Laura Halliday is an Associate Solicitor based in our Cardiff office. Laura deals with serious and complex criminal matters before the Crown Court, though also attends the Magistrates and Police stations when required. She is former partner at Lloyd & Rowe Solicitors and Head of the Crown Court Department in Reeds Cardiff Office.
Laura qualified as a Solicitor in 2004 and has specialised in the defending serious and complex criminal allegations in the Crown Court.
Laura manages her work through her incredibly organised and thorough approach. Laura always works hard to achieve the best outcome for her clients in the most complex of cases in the Crown Court. Laura is mentioned in the 2024/2025 edition of the Legal 500 which comments:
“Laura Haliday is very dedicated and hardworking. Her case preparation and insight into cases is second to none”
With a particular emphasis on Murder, Homicide and Drugs cases, Laura’s is recognised as one of the most experienced Solicitors practising in the Crown Court.
Defending clients against high benefit figures, hidden assets orders and unrealistic recoverable amounts is another of Laura’s areas of expertise. She regularly assists clients in making applications to the Court to alter recoverable amount often years after the original confiscation order was made in POCA proceedings.
Clients accused of serious and complex sexual allegations, including Rape, historic sexual allegation and sexual assault is another area of criminal defence that Laura is regularly instructed upon. Leading a dedicated Crown court team with access to Barristers who specialise in the defence of Rape and sexual allegations, Laura can help build a formidable team to defend against any client falsely accused of sexual allegations and Rape.
Recent and notable cases
Murder/Attempted murder/manslaughter
R v S – Murder – Joint enterprise case – knife injury causing death. Client acquitted of murder convicted of manslaughter. Cardiff Crown Court.
R v P – Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs across South Wales – large scale drugs conspiracy – Disclosure and Abuse of Process argument in relation the failure of the prosecution to disclose evidence. Case dropped after months of legal argument.
R v W – Murder. Joint enterprise case – knife injury causing death – 2 people charged – client acquitted. Cardiff Crown Court.
R v W. Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs. Large quantities of Class A Drugs supplied across South Wales via Liverpool. Swansea Crown Court.
R V H – Murder. Not guilty by reason of insanity
R v D – Attempt Murder – use of firearm – 4 people charged – client acquitted of attempted murder. Merthyr Crown Court.
R v W – Murder. Self-defence – knife injury, Cardiff Crown Court.
R v J – Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs. large scale drug conspiracy – acquitted after trial
R v C – Fraud. Large scale fraud involving so called ‘Crash for Cash’. In excess of 10,000 pages of evidence served by the Prosecution. Cardiff Crown Court.
POCA and Confiscation proceedings
R v W – POCA. Amending recoverable amount on application from the defence to Crown Court so as to prevent enforcement of the default sentence in the Magistrates. Cardiff Crown Court
R v P – POCA. Amending recoverable amount on application from the defence in the Crown Court – reducing the default sentence. Southwark Crown Court and Westminster Magistrates Court.
R v M – POCA. Third Party application in defending spouse/ former spousal interests against confiscation enforcement made against her former husband. Cardiff Crown Court.
Various POCA and Confiscation Orders made in the Crown Court against defendants accused of Fraud and Drugs related offences.
Other Complex and serious Crown Court cases
R v R – Arson with intent to endanger life – represented 1 of 4 charged with 4 offences all in relation to Arson.
R v D– Assault – use of noxious substance.
R v P – Armed robbery – joint enterprise with 1 other
R v D – Challenging dangerous offender finding in Pre-Sentence Report
Rape and sexual allegations
R v F – Rape – consent issue – acquitted
R v L – Rape – false allegations – acquitted
R v C – Rape – numerous applications for disclosure – case did not proceed
R v S – sexual touching
R v W – historic child sex offences
R v R – Breach of SHPO – Challenging risk finding in Pre-Sentence Report and application to vary SHPO
Testimonials
Laura Halliday is very dedicated and hard working. Her case management and preparation and insight into cases is second to none.
Legal 500, 2025
Laura Halliday is very dedicated and hard working. Her case management and preparation and insight into cases is second to none.
Legal 500, 2025
Laura Halliday is very dedicated and hard working. Her case management and preparation and insight into cases is second to none.
Legal 500, 2025
Laura Halliday is very dedicated and hard working. Her case management and preparation and insight into cases is second to none.
Legal 500, 2025
Laura Halliday is very dedicated and hard working. Her case management and preparation and insight into cases is second to none.
Legal 500, 2025