Lara Thomas

Lara accepts instructions in a wide range of personal injury matters including public liability and employer’s liability claims, and claims involving road traffic accidents, as well as those in which fundamental dishonesty is alleged.

She appears in court several times a week in both liability and quantum disputes. She is an experienced courtroom advocate, regularly appearing in application and disposal hearings, CCMCs, stage 3 hearings, and fast-track trials.

Lara has a strong paperwork practice covering the breadth of personal injury work.

Lara has a particular interest in this area having been supervised by Nina Ross during her pupillage. During this time, she benefitted from an insight into a wide range of abuse work including claims relating to physical and sexual assaults; harassment claims; military claims; and international and group litigation.  As a pupil, she also gained experience drafting pleadings and written advice addressing issues of limitation, liability and prospects in abuse cases.

Lara now has a growing paperwork practice in her own right and is keen to develop this area of work.

Lara has a keen interest in all aspects of clinical negligence work and has a growing practice in this field.

She is currently undertaking secondment work at a solicitor’s firm where she is exposed to high value complex clinical negligence cases including those involving birth and brain injuries, delayed diagnosis and treatment, and stillbirth and neonatal deaths.

With an academic background in biological sciences, Lara is well-equipped to grapple with complex medical and biological issues that may arise in this work.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Lara was a legal assistant at a leading medical protection organisation. During this time, she developed a predominantly inquest-based caseload, assisting in preparing for inquests often spanning a wide range of complex medical issues.

Lara accepts instructions to represent families and other interested persons at both clinical negligence and personal injury inquests and is prepared to consider accepting instructions on a pro bono basis where appropriate.

Lara accepts instructions in cases involving injuries abroad, including those brought under the Package Travel Regulations. She is keen to develop her travel practice.

Lara gained experience in this area having been supervised by Rachit Buch during her pupillage.

She accepts instructions in claims arising as a result of asbestos exposure; noise-induced hearing loss; cold injuries; VWF and HAVS.

• Barrister Training Course (Distinction), BPP University
• Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction), BPP University
• MA Biological Sciences, Wadham College, University of Oxford