice and cases involving members from organised crime groups involved in drugs supply and car thefts. Through this work, Laura illustrated her ability to charge and manage complex cases involving lengthy disclosure schedules, multi handed files, multi-count indictments, expert evidence and cases involving large numbers of witnesses. Laura’s work as an in-house prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service provides a particularly distinctive and invaluable angle of experience as a barrister that offered her a strong foundation for carrying out both prosecution and defence instruction.

Laura’s work has been described as “vivid, concise and precise”. In house, she was consistently commended for her tenacious dedication, determination and her ability to think outside of the box. Laura has been described as very approachable with the ability to communicate issues clearly with a wide audience including victims, witnesses, defendants and other professionals.