Laura Hughes
Partner
Nottingham
laura.hughes@brownejacobson.com
+44 (0)115 976 6582
Laura Hughes is a Partner at Browne Jacobson. She heads up the public law team, as well as being the head of the insurance and public risk department, and the executive lead for Wales. Laura is an experienced public law expert who advises her clients on their most important and high-profile matters. She acts across the public sector advising clients in government, local government, education, health, audit, sports and natural resources.
Laura was named in the Lawyer’s Hot 100 for 2025, and was named Law Firm Lead of the Year at a National/Regional Firm at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2025.
Laura has over 20 years’ experience advising public sector clients on the full range pf public law matters including devolution, local government reorganisation, consultation, statutory interpretation, statutory and guidance drafting, judicial review, health, education and regulatory matters. Laura’s clients include Welsh Government, Defra, Natural Resources Wales, Sports England, Qualification Wales, UK Sport and the Cabinet Office.
Laura’s vast and wide-ranging experience across the public sector means that she is highly sought after when dealing with high profile, novel, contentious and complex matters. For example, Laura was the lead lawyer advising on the creation of the country’s first ever Combined County Authority in the East Midlands; and supported Qualification Wales through its covid response dealing with the cancellation of exams and their replacement.
Laura is happiest when she is sat around a client’s Board or Executive table helping them through their trickiest issues to a decision which is defendable, lawful and made in the public interest
Expertise
Featured experience
Charnwood Borough Council
Advising Charnwood Borough Council in relation to a certificate of lawful use or development (CLEUD)involving an area of land on which an applicant stated he had been using for up to 140 caravans when, in fact, only 10 were allowed on the site. Laura advised on the legal arguments and evidence submitted by the applicant and reviewed third party evidence to assist the Council in their determination of the CLEUD application.
County Council
Conducting complex litigation for a county council in the administrative court and Chancery Division in relation to their decision to require payment from a community association for use of rooms within a primary school.
Natural England
Defending several judicial reviews for Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales regarding their decisions on the designation of sites of special scientific interest, consideration of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) Regulations and the exercise of discretion in relation to an agri-environment scheme.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Advising on all aspects of planning, highways and compulsory purchase - recently advising the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in relation to the redevelopment of Cremorne Wharf, a major regeneration project.
Testimonials
"Laura Hughes – excellent understanding of the client’s business and able to give credible advice to Board members in difficult circumstances."
"Laura Hughes – diligent and user friendly."
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Watch our webinar on-demand. Issues discussed: summary of the COP26 outputs, predictions for further commitments at COP27, and more.
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Laura Hughes and Tim Edds take a look into judicial review
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