Laurie Elizabeth Ketley

Laurie-Elizabeth Ketley

Year of Call: 2022

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Clerk Details

Overview

Laurie-Elizabeth Ketley is a family law barrister who covers all areas of family law, working from our Birmingham office.

Laurie is a first-class degree student who acquired distinctions in all her modules. Following this, Laurie continued her studies with the University of Law and obtained a distinction in her master’s degree. In addition, she is a Baroness Hale of Richmond scholar, the most prestigious scholarship awarded by Gray’s Inn.

Laurie-Elizabeth has a busy family practice and has represented local authorities, guardians, and parents in a variety of public and private law matters, including being led in the Court of Appeal in the notable case of Re P and E (Care Proceedings: Whether to hold a Fact-Finding Hearing) [2024] EWCA Civ 403. In addition, she has experience representing individuals in matters of financial remedy. Laurie-Elizabeth is loved by her clients, her quality of work is exceptional, and she can competently navigate complex legal issues.

Prior to her pupillage with 3PB, Laurie worked at multiple solicitor firms in both family and civil departments. A partner at Willsons Solicitors described Laurie as "incredibly hard-working, dedicated to everything she does, conscientious, and a person who can be trusted implicitly".

Laurie possesses excellent communication skills and demonstrates kindness and empathy, which are qualities that her previous employment and voluntary work with several pro bono clinics and the Citizens Advice Bureau have helped her develop. In addition, Laurie participated in the Digital Justice Project, where she helped create the first virtual reality courtroom and designed a free app to aid vulnerable clients in accessing justice.

Laurie-Elizabeth has won several advocacy competitions, including the Gary Slapper Memorial Moot, and she was a finalist for BPP’s ‘Advocate of the Year’ competition out of over one hundred students.

Outside of work, Laurie-Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her family, hiking and paddle-boarding.

Reported cases

A v B  [2025] EWFC 79 (B) Acted for a father in a fact finding hearing accused of raping the mother on multiple occasions, physical violence, coercive and controlling behaviour and threats to relocate the children from the United Kingdom. No findings were made in relation to those allegations. The court did find the father exploited the mother for immigration advantage; he was neglectful of the mother and, by extension, the children, as he frequently absented himself during their relationship.

P and E (Care Proceedings: Whether to Hold Fact-Finding Hearing), Re [2024] EWCA Civ 403 Laurie-Elizabeth was led by Matiss Krumins in the Court of Appeal in this notable case, which involved an appeal against a case management decision not to hold a fact-finding hearing when multiple experts agreed that the most likely explanation for the alleged non-accidental injuries of an infant was that they had been inflicted. This decision was successfully overturned.

 

  • Recommendations

    In the reported case of A v B [2025] EWFC 79 (B), District Judge O’Hagan commended Laurie-Elizabeth’s calm and professional advocacy, as well as her robust cross-examination, which was conducted with care and within the bounds of appropriate questioning of the evidence. He further noted that her professional and constructive approach to the hearing helped make it less difficult for both parents than it might have been otherwise.

    Laurie’s work has been absolutely excellent

    Claire Darley, Partner at FBC Manby Bowdler LLP

    Laurie was amazing; I can’t thank her enough

    Client instructed through Moseleys Solicitors

    I was worried I would not secure counsel who would assist my client, who had just given birth and has mental health and cognitive issues. I requested that counsel attend the hospital to enable my client to join the hearing via link. This was no trouble for Laurie, who accommodated my instructions and simply went above and beyond. She was able to navigate complex legal issues, all by communicating with my client via an advocate. From my perspective, she followed the brief fully and provided good advice during the hearing, and her attendance note thereafter was comprehensive and very helpful, allowing me to effectively advise my client. She really is an asset to 3PB, and I look forward to instructing her for future cases

    Ms Bains, Solicitor at Willsons Solicitors

    Laurie did not disappoint! Laurie is professional, thorough and has an eye for detail

    Client

    I would really like to thank Laurie for all the hard work you have done in my case and for representing me. I am thrilled with the outcome, and I feel like a weight has been lifted. Me and my family are so grateful to you all, thank you so much

    Client

    Laurie was incredibly approachable and easy to get along with, and she built a good rapport with our client, too – which, given how nervous our client was about the proceedings, was incredibly helpful…I have nothing but positive things to say about Laurie

    Ms Pearson, Chartered Legal Executive at Glaisyers LLP

    Ms Ketley provided excellent advice to our client and gave a strong and valid argument in court, which birthed a very positive outcome and brought the proceedings to a conclusion. The client was very pleased with her representation and the outcome achieved

    Ms Gomez-Bass, Solicitor at Willsons Solicitors

    • Expand recommendations
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