Laura Ornsby

Laura Ornsby is a solicitor in the dispute resolution team based in our Grimsby office.

Laura specialises in resolving disputes related to cohabitation and property. This extends to tactfully negotiating the distribution of contested assets and interests.

She also represents people who are seeking damages due to consumer goods falling short of satisfactory standards or that are actively misrepresented. As well as this, she provides essential support to Housing Associations across the UK to help them recover rent arrears and negotiate service charge disputes, repair claims and reports of antisocial behaviour.

Her background dealing with Local Authorities gives her extensive experience on the right of way and easement concerns, including such contentious issues as boundary disputes. 

Key specialisms

Cohabitation and property disputes

The number of cohabiting partners has surged by almost three quarters (73%) since 1996.

Unlike married couples, cohabitees have fewer legal entitlements and obligations - which can often raise tensions and escalate into legal disputes.

Laura is an expert assisting in cohabitee disputes including the declaration of respective beneficial interests, negotiating a mutually agreeable distribution of assets and reaching a final settlement. 

Consumer issues

Laura is able to deal with a wealth of disputes surrounding customer standards and consumer rights. She is adept at handling cases in which products or services fall below the acceptable standard or don’t match specifications. 

Whether a product has caused injury or inconvenience due to poor quality or failing to be fit for purpose, Laura is on hand to offer salient counsel and expert insight. This includes recovering damages for a breach of contract and misrepresentation. 

Social Housing

Laura works closely with housing associations across the UK to manage critical concerns on behalf of social landlords, including rectifying rent arrears and service charge disputes. 

Having previously worked as a solicitor with North East Lincolnshire Council, her background in working with local authorities means she is perfectly prepared to help landlords in managing problematic tenants and all the related policies that housing associations may face.

This includes supporting substantiated claims of antisocial behaviour and defending landlords against false claims that properties are in a state of disrepair.

Boundary disputes

Boundary disputes can be especially challenging cases in which both parties are often emotionally charged. Luckily, Laura’s extensive background working with local authorities ideally positions her to negotiate such concerns with tact and nuance. 

She is especially well equipped to manage clients facing adverse possession or prescriptive easement problems. 

Education

Laura studied law at Northumbria University and graduated in 2018 having integrated her first-class honours undergraduate degree into a Masters in Law, which included the LPC. She completed her training contract at North East Lincolnshire Council.

Laura has a wealth of experience advocating in family court settings and collaborating with third party advocates. Her court presence allows her to respond effectively to achieve the best results for clients.

Voluntary work and memberships

In her spare time, Laura regularly fundraises for the Alzheimer’s Society and is an avid runner. She has already completed the Great North Run, Yorkshire 3 Peaks and Trek26 Brecon Beacons to raise money for the charity.