Court of Protection: Health & Welfare | UK Bar

39 Essex Chambers is described by instructing solicitors as "a powerhouse chambers, with a really wide and strong range of barristers at all levels." Areas of particular strength for the team include disputes concerning serious medical treatment, including the withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration, and deprivation of liberty cases. A notable recent case is a landmark appeal Abbasi and Anr [2025], regarding rights of treating clinicians to their anonymity. Members act for a diverse range of clients, including vulnerable individuals and their families, the Official Solicitor and several statutory agencies. The set's tenants have experience appearing before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Serjeants' Inn Chambers retains its reputation as a leading set for health and welfare matters, and is routinely instructed in leading cases in the Court of Protection as well as the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. An instructing solicitor praises the set: "An excellent set with all the knowledge and experience needed." It offers considerable expertise in complex medical treatment disputes, including the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, as well as cases concerning capacity to consent to sexual relations and deprivation of liberty challenges. The set's strong bench of barristers is regularly called upon to act on behalf of vulnerable individuals and their families, the Official Solicitor and several NHS trusts.

Paul Eeles is the Director of Clerking.

Doughty Street Chambers is highly regarded for having "a vast set of different level barristers" able to handle health and welfare matters, and houses a strong bench of barristers experienced in the handling of cases affecting incapacitated adults and children. Members are regularly instructed in deprivation of liberty and serious medical treatment cases, as well as disputes concerning capacity to consent to sexual relations and forced marriages. The set's expertise in this area is complemented by its recognised strengths in human rights, housing and community care law, and its barristers frequently appear in landmark cases before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. The tenants have experience acting on behalf of incapable individuals and their family members, as well as local authorities and health authorities. Recently members have appeared in Lioubov MacPherson v Sunderland City Council.

Sian Wilkins and Matt Butchard lead the practice management teams.

1GC|Family Law is a well-regarded set with notable expertise in health and welfare proceedings. Members are skilled in the handling of an array of complex disputes, including those concerning forced marriages, capacity to consent to sexual relations, deprivation of liberty and the withdrawal of medical treatment. The team is able to draw on the set's significant expertise in family law when advising on complex Court of Protection matters involving teenagers who lack capacity. Tenants are regularly instructed to act on behalf of family members, the Official Solicitor, NHS trusts and local authorities. An interviewee noted: "1GC has extremely knowledgeable counsel who are able to bring a wealth of expertise and experience to cases."

Paul Harris is the senior clerk.

Cornerstone Barristers houses strong capabilities in health and welfare matters, drawing on the set's recognised expertise in community care and social housing law. Its barristers are experienced in the handling of complex deprivation of liberty and forced marriage cases, as well as capacity disputes and matters relating to best interests. Members regularly act on behalf of the Official Solicitor and the Public Guardian, as well as several local authorities, social care providers and vulnerable individuals and their families, among other parties. A source comments: "Cornerstone Barristers possess extensive expertise and familiarity with COP work. They are the trusted go-to team for these matters."

Daryl Hughes is the senior clerk.

The barristers at Garden Court Chambers are highly sought after for their expertise in health and welfare matters. An interviewee notes: "Garden Court has extremely knowledgeable counsel who are able to bring a wealth of expertise and experience to cases." 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.

Colin Cook is the director of clerking.

No5 Barristers' Chambers offers expertise in a wide range of health and welfare matters. Members are experienced in the handling of complex residence, forced marriage, deprivation of liberty and capacity to consent to sexual relations cases. The set's barristers are regularly instructed to act on behalf of the Official Solicitor, the Office of the Public Guardian, local authorities and health bodies, as well as vulnerable individuals and their families. An interviewee notes: "The set has a strong Court of Protection team."

Tony McDaid is the CEO and director of clerking.

St John's Buildings houses "a large and well-respected team" within health and welfare proceedings in the Court of Protection. Members are regularly instructed in serious medical treatment matters, including disputes concerning the termination of treatment and the withdrawal of artificial hydration and nutrition, and also offer expertise in deprivation of liberty and capacity to consent to sexual relations cases. The set's broad client base includes the Official Solicitor and families of vulnerable individuals, as well as several local authorities and clinical commissioning groups.

Suzanne Heron is the lead clerk.