Laura McBride
Call: 2012
Laura McBride
Deputy Head of the Criminal Law Team
LL.B (Hons), University of Newcastle (2010)
Bar Professional Training Course (2012)
Middle Temple
Legal Aid Supplier Number 02DNO
Grade 3 RASSO Prosecutor
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Laura McBride is a highly regarded and experienced advocate practicing in all areas of criminal law, professional discipline and inquests.
Laura is the Deputy Head of the Criminal Team at Broadway House Chambers. She is a Grade 3 prosecutor and a member of the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Panel.
L M McBride LTD trading as Laura McBride
Reputation
- Assistant Legal Advisor BBC National Treasure (2016)
- Disclosure seminars: CPS, South Yorkshire Police, Broadway House Chambers annual conference
Expertise
Crime
Laura is the Deputy Head of the Criminal team at Broadway House Chambers.
Laura is a sought-after trial advocate. Her attention to detail and in-depth understanding of disclosure in criminal cases are second to none. She is a persuasive jury advocate and her reputation means that she is often instructed in serious, complex and high-profile cases, for example, the Rotherham child sexual abuse trials and prosecutions relating to the Hillsborough disaster.
Laura has experience dealing with young and highly vulnerable witnesses and defendants. She has a wide range of experience and has been instructed in cases involving offences of murder, attempt murder, serious sexual offences, human trafficking and fraud.
Her outstanding ability is reflected in her level of experience and success.
L M McBride LTD trading as Laura McBride
Notable Cases
R v Poole (2025) - Prosecution - Led by Michelle Colborne KC, prosecuted a defendant accused of killing her 92-year-old husband with a garden tool before setting his body on fire. Defendant was deemed unfit to stand trial and given an indefinite hospital order following a jury determination that she did the act of causing his death.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c201ldlm4x1o
R v P and B – Ongoing high-profile prosecution into historical physical and sexual abuse at a residential care home. Led by Michele Colborne KC.
R v H (2025) - Defence – Trial involved allegations of historical rape in a domestic context.
R v W (2025) - Defence - Defence trial involving multiple allegations of rape by 4 complainants. Case included both historical and present-day allegations.
R v A (2025) – Defence – Historical allegations of rape. Complex legal arguments relating to the admissibility of deceased witness evidence as hearsay.
R v M (2025) – Defence – High-profile case involving extensive evidence. Defendant charged with conspiracy to convey prohibited items into custody. Laura McBride led Lauren Smith.
R v S (2025) – Defence - Defendant charged with manslaughter. Case involves complex legal arguments including the interpretation of the law in relation to Unlawful Act Manslaughter. Led by Michelle Colborne KC.
R v R (2025) – Defence – Represented the interests of a Defendant who was found unfit to plead by the court and at the subsequent finding of fact hearing.
R v H [2024] – Prosecution - Prosecution trial involving allegations of a series of sexual offences and grooming of a 14 year old girl.
R v Smalley & Leaning (2024) - Prosecution - Successful prosecution of two defendants convicted of murder and manslaughter. Led by Michelle Colborne KC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c99xn88pgp2o.amp
R v B (2024) – Prosecution - Charged with possession with intent to supply class A and class B drugs. Sentenced to four years and nine months. https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/leeds-mans-mum-said-adhd-30104475
R v S (2024) – Defence – Instructed for defence of client charged with possession of Class A Drugs with intent to supply and dangerous driving. Found with 57kg of cocaine with a street value of £5.7m-£7m. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2k005g3lzo
R v W (2024) – Prosecution – Defendant charged of causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving. W was cycling at speed and highly impaired by alcohol. She injured a pedestrian who then required a hip replacement. W was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx88g1v8en7o
R v SP (2024): Prosecution junior counsel in an allegation of murder. The case involves complex medical evidence relating to the defendant’s mental health at the time of the incident.
R v SK and Others (2024): Junior counsel involving the prosecution of an OCG involved in Class A and Class B drugs supply in the West Yorkshire area.
R v AA (2024): Defence counsel in a large scale CSE grooming trial in the Bradford area.
R v NK and NK (2024): Prosecution counsel in a case alleging kidnap and serious assault.
R v MR and others (2023): Defence junior counsel in one of the first prosecutions in the UK involving the manufacturing of 3D printed firearms.
R v TS (2023): Defence counsel in a prosecution of an OCG following the high profile infiltration of the Encrochat platform by international law enforcement agencies. This case involved the estimated supply of over 100kg of class A drugs (Estimated valuation £4 million).
R v JW (2023): Defence junior counsel in a high-profile case of fraud involving a politician. The defendant was acquitted of all counts following trial.
R v LT (2023): Defence counsel in a case in which the defendant was charged with attempt murder.
R v K & ors (2022): Laura is currently prosecuting a multi-handed robbery. Defendants accused of partaking in several robberies over the course of a matter of months.
R v Selby (2022): Prosecution counsel - The defendant was convicted of aggravated burglary following trial.
R v K (2022): Laura represented the defendant, an NHS employee, who was acquitted of all charges following trial.
R v Hussain & ors (2021): Junior in a Rotherham historical child grooming case. Led by Jayne Beckett.
R v D (2020): Defendant was charged with Rape and was acquitted following trial. Use of unused material including telephone logs and medical evidence that had been disclosed in order to discredit witness. Use of vulnerable witness protocols including section 28 procedure.
R v H (2020): Prosecuted defendant who was charged with child cruelty against his 2 year old stepson. H was convicted after trial and the case involved use of medical evidence demonstrating causation of injuries.
R v B (2020): Defendant originally charged with attempted murder but was instead charged with Robbery and a Section 18. Defended and led by Rodney Ferm.
Operation Kavaic 1/2 (Sept 2018/July 2019): Part of operation Stovewood. First operation led by Michelle Colborne KC and second operation led by Ann Cotcher KC. Laura was the disclosure Junior. High profile Rotherham CSE grooming Case. https://www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/news/view,breaking-child-abuse-gang-jailed-for-a-total-of-101-years_29495.htm
R v Mohammed Nisar Khan & ors (2019): Disclosure junior in high profile Bradford murder. As a result of the work undertaken, Laura received two awards from the Police. https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/17610266.mohammed-nisar-meggy-khan-tony-grant-salman-ismail-sentenced-bradford-moor-murder-trial/
Operation Thunder (2017): Prosecution Junior led by Sophie Drake (Now HHJ McKone). This case formed part of the investigation into Child Sexual Exploitation in the Rotherham area. https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2017-01-25/five-rotherham-men-found-guilty-of-historic-sex-abuse.
Operation Clover 2 (2016): Prosecution Disclosure Junior in a high profile multi-handed trial regarding Child Sexual Exploitation in the Rotherham area in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37873340
R v Hussain and Others (2016): Disclosure junior in the high profile Rotherham abuse trial.
R v Halligan (2016): Prosecuted a sentence in a s18 wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. The defendant was deemed dangerous and received an extended custodial sentence.
R v Baron (2016): Represented a man who pleaded guilty to converting criminal property in a multi-handed fraud trial.
R v Madden (2016): Represented a man who pleaded guilty to possession of a high number of indecent images.
R v Egan (2015): Successfully prosecuted a trial of sexual assault on a female and assault.
R v H (2015): Laura secured a conviction in a racially aggravated public order offence involving the use of an intermediary.
R v P (2015): Laura successfully defended a private ambulance driver charged with driving through a red light. The case was dismissed.
R v D (2015): Laura prosecuted a serving Police Officer who was convicted both at the Magistrates’ Court and following an Appeal, a case reported by the National press.
Clerks
