Laura Webster

Laura’s practice embraces the full range of Trusts, Wills & Estate disputes in which holds particular expertise having obtained an ‘outstanding’ in the STEP Certificate in Trusts and Estates (England and Wales).

Laura regularly works on matters including:

• Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act) 1975
• Applications for trustee or executor/administrator removal
• Contentious probate claims (undue influence, knowledge and approval, capacity etc)
• The interpretation of wills
• Constructive trusts of the home
• Proprietary estoppel
• The administration of estates: obtaining accounts and inventories, and realising estate property through possession

Laura was a speaker at Chambers’ Lewin Conference 2024 and she is a regular speaker at Chambers’ Charities Conference.

Laura has experience across a wide range of property matters and has acted for clients in the High Court, the County Court, and the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). Laura’s property practice is complimented by her knowledge of trusts and insolvency. Laura is particularly experienced in disputes involving possession/eviction, charging orders, and orders for sale (including orders based on specific performance).

Laura regularly works on matters including:

• Residential landlord and tenant disputes: enforcement of covenants (such as disrepair), forfeiture, possession (under sections 8 and 21 etc), service charges, tenancy deposits, and enfranchisement
• Building disputes: claims against architects and building contractors
• Mortgages and charges: applications for final charging orders, assignment, possession, and orders for sale
• Commercial landlord and tenant: forfeiture and relief
• Title: easements and specific performance of contracts for sale
• Suspending warrants of eviction and claims relating to enforcement by taking control of goods
• Possession orders against trespassers
• Injunctions, including proprietary freezing injunctions
• Obtaining validation orders in order to sell property

Laura’s recent instructions include assisting Paul Wilmshurst for several years in relation to the High Court case of Akhtar v Khan [2024] EWHC 1519 (Ch) which involved prescriptive easements, merger, nuisance, and trespass.

Laura welcomes instructions across the full range of property litigation.

Laura regularly appears in the High Court and County Court in cases concerning personal insolvency and has worked on matters including the following:

• Applications to set aside statutory demands
• Bankruptcy petitions (dozens of hearings)
• Applications to set aside bankruptcy orders
• Applications to annul bankruptcy orders
• Application to suspend the automatic discharge from bankruptcy
• Applications for validations orders
• Applications for a person to provide documentation and to attend an examination in court
• Applications by trustees in bankruptcy for orders for sale
• Possession claims by trustees in bankruptcy

• Certificate in Trusts and Estates (England and Wales), STEP: Distinction
• Accredited mediator, London School of Mediation
• BPTC, City Law School: Very Competent
• LLM, University College London: Merit
• PGDip in Economics for Competition Law, King’s College London: Merit
• Graduate LLB, BPP University: First Class

• Quarter Finalist (out of 115 teams), Hong Kong Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot 2016
• Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn
• Postgraduate Scholarship, City Law School
• Distinguished Performance in Second Year Assessment, University of East Anglia

• Chancery Bar Association
• Property Bar Association

• Accredited Mediator

• Pupil, Wilberforce Chambers (2018-2019)
• Volunteer with Norfolk Citizens’ Advice (2014-2015)
• School Governor (2012-2015)
• District Councillor, South Norfolk Council (2011-2015)

• Spanish (conversational)