About Laura O’Brien
Laura is a Partner and Head of the Protest Team.
She is a dedicated defence solicitor and Crown Court advocate who thrives on the legal and strategic challenge involved in preparing cases for trial. She fights on behalf of her clients to avoid prosecution wherever possible, whether by challenging the evidential basis of an investigation or prosecution or by challenging a decision that prosecution is in the public interest.
No case should be dismissed as small or insignificant. The consequences of coming into contact with the criminal justice system can be huge even when the charges are not deemed to be serious. Having had a diverse caseload over the years, covering everything from minor offences to the most serious, Laura has developed a diverse skill set and become a better lawyer.
It is easy for people to get lost among the power struggle between the police, the prosecution and the defence. Laura focuses on preparation and communication, being honest and clear with her clients about their options. She prides herself in taking the time to make sure that her clients understand the process they are moving through and ensuring that they can retain a feeling of control in what can be chaotic and intimidating proceedings. This is especially important for people who are vulnerable by virtue of their age or health.
Laura has a particular interest in representing children and young adults and defendants with complex psychological and psychiatric needs. She believes that every contact with the criminal justice system leaves a mark. Fighting to minimise the impact on young clients is particularly important; their experience of the criminal justice system can determine their future. Laura’s clients have taught her to understand their experience and perspective.
Laura trained in a small, close-knit and very busy firm in Hackney, focusing on criminal and benefit fraud cases. She moved to Hodge Jones & Allen to work in the criminal defence team that contributes so much to the firm’s excellent reputation.
"She deals with her cases brilliantly. She is good at keeping track of disclosure, analysing issues, pursuing lines of enquiry; Laura is a really tenacious solicitor who you know you'll have to keep up with because she is very committed." - Chambers UK, 2024
"Laura O’Brien is fiercely committed to her clients and extremely diligent in ensuring that every case she has conduct of is carefully managed. She seems to be able to create almost infinite time to meet her clients’ needs and expectations, and never drops the ball." - Legal 500, 2024
Notable Cases
- Murder – R v S – representing a man charged with the murder and arson following the death of his estranged wife.
- Child abduction – R v P – represented woman acquitted of child abduction after taking someone else’s child to another country without permission of her lawful guardian.
- Murder – R v D – represented a young adult who was first on a multi-handed indictment for murder and possession of a bladed article.
- Attempted murder – R v I – represented man charged with attempted murder in relation to a stabbing that left the young complainant with a knife lodged in his eye-socket.
- Conspiracy to rob – R v A – representing a youth facing a charge of conspiracy to rob in a multi-handed case in the Crown Court.
- Exposure – R v D – acted as Crown Court advocate for a man suffering complex psychological problems including obsessive compulsive disorder. He was found not fit to plead and following a trial of issue was found not to have done the ‘act’ alleged. This required a careful application of the law surrounding what comprised the ‘actus reus’ and what the prosecution had to prove.
- Sexual assault – R v H – represented a captain facing Court martial in relation to an alleged sexual assault on a fellow officer.
- Conspiracy to supply – R v H – represented the only defendant to be acquitted following a lengthy trial lasting a number of months.
- GBH – R v D – acted as Crown Court advocate for a man charged with stabbing a long-time friend.
- Arson reckless as to whether life would be endangered – R v B – represented a young vulnerable woman accused of setting a fire at a halls of residence.
- Rape – R v R – man acquitted of raping his girlfriend following targeted disclosure requests that supported the client’s defence and undermined the account given by his girlfriend. Successfully defended the same client in the Magistrates Court accused of breaching a non-molestation order after careful cross-examination of the complainant in relation to her phone records.
- Assault on police – R v C – acted as Crown Court advocate for a man charged with assaulting a police office. Following careful cross-examination of a number of officers the client was acquitted.
- ABH – R v R – acted as Crown Court advocate for a man charged with assaulting a police officer on the way home from a night out. After careful cross-examination of the complainant he was acquitted.
- GBH – R v D – represented a 15-year old boy charged with stabbing another school boy on the street. After a successful application to exclude hearsay evidence no evidence was offered and a not guilty verdict was recorded.
- Fraud – R v M – social worker accused of benefit fraud in relation to a failure to declare a workplace pension was acquitted.
- Fraud – R v N – woman accused of benefit fraud acquitted after prosecution forced to offer no evidence.
- Possession with intent to supply cannabis – R v D – represented client at trial acquitted of possession with intent to supply cannabis.
- Assault on police & obstruction of police – R v M & P – represented two clients at trial charged with obstructing and assaulting officers detaining another male for a drugs search. Despite drugs having been found on the male being searched, after a full day of cross-examining police officers, I argued that the Magistrates could not be sure that the officers had been acting in execution of their duties and both clients were acquitted.
- Breach of section 14 condition – R v D, A, H – represented three Extinction Rebellion protestors at trial acquitted of breaching a section 14 condition on assembly. One of many acquittals secured in relation to prosecutions arising from April 2019 Extinction Rebellion protests.
Client Comments
- “Professional level of service. Honest, competent and helpful. Sometimes a little difficult to get hold of relevant staff members.”
- “Laura O’Brien has been absolutely fantastic, I can’t thank her enough!”
- “Patient, very thorough, incredibly understanding & professional. Not only excellent advice but a win. Absolutely recommend Laura & her team.”
- “Laura has been absolutely amazing, we cannot thank her enough, she always made time to answer our questions and kept us updated throughout the whole experience. Very professional.Would highly recommend.”
- “Laura O’Brien represented me last week for some activist related offences. She was brilliant as always.”
- “Everyone who works for this company is kind and considerate, they all really care and are passionate about their work. They are efficient at their jobs and experts on protest law. They also respect the names ad pronouns of their trans clients which is also really appreciated. I felt well looked after in court, and well supported and advocated for by Laura O’Brien during court. Somaya Yassine was also amazing at organising everything beforehand.”
- “Laura O’Brien, Jessica Murray and Caroline Liggins aided me perfectly with my court case. I highly recommend them as they were swift and professional.”
- “Very grateful to Laura O’Brien who did a great job representing me in Insulate Britain public nuisance crown court trial, involving myself and 3 other defendants who self represented, in which we were found not guilty.”
- “HJA definitely helped, Laura and Francesca were great in particular especially considering my inexperience with legal cases.”
- “Laura O’Brien assisted me with my first interview with the police following an arrest. I followed Laura’s advice for the interview and trusted her knowledge and experience. I also spoke to a really lovely barrister called Matthew and both Laura and Matthew were excellent. I was facing a really serious charge which I knew I wasn’t guilty of and I’d never been in such a situation before so I appreciated their skill, knowledge and experience and the fact that I was treated with respect for the 4 weeks I had to endure the processes and procedures of such a serious charge. After 4 weeks all charges were dropped and I cannot thank Laura enough for the work she did for me. I would highly recommend this Solicitor to anyone.”
"Laura O'Brien from HJA was wonderful. All of the potential legal arguments were explained to me and I felt well informed and, importantly, I also felt cared for and supported. In the court room it was very obvious that Laura knew more about the relevant laws and legal arguments than either the prosecution, the judge or the other defence barrister. I felt I was in very safe hands."
- “Recently I had the pleasure of using the services of Laura O’Brien and her paralegal Shelby Keppel at HJA for a criminal law case related to animal rights activity. Their communication was perfect, their attention to detail impressive and at no time did I feel anything other than confidence having them handle my case.
…I would like to thank Laura O’Brien and Shelby Keppel for all their help, guidance and work during this rather unpleasant episode of my life. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to others who find themselves in a similar predicament.”
- “HJA arranged representation for me at Stratford MC, for two plea hearings and a subsequent trial on a charge of wilful obstruction of the highway at Parliament Square, during a civil resistance action by Insulate Britain. I was very happy with the guidance, advice and representation at trial which I received. I was given a conditional discharge and a contribution towards prosecution costs to pay. I’m advised that I have sound grounds for an appeal against being found guilty. I’m considering doing this, in order to try to change attitudes, within the justice system, to peaceful, proportionate protest against The UK Government’s active acceleration of the destabilization of climates and societies.”
Memberships and Appointments
- Committee member of the Youth Practitioners Association (YPA)
- London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association (LCCSA)
- The Solicitors’ Association of Higher Courts Advocates (SAHCA)
"LAURA O'BRIEN HAS PROVIDED BRILLIANT SERVICES IN ALL STAGES. LAURA WAS REALLY ATTENTIVE, HELPFUL, PROFESSIONAL AND GAVE ME PLENTY OF ADVICE. SHE WAS HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE AND VERY ACTIVE IN ASSURING THAT MY CASE WAS DEALT WITH EFFICIENTLY."
Articles & Publications
- RSA Journal: Rebels with a cause; Co-author Raj Chada
"MS O'BRIEN WAS EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL AND A FANTASTIC ADVOCATE. I WOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMMENDING THIS COMPANY AND SOLICITOR."
Career
- Head of the Protest Team, Hodge Jones & Allen, 2023 – present
- Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen, 2022 – present
- Associate, Hodge Jones & Allen, 2020 – 2022
- Solicitor, Hodge Jones & Allen, 2019 – 2020
- Solicitor, Moss and Co, 2014-2018
- Trainee, Moss and Co, 2012-2014
- Volunteer Paralegal, Islington Law Centre, 2011-2012
Education
- Advocacy and the Vulnerable Training, 2017
- Higher Courts Advocate, 2015
- Duty Solicitor, 2015
- LPC, BPP, 2010-2012
- Law Conversion, BPP, 2010
- BA French and Politics, University of Leeds, 2005 – 2009
Blog
Blog
