Katy Laverty

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Katy Laverty

Called to the Bar in 2013

Katy is an effective and persuasive advocate, described by those instructing her as highly competent, articulate and “terrifyingly thorough”. She is professional and robust in her approach to all of her cases, with a clear understanding of the law and the ability to quickly assimilate complicated facts. Her skeleton arguments have been praised by members of the judiciary as cogent, well-structured and succinct.

Criminal Law

Katy Laverty undertook pupillage at Furnival Chambers in London, under the supervision of Caroline Carberry QC and Richard Hearnden. During pupillage, Katy assisted her supervisors on a number of murder trials, historic sexual offences and people-trafficking cases.

Katy defends and prosecutes in Crown Courts, Magistrates Court and Youth Courts on a daily basis. She has particular expertise in representing vulnerable defendants, understanding the sensitivity required when handling their cases and concerns. Katy has been instructed in a wide range of matters, acting for those who have been charged with sexual offences, offences of violence, drug offences, dishonesty offences and driving offences amongst others.

Having been appointed to the CPS Advocate Panel, Katy also prosecutes.

Personal Injury

Katy accepts instructions regarding all aspects of Personal Injury, undertaking work at Small Claims and Fast Track level for both Claimants and Defendants. Katy has experience in a broad range of areas, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, occupiers’ liability claims and highway tripping claims. She undertakes advocacy at all stages of a claim and can draft advices, pleadings and schedules/counter-schedules.

Prison Law

Katy has appeared in parole board hearings representing vulnerable prisoners with complex mental health issues.

Inquests

Katy has some experience in representing family members in inquests, having recently represented the mother of the deceased in an inquest at the Coroners’ Court in Heywood. She is keen to expand her practice in this area.

Immigration

Katy has appeared before the First Tier Tribunal in both asylum and human right appeals. She is keen to expand her practice in this area.

Background

During a sabbatical, Katy provided assistance to attorneys on capital cases in Houston, Texas. She interviewed inmates on Death Row and in county jails, tackling difficult conversations with both professionalism and empathy. Katy also conducted legal research, reviewed evidence and drafted plea-bargains.

Prior to commencing pupillage, Katy assisted a sole practitioner with a multi-track dental, clinical and cosmetic negligence caseload. She frequently negotiated settlements, conducted conferences with experts and advised clients at all stages of the legal process. Having practised as a clinical negligence paralegal for a number of years, Katy accepts instructions in that area.  She has particular experience in misdiagnosis, surgical errors, prescribing errors and failures in aftercare.

As a paralegal in the Healthcare Team at Weightmans Solicitors, Katy frequently represented NHS Trusts in applications to set aside judgments and in Costs and Case Management Conferences.  In addition to assisting partners on multi-track clinical negligence cases, Katy managed her own caseload of fast track pre-litigation and litigated EL/PL/OL cases.  She was also seconded to Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, where she assisted the legal department with inquests, personal injury and clinical negligence claims.

Katy teaches on the additional advocacy practitioner sessions for BPTC students at Manchester Metropolitan University. She has experience in judging mooting competitions and has previously tutored sixth form students for mock trial competitions.

Katy is also involved in Social Mobility Business Partnership. SMBP is a volunteer led charity which brings together professional firms and services to provide internships, work experience and assistance to students from low income backgrounds who wish to pursue a career in law or finance.

To instruct Katy Laverty, please contact her clerks.

Notable Cases

R v CH (2019)

  • committal for sentence in a possession of a bladed article case falling into category one. Client was also in breach of a suspended sentence and was due to be sentenced for a further public order matter involving a different weapon at the same time. Successfully persuaded the judge to suspend the custodial sentence imposed.

R v AA (2018)

  • a multi-handed case concerning the production of class B drugs.

R v KH (2018)

  • production of class B drugs and acquiring criminal property. Secured the only acquittal on the indictment.

R v JT (2018)

  • the Crown offered no evidence in a robbery and criminal damage following the Defendant’s guilty plea to an affray. Despite a PSR recommending an immediate custodial sentence and the Defendant having a number of convictions for similar offences, following submissions the Defendant received a community order. 

R v AW (2018)

  • Katy secured a suspended sentence in a commital for sentence for conveying prohibited articles into a prison and supplying cannabis to a prisoner. 

R v CP (2018)

  • the Defendant had been charged with causing unnecessary suffering to three ponies. The Court imposed a conditional discharge. 

R V AE (2018)

  • Driving without due care and attention and whilst under the influence of drugs. In a case involving cross examination of an expert witness, Katy successfully prosecuted a defendant who tried to argue that he had consumed drugs only after his vehicle had been stopped by the police. 

R V LN (2018)

  • The Bench were persuaded to impose a community order instead of a custodial sentence in a case where the Defendant had stepped on a kitten’s head. 

R v JD (2018)

  • Suspended sentence received in a case of arson involving the reckless endangerment of lives. The case law indicates that such matters ordinarily attract an immediate custodial sentence, with a starting point of 4 and a half years.

R v AK (2017)

  • Led by Michael Holland QC in a historic sex case at Wood Green Crown Court.

R v TM (2017)

  • A Youth Court sentence for violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and five breaches of a Criminal Behaviour Order. Katy secured a Youth Referral Order with extended supervision and surveillance.

R v TD (2017)

  • Katy successfully opposed an application to adjourn a youth court trial involving a s18 wounding with intent. The Defendant and the Complainant were both 13 years old and the Defendant was alleged to have stabbed the Complainant with a knife. The Crown subsequently offered no evidence.

R V PS (2017)

  • Katy represented a Defendant suffering from schizophrenia in a case involving wounding with intent.

R v AF (2017)

  • Katy secured a suspended sentence order in a committal for sentence where the offence had a starting point of 3 years in custody. The judge remarked that “Having heard what has been said on your behalf, I am persuaded to take a different course to that which I originally intended”.

R v JWH (2017)

  • The Defendant received a suspended sentence for a s20 offence. Katy persuaded the court to allow the order to continue despite the fact that the Defendant had breached the order on a number of occasions.

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