The ‘huge’ team at Irwin Mitchell has a ‘highly respected national offering’ across its ten offices. It supports in excess of 1,500 clients nationwide and has over 1,250 deputyships. The group offers expert advice on all COP matters, including litigated complex welfare disputes and deprivation of liberty safeguards. It also covers property, affairs and welfare deputyships. The agile team acts as professional deputy/trustee on many high-value cases involving multi-million-pound funds and manages in excess of £1.5bn of protected parties’ assets. Lucy Nicol frequently acts as a professional deputy and trustee for clients who have received multimillion pound damages as a result of medical negligence claims or serious injury. Yogi Amin undertakes a broad range of judicial review, human rights and mental capacity law cases. In addition, Amin is an Accredited Legal Representative for Mental Capacity welfare work. Damian Hodkinson is also highly regarded. Angela Jackman KC receives a steady of instructions from the Official Solicitor.

Thomson Snell & Passmore has a ‘gold standard team’, which has a ‘long-standing reputation that is thoroughly deserved, because year after year it produces excellent work’. At the helm is Brian Bacon. The group acts as deputy in over 250 cases with an estimated value of over £350m in assets. The practice is renowned for its expertise in property and affairs cases, especially in high-value catastrophic injury claims. It continually advises on capacity issues, and frequently acts as an expert witness on such matters. Rosie Hamlyn has a particular focus on helping clients who have been involved in catastrophic accidents. Catherine Fuller is another important member of the department. She specialises in applications for individuals with severe brain injuries, and other complex medical conditions. Newly promoted partner, Louise Mathias-Williams, has particular expertise in advising on care fee funding. In addition, Mathias-Williams regularly prepares applications to the Court of Protection relating to lifetime gifts; statutory wills and Trustee Act applications for elderly clients. Tom Hall is now at Hugh James.

The court of protection team at Withers LLP is 'vastly experienced and has acted in some of the highest profile cases. It traverses this sometimes-idiosyncratic jurisdiction expertly and secures excellent results for its often HNW clients.' As well as acting for families and appointed representatives of older and vulnerable people, it regularly acts for trustees, executors, charities and other professional groups. Julia Abrey has a particular interest in cross-border mental capacity issues. Stephen Richards also garners considerable praise for his expertise in elder law matters. Paul Hewitt specialises in all types of trust and probate disputes, and routinely advises on contentious court of protection matters. Natasha Stourton  covers issues such as statutory wills, lifetime gifts and contested registrations. Senior associate Alice Tomlin is another key figure who covers a range of contentious trust and succession disputes, and has a particular focus on court of protection matters. The team also excels at advising on disabled trusts, and advance decisions to refuse medical treatment.

Francesca Gabbitas heads the team at Abbotstone Law, which is praised for its ‘consistently high-quality work’, and for its skill at dealing with ‘some extremely challenging cases and individuals’. It provides a ‘properly individualised and compassionate service to some of the neediest clients’. The group has an established practice in the mental capacity sector and is adept at dealing with the crossover between mental capacity and complex mental health issues. It represents vulnerable adults and family members in health and welfare court of protection proceedings. In addition, it is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor. Kate Luscombe and Andrea Spyrou are other significant members of the department. Daniel Bradley joined the team as a consultant solicitor in September 2022.

With Donna Holmes at the helm at Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP, it provides tailored deputy and welfare services for over 190 clients. It helps those who have received high-value catastrophic injury settlements, as well as those who are on state benefits. It is managing over £86m of assets. The team is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of issues. Many of its cases straddle health and welfare, as well as property and affairs. In addition, it is frequently appointed as interim panel deputy as part of ongoing proceedings, increasingly where there are investigations into the past dealings of abusive attorneys or deputies. Douglas Houghton deals with both property and affairs matters, including statutory wills, financial abuse claims, and contested deputyship applications. He also assists lay deputies.

Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP has ‘a very strong and experienced court of protection team’. David Wedgwood jointly heads the department with Alexandra Knipe – both of whom are ‘very well respected’. Wedgwood undertakes both welfare and financial related litigation in the court of protection. He receives referrals from the Official Solicitor, local authorities and other lawyers. Knipe frequently deals with deputyships arising from complex personal injury and clinical negligence cases. She supports clients with acquired brain injuries, severe physical disabilities and mental illnesses. The team is frequently instructed by other firms to undertake expert witness work as well.  Emma Tante often provides litigation COP support on complex multi-million pound compensation claims. In addition, she is continuing to develop her community care experience.

The ‘excellent’ and ‘well-respected’ team at Bindmans LLP has ‘solicitors who pay a great attention to detail to get the best results for their clients’. Led by Laura Hobey-Hamsher, the thriving practice continues to act in both contentious and non-contentious matters for many vulnerable adults and their families. In addition, it receives a steady flow of instructions from the Official Solicitor, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates, NGOs, charities, and other members of the legal profession and judiciary. The group is well-placed to handle issues as diverse as medical treatment cases, cross-border matters, and health and welfare issues. In addition, it is skilled at advising on property and financial affairs matters for wealthy individuals. Karen May is a Law Society Accredited Legal Representative in relation to welfare cases. At associate level, Will Whitaker, is well-regarded.

The ‘very brilliant and helpful’ Ruth Meyer is the practice head at Boyes Turner. It fields a well-organised team which specialises in the management of the property and affairs of high-net-worth individuals who lack capacity, whether they be children, adults or the elderly. The majority of its clients have substantial claims for personal injury or clinical negligence compensation. As well as professional deputyships, the team is regularly approached to provide advice to support lay deputy applications. Alexander Wright, who is ‘the epitome of a very ethical lawyer, and has a good following’, also acts as a professional deputy for property and affairs and works principally with clients who have suffered injuries at birth with lifelong care needs.

Suzanne Marriott and Sally Ashford co-head the department at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP, which is an integral part of the wider private wealth practice. As a result, it regularly handles major multi-jurisdictional disputes, as well as cases with fraud and other issues relating to the management of large estates and global asset portfolios. Marriott is a member of the Solicitors for the Elderly and the STEP special interest group on mental capacity. Ashford is also a member of the STEP special interest group on mental capacity. Marriott often acts as a trustee, executor, deputy, attorney and charitable trustee for many well-known clients. Ashford concentrates on deputyship matters, and other issues such as statutory will applications. Ashford deals with complex capacity issues, in addition to acting as a professional deputy on welfare, property and financial affairs.

Clarke Willmott LLP has ‘a fantastic Court of Protection team which has genuine expertise, strength in depth, and can cover contentious and non-contentious work’. It has the benefit of two panel deputies, Anthony Fairweather and Anne Minihane . Fairweather has been appointed as deputy for over 220 people, and specialises in the management of high-value personal injury awards arising from complex catastrophic injury in clinical negligence cases. He also handles a range of cases with cross-border elements, and acts as an expert witness in personal injury litigation. Minihane acts as a deputy for those who have acquired brain injury, had a diagnosis of dementia, stroke or other learning difficulties, as well as those with psychiatric illnesses. In addition, she has a substantial practice in applications to the court of protection for the recognition and/or enforcement of foreign orders.

DAC Beachcroft LLP has a large and specialist team, which advises many health and social care commissioners, the NHS, as well as independent health and social care providers. The team is recognised for its skill at advising on the complex legal framework covering mental capacity, mental health and deprivation of liberty. It regularly advises on disputes around mental capacity, best interests, and serious medical treatment. Practice head, Paul McGough is a known name for his work on difficult cases necessitating serious medical treatment, and multi-agency safeguarding issues. Gill Weatherill has a broad practice. She frequently represents providers in high profile court of protection cases, as well as where there are other issues relating to clinical governance and patient safety.

‘The team at Enable Law is highly specialist and able to work on complex cases.' The lawyers are ’available, approachable and knowledgeable’. The ‘hugely innovative' Stacey Bryant heads the practice, which supports clients on all aspects of their court of protection applications, hearings and orders. Areas of expertise include ruling on whether someone is able to make their own decisions, supporting on decisions relating to lasting powers of attorney, and dealing with disputes over the decisions made by an attorney or deputy. The group also offers a growing specialism in elder law, brain injury work and trusts involving incapacitated individuals. Other strengths lie in areas such as statutory wills and advising on issues of physical and financial abuse. Alison McClure and Tim Bennett are well-regarded.

The ‘strong’ team at Hill Dickinson LLP 'is extremely experienced in COP matters and has real strength in the depth of knowledge and a number of people of real calibre’. It is a trusted advisor to private sector organisations, as well as NHS bodies. It continues to handle a variety of complex matters under the Mental Capacity Act, the Mental Health Act and the Children Acts, as well as other issues such as human rights and equality matters.  With Kiran Bhogal; Sharon Thomas and Paul Allerston at the helm of this national practice, it continues to receive a steady flow of instructions on various high-profile matters from NHS England, the ICBs and acute trusts. London-based Bhogal regularly advises clients on judicial review challenges and has represented parties in a number of significant public inquiries.

Tom Hall now heads the department at Hugh James. Hall joined the firm from Thomson Snell & Passmore in September 2022 and brings with him a wealth of experience in complex deputyships involving other jurisdictions. Hall is also frequently instructed to act as an expert witness on Court of Protection and deputyship costs. The team has ‘great knowledge and expertise, but at the same time is down to earth and makes everything easy to understand for clients.'  Andrew Harding is another significant member of the department. Harding is vastly experienced in assisting individuals with an acquired brain injury as well as their families. Senior associate Charlotte Fletcher is lauded for her work in property and financial affairs deputyships.

At JE Bennett Law, Jane Bennett ‘as the leader of the firm, has clearly set a very high standard of company ethos and values, which filters down the spine of staff.’ It receives many plaudits for is ‘client-centred’ approach to clients who are rendered physically/mentally vulnerable either by catastrophic accident or clinical negligence injuries. It also covers elderly client-related dementia/illnesses, and mental health disorders. Bennett and new arrival to the team, Ian Macara, are both OPG national deputies. Bennett continues to act as a professional trustee in a growing number of personal injury trust cases, and her expert witness practice continues to grow. Richard Shearing and Lorna Halfpenny-Beeby are both highly regarded.

Kingsley Napley LLP ‘has a hugely experienced Court of Protection team, which complements its contentious trusts and probate team admirably’. The team, which is led by Simon Hardy primarily focuses on property and affairs matters. Its expertise also now covers health and welfare matters, including decisions regarding care arrangements, personal welfare deputyships and public funding for care. It has a caseload of over 120 regular deputyships and trusteeships. The majority of its clients lack capacity due to a catastrophic brain injury. It has also expanded into the elderly client market through Anita Gill’s role as a court of protection approved panel deputy. The team excels in contentious Court of Protection work too, particularly where there are cases involving serious allegations of fraud and financial abuse. Ryan Mowat is adept at handling these cases. Senior associate Jemma Garside is well regarded.

The ‘committed, efficient and knowledgeable’ team at Miles & Partners LLP is jointly led by Rachel Turner and Floyd Porter . The specialist team regularly works on cases where there are issues of capacity, and concerns over the best interests of vulnerable adults who are unable to make fundamental health and welfare decisions themselves. It is frequently instructed by the Official Solicitor, Relevant Person’s Representatives and relatives to work on s21A cases to challenge deprivations of liberty. In addition, it is sometimes instructed to act on serious medical treatment cases. Andrew Bowmer has been promoted to the partnership and his expertise spans court of protection, housing and community care law.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has ‘one of the largest COP teams in the country, led by the excellent Daniel Toop’. The team receives plaudits for creating ‘very strong bonds with clients and families who trust their legal judgement’. The practice continues to be busy acting as a professional deputy or trustee for individuals in receipt of an award due to a personal injury or clinical negligence claim. Other significant work includes advising on DOLS and other welfare matters; cross-jurisdictional applications, and on applications for attorneys to make gifts for inheritance tax purposes. Julie Burton is a known name in the market. Burton regularly acts as a professional deputy for adult and children clients with complex brain injuries. These injuries have occurred as a result of personal injuries. Managing associate Grace Serwanga is another key contact.

Rothley Law has a large and dedicated property and affairs team. Charlotte Dunn, who is based at the office in Milton Keynes, is a panel deputy and a full member of STEP. Birmingham-based Lucy Taylor often acts as professional deputy in property and affairs matters. Principal associate Rebecca Bristow has a special interest in children and young adults who have suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

Russell-Cooke LLP advises on a wide array of contentious and non-contentious matters. It regularly provides specialist advice on cross-border issues, particularly those with a French element them. Gareth Ledsham heads the contentious court of protection team. Ledsham is particularly recognised for his work on matters involving overseas assets. He advises on the full range of contested mental capacity issues regarding property and financial affairs. Rita Bhargava leads the non-contentious capacity and court of protection offering. Bhargava frequently helps with the management of financial affairs for vulnerable clients and advises on personal injury trusts for those with acquired injuries.

‘The highly professional, knowledgeable and responsive’ team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP is co-led by Jane Netting and Lisa Eato. This specialist team is well-regarded for its court of protection work, as well as for its experience in the management of personal injury funds. It receives a steady stream of instructions in all aspects of property and financial affairs, and is skilled at providing specialist advice on community care. Its property team deals with property purchases and disability adaptations. Of note too, is the fact that it has been appointed to the Office of the Public Guardian of Deputies since June 2015. In addition, various members of the team often act as expert witnesses. Charlotte Dyson  frequently acts as a professional litigation friend in personal injury proceedings.

At Ashtons Legal, Adrian Mundell heads the practice which specialises in acting for clients who have suffered a catastrophic acquired or birth-related brain injury. These clients have received a damages award, or their claim is ongoing. The team then acts as their professional deputy. The practice also has a number of cases where it is supporting family members who are acting as lay deputies. Around 10% of its work is for elderly clients and those with mental health problems.

At Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors, Lesley-Ann Mayhew ‘is exceptional at what she does.’ ‘She is informative, inciteful and provides a very nurturing approach to clients’. The group routinely acts as professional deputies in cases involving multi-million-pound damages awards for claimants of medical negligence. It also acts as professional deputies for vulnerable elderly people.

Bevan Brittan LLP is best known for its work in supporting public and independent sector health and social care organisations, both those which provide the care and those which fund it. Clients include the NHS, local authorities, education providers, housing associations and charities. Tim Hodgetts, Simon Lindsay and Hannah Taylor are at the helm of the department, which has a first-rate reputation for its work nationally. Areas of expertise include advising on mental capacity and mental health, safeguarding issues, and deprivation of liberty matters.

At Burke Niazi Solicitors & Advocates, under the joint leadership of Keith Clarke and Michael Barrett, the team is lauded for its representation of the most vulnerable members of society. It has developed from the firm’s key specialism in mental health, community care and housing. Both Clarke and Barrett are accredited legal representatives. The practice has particular expertise in welfare matters and is also regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor.

Francis Lyons leads the team at Capsticks LLP, which has a ‘comprehensive, in-depth understanding of the NHS organisations they work for across the whole legal spectrum, which permeates through into work they do in the specific Court of Protection arena’. It has considerable expertise in advising on the interaction between the Mental Health Act, the Mental Capacity Act, and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards for its large number of NHS and private sector clients. Amy Holden is another key figure.

Gillian Alysia de Freitas and Angela Sandhal co-lead the department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, which frequently represents vulnerable clients and family members in disputes pertaining to mental capacity and best interest welfare decisions. These cases mostly relate to residence, contact, care and medical treatment. The practice is now also regularly receiving instructions to advise trust corporations and other firms of solicitors on health and social care matters.

At the helm at Edwards Duthie Shamash is the ‘brilliant’ Melissa Law who is a ‘highly experienced Court of Protection practitioner, who is meticulous in her case preparation, skillful in maintaining the strategic oversight, and tenacious in securing the best possible outcome for P’. The agile team continues to be instructed in complex health and welfare cases, as well as increasingly being instructed to act as agent for the Official Solicitor in serious medical treatment cases. Laura Mannering is another name to note.

Anna Bond heads the department at Fieldfisher, which is praised for being ’accessible and knowledgeable’.  The group is ‘very capable of managing complicated legal and relational situations in high value brain injury cases’.  It is a specialist team with a focus on high-value, complex property and affairs deputyships for adults and children across the country. These clients have suffered life-changing catastrophic injuries as a result of serious accidents or birth trauma. On  a capitalised basis, it is currently managing in excess of £350m of client funds and other assets. Robin Tubbs is also recommended.

Under the joint leadership of Christopher Poxamatis and Shareen Tanvir, Gillhams Solicitors LLP currently manages 120 deputyship cases. Poxamatis, who is a panel deputy, frequently acts as a property and affairs deputy for many clients. Tanvir is experienced in dealing with a wide array of court of protection matters. She often acts for incapacitated clients through their litigation friend. In addition, she acts for family members who are involved in these proceedings, and her work covers matters relating to property and affairs as well as health and welfare.

The versatile team at Hodge Jones & Allen specialises in property and affairs deputyships. It has considerable expertise in acting for clients with large damages awards for injury claims. Practice head, Christine Dyson, oversees the firm’s 40 professional deputyship and 40 professional personal injury trusts. Patrick Allen frequently acts as a deputy and trustee for many severely brain injured children who have received substantial damages.

Christine Bunting and  Kelly Knight co-head the team at Hyphen Law, which is praised for providing a ‘highly personalised service. They are fully committed to their clients, often going above and beyond to meet their needs’. It is known for helping clients nationwide in receipt of substantial compensation awards as a result of severe and complex injuries. The group is skilled at helping these clients in the management of their property and affairs. In addition, it acts in various joint deputyships with lay deputies, and acts as professional trustees for personal injury trusts.

IBB Law has three Grade A fee earners – Jacqueline Almond, Russell Hallam and Elena Hall, and a Grade B fee earner, Michael Charalambous. In addition, Hallam is a member of the Office of the Public Guardian’s panel of professional deputies. It currently acts for approximately 100 clients. The team helps clients with acquired brain injuries, mental health issues, dementia, learning disabilities, alcohol and drug abuse.

Newly promoted partner Anna Moore, and Amy Chater (who joined the firm from Freeths LLP ), now co-head the department at Leigh Day. The ‘hardworking, sharp and insightful’ team covers the full range of matters including health and welfare matters, and property and financial affairs. The group receives regular referrals from the Official Solicitor in matters relating to deprivation of liberty, contact, residence, and other issues such as sexual relations.

The large team at Mills & Reeve LLP has an impressive client base of acute, mental health and community trusts, as well as commissioning bodies and independent sector providers. It is skilled at advising clients on High Court inherent jurisdiction cases for children, and deprivation of liberty matters. It frequently deals with complex matters such as end of life, significant restrictions of movement and sexual relations matters. Jill Mason and Neil Ward are the heads of department.

At MJC Law, ‘there is a huge depth of knowledge and experience across the founding partners, who provide a robust and tenacious offering to clients’. Conor Maguire ;Kate Jackson and Lauren Crow spearhead the department, which specialises in court of protection (health and welfare) matters, alongside community care and mental health work. It regularly represents clients through their litigation friend, the Official Solicitor or other professional litigation friend services.

Led by Melanie Varey, the agile team at Simpson Millar LLP has considerable expertise in the full range of property and affairs, as well as health and welfare work. It frequently acts as a professional deputy, and also provides a full range of support to lay deputies and families. Varley, who has ‘bundles of experience’, specialises in complex cases concerning capacity and sexual relations, and is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor. Kate Edwards is now at Fletchers Solicitors.

Switalskis Solicitors fields a well-established and ‘strong’ team, which is renowned for dealing with complex mental capacity and welfare cases. It also handles deprivation of liberty challenges in the court of protection, alongside community care challenges. It is frequently instructed by the Official Solicitor. Head of department, Alison Kaye, has extensive experience of dealing with complex cases revolving around issues of consent to sexual relationships and deprivation of liberty. Michael Kennedy specialises in mental health and mental capacity law.

Martin Terrell  has an excellent reputation for his work at Warners Solicitors. The team covers the full range of deputyship matters. It frequently acts for the elderly (including wealthy clients and those on benefits), and those who have received damages through brain injuries. The versatile team works on contentious and non-contentious matters, and deals with diverse matters such as lasting powers of attorneys and trusts. It is skilled at advising on other related issues such as tax, welfare benefits and funding issues.

Weightmans LLP fields an excellent national team, which covers a wide range of health & welfare, as well as property & financial affairs matters. It acts for a large number of local authorities, NHS Trusts and private health and social care providers. Areas of expertise span advising on consent to medical treatment, the overlap between the Mental Health Act/Mental Capacity Act, and issues surrounding safeguarding. At the helm are Simon Goacher, Richard Jolly, Richard Bate and Sarah Louise Walker.

The majority of Freeths LLP ’clients are brain injured and have received multi-million-pound compensation awards. It also has considerable experience of working with elderly clients. The group is particularly skilled at handling welfare work, as well as property and affairs matters. Natasha Molloy and Melanie Williams co-head the department. Williams and Jane Maitland are both appointed to the Office of the Public Guardian’s Panel of Deputies.

JMW Solicitors LLP fields an agile team which manages assets at a value of approximately £750m, plus property for around 900 children and vulnerable adult clients. Key names to note are Manchester-based Megan Christie-Copeland, and Kiran Vasudeva who is at the London office.

Led by Neil Davies, the deputyship team at Lanyon Bowdler is praised for its ‘strength in depth' and being 'a safe pair of hands’. The practice deals with a range of complex property and affairs matters, as well as receiving instructions on welfare cases. The department manages approximately 60 deputyships and trusts with assets in excess of £120m.

The ‘collaborative, approachable and empathetic’ team at RWK Goodman, is led by Tracy Norris-Evans, Maria Meek , Sara Isenberg and Louise Nettle. It advises on all aspects of court of protection work, whether assisting lay clients, or acting as professional deputy /attorney for incapacitated individuals.

TV Edwards Solicitors LLP has ‘very committed lawyers who are able to give sound legal advice and manage clients with challenging cases with ease’. It is co-led by Jacky Starling and Katie Brown. The group has particular expertise in dealing with matters of abuse, neglect and deprivations of liberty.

Under the leadership of Lisa Evans, Nicola Richardson and Georgina Rowley, the team at Ward Hadaway LLP, frequently advises on a wide array of matters such as section 21A challenges to deprivations of liberty, and applications to limit or withdraw treatment. It has specialist expertise in all aspects of the Mental Capacity Act, and on its interface with the Mental Health Act.