Alexander Ruck Keene KC (Hon)
UK Bar Guide 2025
Court of Protection: Health & Welfare + 1 more ranking
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(0)20 7832 1111Share profile
Star Individuals
Band 3
About
Provided by Alexander Ruck Keene KC (Hon)
Practice Areas
Alex's practice is focused on mental capacity, mental health law and medical ethics. He also writes extensively in the three areas, including leading textbooks. Appointed Honorary KC in 2022 in recognition of his policy, academic and law reform contribution to capacity and mental health law. Cases in Court of Protection include Re Maguire [2023] UKSC 20 (Article 2 ECHR and detention under DOLS); Re JB [2021] UKSC 35 (first Supreme Court analysis of mental capacity); Re D [2019] UKSC 42 (meaning of deprivation of liberty in relation to 16/17 year olds).
Medical ethics cases include:
R (JJ) v Spectrum Community Healthcare CIC [2023] EWCA Civ 885 (risk feeding); AB v CD [2021] EWHC 741 (Fam) (interaction of parental responsibility and Gillick competence); Mental health cases include Munjaz v UK [2012] MHLR 351 (status of MHA Code of Practice).
Career
Professor of Practice, Kings College London. Research Affiliate, Essex Autonomy Project, University of Essex. Seconded to Law Commission Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty project 2016-2017; legal adviser to independent Review of Mental Health Act 1983, 2017. Special Adviser to Joint Committee on Human Rights for two inquiries in 2020-2.
Professional Memberships
CPBA,STEP, ELI, ALBA, MHLA, LAPG.
Publications
Leading MCA textbooks and www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Alexander Ruck Keene is noted in the market for his academic excellence in the Court of Protection field. Peers consistently recognise his dedication to the area, citing his writing and involvement in the law as indications of his pre-eminence. He edits and contributes to a number of leading publications dealing with the area, while also maintaining an enviable practice.
Alexander Ruck Keene focuses his administrative and public law practice on the scope and application of mental capacity and human rights law. He regularly acts for applicants in novel legal challenges. He has extensive experience handling judicial reviews concerning deprivation of liberty and the refusal of life-sustaining treatment.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Alexander is the doyen of the mental capacity act and mental health act."
"Alexander Ruck Keene has established himself as the thinking head of this area; he is excellent."
"Alexander is absolutely a star; he knows the Court of Protection inside-out."
"Alexander is the doyen of the mental capacity act and mental health act."
"Alexander Ruck Keene has established himself as the thinking head of this area; he is excellent."
"Alexander is absolutely a star; he knows the Court of Protection inside-out."
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