Since being admitted to practice in 1994, Lara has dedicated her career to supporting the health sector. For many years, she acted, at the request of the VMIA, for Victorian public hospitals and their employees. She then spent nearly seven years with Avant (and for MDAV before its merger) representing its members in all jurisdictions. Following that, Lara spent six years in health law as a partner of a national firm before becoming a founding partner of Ball + Partners.

A significant part of Lara’s practice is advising and representing medical practitioners, hospital and allied health professionals who are the subject of negligence claims, disciplinary proceedings, Medicare and criminal investigations, and who are required to attend coronial inquests.

Lara also guides medical practitioners and allied health professionals through the industry’s complex regulatory framework. This includes advising on compliance with laws regarding prescription of drugs of dependence, advertising medical services, privacy, health records and criminal investigations.

Lara is the editor of Medicine & the Law – A Practical Guide for Doctors. She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 editions of Best Lawyers® Australia for Medical Negligence. She has also been recognised in the Doyle’s Legal Guide Melbourne 2015/2016 and 2019/2020 as one of the leading tier of Medical Negligence Lawyers (Defendant), in 2020/2021 as a first tier Medical Negligence Lawyer (Defendant), and in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 as a preeminent Medical Negligence Lawyer (Defendant).

Lara is committed to providing measured and practical legal advice to an industry of people who spend their lives caring for others, and who sometimes need care and assistance themselves.