Laila Bhunnoo

I am a Solicitor-Advocate and a Director in the Childcare department. I represent parents, family members, children’s guardians and children in all Children Act matters.

My practice covers:

• Emergency Protection Orders;
• Care Orders;
• Supervision Orders;
• Forced Marriage Protection Orders and FGM Orders.

Further, my work also covers same sex relationship issues, which arise specific to alternative families. I have a wide practice assisting publicly funded clients throughout London. I often advise and assist privately funded clients from the company’s central London office.

I have significant experience representing vulnerable teenagers, often separately from their Guardian when a conflict has arisen. I develop a relationship with them as sometimes I am the only adult who they are able to trust. Working to build trust with young people takes time, which I am always happy to give as the court process can be a challenging one.

I am featured in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. The legal directories describe me as providing ‘excellent representation of parents and children in care proceedings’ and being ‘compassionate and insightful’.

I am a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel as a Children Representative and I am an experienced advocate with Higher Rights of Audience, which entitles me to represent my clients at all levels of Courts. I am repeatedly the ‘solicitor of choice’ for Children Guardians in connection with Rule 16.4 appointments. I am often appointed in culturally complex cases being one of the few Asian specialists in this area.

I was awarded Employer of the Year by the National Mentoring Consortium for my work with the University of Westminster law students; mentoring BME university students to help them achieve a better understanding of the work place and developing their skills through increasing confidence in their own abilities.

• The College of Law, Lancaster Gate (1992 - 1993)
• Law Society Finals
• LLB (Hons) at University of Westminster (1989 – 1992)(2:1)

• Director at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (October 2004)
• Solicitor – Advocate/Director at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (June 2003 – Present)
• Admitted as a Solicitor (September 1997)

• "I have worked with Laila as a children’s Guardian. Not only does Lalia have an in-depth knowledge of the law she is a powerful advocate and possesses facilitation skills which combine to serve the children she represents extremely well. What makes her exceptional is her willingness to go the extra mile. In a recent case where she acted for the child, she argued for the paternal grandmother who was unrepresented, to have a second appointment with a solicitor. In order to obtain legal advice on the financial assessment and support plan that was filled the night before the final hearing and had not reached the grandmother. This was supported by the Judge and the hearing was relisted. Laila’s intervention greatly benefited the child who deserved a well thought support package and clear wording on the contact arrangements. The grandmother expressed to me how grateful she was for Laila’s intervention and thoughtfulness. On the same case she addressed the court on the mother’s bravery in recognising her young child’s needs in agreeing to the Special Guardianship Order. Laila has the ability while maintaining her professional role and responsibilities to show genuine human thoughtfulness." - Ann Haigh, Children’s Guardian, Former Chair of NAGALRO


• "Laila is gracious calm, focused on helping to ensure the information required to make informed decisions is in front of the court. Laila understands the need to see child within the wider context of the parties represented in public law proceedings and the needs of parents to have an effective voice as well as placing the child at the forefront when representing children’s guardians. Laila is vocal about the rights of individuals and the role of female lawyers in having an effective role within the legal framework and is a strong advocate when representing a case in court. Laila is easy to work with. She is calm, and listener and will approach each case from an individual perspective and cares passionately about her role within difficult and challenging work and decision making. Laila has an easy working relationship, always ready to discuss a case, review the way forward, reflect upon the decision making and in a timely manner. She is a pleasure to work with." - Guardian, CAFCASS


• "Laila combines an excellent working knowledge of the law with an empathetic ability to understand the needs of clients. She is a strong advocate in court and a wise adviser outside of court. This has been of particular benefit with regard to complex cases. One can depend on her ability to move cases forward towards positive outcomes with a pragmatic and realistic approach which focuses on the needs of children. She has particular skills in communicating with children and young people, and clients who have specific needs. She is amongst the best family solicitors I have worked with."


• "I find working with Laila extremely easy, with a good understanding of what the role of the Guardian is and how to work collaboratively. She is efficient, accessible and clear in analysing the issues in a case and the management of it. She is an excellent advocate in court and manages the differing positions of the parties with clarity - a real pleasure to work with."


• “I have worked with Laila over a number of years and would always recommend her highly as someone who is approachable, immensely professional and hugely experienced. Laila is supportive in her engagement with colleagues and clients alike. She works hard and in a very child-centred way to get the best possible outcomes for the children and families that we work with."


• "Laila is a strong advocate for children and young people and works skilfully with children from different communities. She is very professional and I feel confident in instructing her in the full range of applications in children’s cases."


• “Thanks for all your hard work on behalf of the children, I really appreciated your clarity, confidence and experience, as well as your passionately child focused approach."

• Recommended Lawyer - The Legal 500 UK, (2024, 2022 - 2019 & 2017)
• Recognised Practitioner - Chambers and Partners UK, (2019 & 2016) - Children: Public Law Matters

• Law Society’s Children Panel
• Association of Lawyers for Children

• Meditation Teacher (since February 2011)
• Yoga Teacher (Hot Yoga and Yin Yoga) (since July 2019)
• Charitable events

• Duncan Lewis’ London Family Team Named as a Finalist at the Family Law Awards (29 August 2024)
• Duncan Lewis welcomes returning solicitor, Kohitoor Alam (20 July 2022)
• Z (A Child) (Surrogacy) [2022] EWFC 18 (10 March 2022) - Judge hands biological parents a legal lifeline in complex surrogacy case (27 April 2022)
• L (A Child : Fact Finding) EWFC B13 (9 February 2022) - Judge holds that an abused girl should remain in care and not be returned to the mother who failed to protect her (9 March 2022)
• Excellent results for Duncan Lewis in the Chambers and Partners 2020 guide (10 October 2019)
• No-Fault Divorce – the end of mudslinging? (5 June 2019)
• Chambers UK 2017 results: Duncan Lewis Solicitor’s Criminal Defence Team ranked as a Top Ranking Firm and Director’s Toufique Hossain, Dianne Cowie and Laila Bhunnoo ranked as leaders in their field (8 November 2016)
• Professor Alexis Jay refuses to ignore the past in child abuse inquiry (19 October 2016)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors welcomes back new Family and Childcare Director Laila Bhunnoo (12 October 2016)
• Reflections of a Children Panel Solicitor (10 August 2012)
• A week in the life of a Childcare Solicitor (8 August 2012)
• Duncan Lewis opens new office in South West London (13 June 2011)
• £1,400 raised for Action for Children in Duncan Lewis Bake Off (18 December 2009)
• Duncan Lewis Charity Committee progress; a year on (20 October 2010)
• Duncan Lewis raise over £2,000 in the Race for Life for Cancer Research (19 July 2009)
• Proposals to Protect Cohabitees (12 July 2007)