Her daughter said she died on Wednesday. Ms Lee, who lived in Glasgow, was best known as an advocate for sex workers’ rights and had worked in the sex industry for 24 years. In October 2016 she was given the go-ahead to challenge a new law making it illegal for men to pay for sex in Northern Ireland.
Her solicitor Ciaran Moynagh, described her as a “fearless human rights advocate” and said his team were “committed to continuing her work”.
Her daughter posted a message to her mother’s Twitter account confirming her death: “She asked me to let you all know that she was so grateful for everyone’s support.
“I ask you to continue all of your amazing work in her honour. I’m so proud of all my mum accomplished in her tragically short life.”
Her family has asked for privacy.
Laura Lee was born in Dublin but moved to Scotland and lived in Glasgow.
In October 2016 she granted leave to seek a judicial review of the Stormont legislation on paying for sex.
Northern Ireland is currently the only UK region to make the purchase of sex a criminal offence.
A judge ruled that Laura Lee had established an arguable case that amendments to the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act breach her human rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination.
The amended law was introduced last year after a private member’s bill brought before the assembly by the Democratic Unionist Party MLA Lord Morrow