Court of Protection: Health & Welfare
UK Bar Guide 2025 : All Circuits
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7993 7600Chambers Review
The barristers at Garden Court Chambers are highly sought after for their expertise in health and welfare matters, with barristers noted for being "knowledgeable, methodical, focused and approachable". The team is able to draw on the set's wider knowledge and experience in public law matters when advising on complex and cross-disciplinary cases, and is regularly instructed in sensitive mental capacity and residence matters. Additional areas of strength for the set's barristers include forced marriage and deprivation of liberty disputes, and members act on behalf of protected parties and their families, the Official Solicitor and public bodies. Recent work includes Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames v KG concerning issues of capacity and best interests in determining residence and care arrangements for a homeless individual at risk in the community.
Colin Cook is the director of clerking.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks have always been professional and efficient."
"The clerks across the board are responsive, helpful and easy to approach either in existing matters or in relation to new matters."
"All clerks I have dealt with are excellent – which is why I go to this chambers first."
"The clerks have always been professional and efficient."
"The clerks across the board are responsive, helpful and easy to approach either in existing matters or in relation to new matters."
"All clerks I have dealt with are excellent – which is why I go to this chambers first."
Notable Practitioners
Helen Curtis is instructed in a broad array of cases, often on behalf of the Official Solicitor. She is known for her expertise in mental health law, and her practice includes claims for unlawful detention, appeals and judicial reviews.
"Helen is very experienced and very good at cutting through the issues."
"Helen produces a very high quality of work."
Bethan Harris excels across a range of Court of Protection matters, including deprivation of liberty, Section 21A applications and cases dealing with complex care packages. She acts for local authorities, family members and litigation friends.
"Bethan is a very meticulous barrister."
"Bethan is very experienced in Court of Protection. She is knowledgeable, approachable and clear in her advice."
Gráinne Mellon is a well-regarded Court of Protection barrister experienced in the handling of deprivation of liberty cases, where she regularly acts for NHS trusts, the Official Solicitor and family members. She is also noted for her expertise in complex disputes concerning residence and care for adults who lack capacity.
"Gráinne is very thoughtful and sensitive and does not leave any stone unturned. She is very good with clients."
"Gráinne is very approachable, knowledgeable and adapts very well to the changes in a case."
Susan Wright has a well-developed Court of Protection practice that sees her regularly acting in highly sensitive mental health capacity matters. She is frequently sought to provide counsel in cases involving serious medical treatment cases and deprivation of liberty among many other issues.
"Susan is easy to work with, very engaging, communicative and flexible."
"Susan looks at cases holistically, and is particularly good at picking up pieces of information other people may have missed and asking probing questions."