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Court Of Protection And Community Care

1
39 Essex Chambers
Serjeants' Inn Chambers
2
Doughty Street Chambers
3
1GC | Family Law
Field Court Chambers
Garden Court Chambers

Leading Silks

1
Bridget Dolan KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Nageena Khalique KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Jenni Richards KC –39 Essex Chambers
Sophia Roper KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Sophia is an outstanding barrister. She is determined yet realistic, analytical yet pragmatic and an absolute dream to work with.'
Vikram Sachdeva KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘Vikram lends authority to any situation.’
2
Andrew Bagchi KC –1GC | Family Law ‘Andrew is a highly effective advocate. He is pragmatic and communicates well.'
Paul Bowen KC – Brick Court Chambers
Jamie Burton KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘His warmth allows for teamwork where he listens to all members. Jamie demonstrates a thorough approach to legal research and drafting.’
Victoria Butler-Cole KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘She is a leading Court of Protection silk, fantastic on the papers and in court. A pleasure to work with.’
Katharine Gollop KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Fenella Morris KC –39 Essex Chambers
Michael Mylonas KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘He is a fantastic court performer.’
Debra Powell KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Debra is a very cool head in what can be very difficult cases. She is straightforward. She distils the issues and makes things simple and clear.'
Aswini Weereratne KC – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Aswini is very cool, calm and collected. She provides comprehensive advice in a tone and manner which is palatable to each client. She is very impressive.'
3
Jonathan Auburn KC – 11KBW
Joanne Clement KC –11KBW ‘An exceptional practitioner.’
Stephen Cragg KC – Doughty Street Chambers
Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC – Doughty Street Chambers
Nicola Greaney KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘Her advocacy is clear and succinct. Nicola is a very experienced pair of hands.’
Michael Horne KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Michael is a safe pair of hands. He is always measured and provides wise and clear guidance.’
Angus Moon KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Parishil Patel KC –39 Essex Chambers
Fiona Paterson KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘Fiona is extremely knowledgeable. She is clear, firm and very persuasive in her advocacy.’
Alexander Ruck Keene KC (Hon)  – 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is a fountain of knowledge, as well as possessing a very effective ability to apply his expertise in the real world.’
Kelvin Rutledge KC –Cornerstone Barristers
Fiona Scolding KC –Landmark Chambers 'She combines fantastic client skills with powerful advocacy.’
Andrew Sharland KC – 11KBW
Stephen Simblet KC – Garden Court Chambers
Emma Sutton KC –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Emma is very sharp and able to cut through the most complex of procedures to identify the best solution for the client.’
Claire Watson KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘She provides a perfect balance of incisive yet client friendly advice. A smooth advocate.’
Amanda Weston KC – Garden Court Chambers
Ian Wise KC – Monckton Chambers

2024 Silks

Steve Broach KC – 39 Essex Chambers
Edward Lamb KC – Deka Chambers 'Edward is a calm and authoritative presence, even with the most challenging of clients.'

2025 Silks

James Berry KC – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Alison Easton KC –Coram Chambers ‘Alison is a superb barrister, and undoubtedly a leader in her field.  She is simply a class act.’
Peter Mant KC –39 Essex Chambers ‘Peter is outstanding. He is an eloquent and persuasive advocate and handles the trickiest and most sensitive cases adeptly, ensuring that the client is supported throughout often extremely sensitive and difficult matters.’

Leading Juniors

1
Malcolm Chisholm –1GC | Family Law ‘Malcolm is very personable and a very experienced advocate. His advice is solid but sensible.’
Rhys Hadden –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Charming, clever, and persuasive - he is incredibly personable.’
Bethan Harris –Garden Court Chambers ‘Bethan wholeheartedly embraces her client's case and meticulously examines the evidence.  She has a strong insight into what a court is likely to do and not do.'
David Lawson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘David can remain composed and calm in highly stressful situations. He maintains his poise during intense courtroom proceedings, which helps to instill confidence in clients.’
Alison Meacher –Gatehouse Chambers ‘Alison is truly outstanding. She is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. She is attentive to detail and spots the tricky issues.’
Gráinne Mellon – Garden Court Chambers ‘Grainne is succinct, dynamic, good with clients, and really knows her law. She has a good command of the court.'  
2
Neil Allen –39 Essex Chambers ‘Neil is very determined to get the best outcome possible for the client, thinking creatively and often employing novel solutions to problems.’
Tim Baldwin –Garden Court Chambers ‘Tim is very thorough and knowledgeable. He is an effective advocate  presenting cases forcefully in a quietly determined fashion.'
Ian Brownhill  – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Ian is an excellent advocate.’
Ulele Burnham  – Doughty Street Chambers ‘One of the top barristers in the Court of Protection. She is clever and incredibly articulate.’
Conrad Hallin –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘As solid and immovable as an oak tree in the face of bitter disputes. He is exceptionally clever in his arguments.’
Benjamin Harrison – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Ben is extremely personable and has exceptional client care skills. He offers practical advice.’
Shu Shin Luh– Doughty Street Chambers ‘Shu’s knowledge is second to none.’
Katharine Scott –39 Essex Chambers ‘Katharine is diligent and has impressive attention to detail.’
Anna Tkaczynska –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Anna is fabulous. She is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and approachable.’
3
Helen Curtis –Garden Court Chambers ‘Helen is very tenacious and determined to achieve the best outcomes for her clients.'  
Sian Davies – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Sian knows her stuff. She is responsive and committed to her cases. A true joy to work with.'
Alexander Drapkin  – 5 Stone Buildings ‘He is direct, grasps the issues that are important to the client, and is quick to clarify the scope of a case and take out any unnecessary noise.’
Francesca Gardner – 39 Essex Chambers 'She is extremely bright and formidable in court.'
Hilton Harrop-Griffiths – Field Court Chambers
Francis Hoar – Field Court Chambers
Nicola Kohn –39 Essex Chambers ‘She is super-calm and effective, and a highly skilled advocate in complex health and welfare matters.'
Annabel Lee –39 Essex Chambers
Oliver Lewis – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Oliver is extremely dedicated to his clients. The breadth of his technical expertise is singularly impressive.’
Sophy Miles – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Sophy's advice is first class. She is a fantastic junior.’
Nicholas O’Brien –Coram Chambers ‘A brilliant junior. He is incredibly experienced and very knowledgeable.’
Lee Parkhill –Cornerstone Barristers ‘Lee is an extremely skilled barrister. He is very personable and an absolute pleasure to work with.’
Dominic Preston – Doughty Street Chambers
Kyle Squire – Coram Chambers ‘Kyle is thorough, personable and knowledgeable. He is good with clients and his advocacy style is efficient.’
Katarina Sydow –Outer Temple Chambers
Mungo Wenban-Smith –39 Essex Chambers ‘He is a very robust advocate in court. He has a keen sense for which arguments will be persuasive and which will not.’
4
Katherine Barnes – 39 Essex Chambers
Antonia Benfield – Doughty Street Chambers ‘An astounding barrister. She knows the ins and outs of her cases, and always impresses the judges she appears before.'
Anna Bicarregui –39 Essex Chambers 'Anna is a very intelligent junior.'
Alexander Campbell – Cornerstone Barristers ‘Alexander has an incredibly calm style. He is unflappable.'
Gemma Daly – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Gemma knows exactly which points to pursue and she can read judges very well.'
Catherine Dobson  - Matrix Chambers  ‘She is extremely intelligent, articulate and diligent.’
Sebastian Elgueta – Garden Court Chambers ‘Sebastian is an excellent advocate who always provides solid but sensible advice.’
Peggy Etiebet –Cornerstone Barristers ‘Peggy is always pragmatic and clear with her advice. She is approachable and responsive.’
Adam Fullwood – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Adam is a formidable advocate.’
Alexis Hearnden –39 Essex Chambers ‘Alexis is a truly excellent advocate. She is always a very safe pair of hands.'
Gemma Hobcraft – Doughty Street Chambers 'Her commitment to seeing a case through to the end, no matter how complex or demanding, is a real testament to her dedication.'
Angela Hodes –  Field Court Chambers 'She is extremely knowledgeable in the field, and her advocacy is very persuasive. She is also very empathetic, and therefore excellent at dealing with sensitive issues.'
Arianna Kelly – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Arianna has a great eye for detail and grapples with complicated legal concepts very easily.'
Zia Nabi – Doughty Street Chambers
Susanna Rickard –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers ‘Susanna is a considered yet powerful advocate.’
Eliza Sharron – 39 Essex Chambers ‘Eliza’s ability to master the most complex issues and subject them to forensic analysis is extraordinary. Her advocacy is calm and authoritative.’
Eleanor Sibley – Garden Court Chambers  ‘She gets on top of issues very quickly. A very measured advocate.’
Tom Stoate – Doughty Street Chambers
5
Shazia Akhtar – Gatehouse Chambers ‘Shazia is a good team player, and has a great manner with clients.’
Jack Anderson– 39 Essex Chambers ‘Jack has excellent knowledge and a wealth of experience.'
Adam Boukraa  - 39 Essex Chambers
Grace Capel - Doughty Street Chambers
Alex Cisneros - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He has a real depth of knowledge. A go-to choice for Court of Protection welfare cases.’
Daniel Clarke – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Highly intelligent and shrewd in negotiation.'
Elizabeth Cleaver – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Elizabeth is an excellent advocate. She has a significant depth of knowledge.’
Stephanie David – 39 Essex Chambers
Pravin Fernando – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Raza Halim – Garden Court Chambers ‘Raza is forceful, tenacious and clear in court.’
Rebecca Handcock – Field Court Chambers ‘Rebecca's advice is very thorough. She is extremely capable on her feet.'
Zoe Harper – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Zoe is highly professional, knowledgeable and experienced in Court of Protection matters.’
Turan Hursit – Old Square Chambers 'She exudes a high level of confidence in her advocacy, and maintains a commendable presence in court. Her approach is both measured and compelling.'
Saara Idelbi - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Saara is meticulous, tenacious and resilient. She is a fierce advocate for her clients, even in the most difficult of cases.’
Varsha Jagadesham – No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Varsha is extremely thorough, with a keen eye for detail. Her advice is meticulous and covers all of the salient points. She commands her space well during advocacy and is very clear and confident.'
Thomas Jones – Deka Chambers ‘Thomas is a very responsive junior and his drafting is highly impressive.’
Jamie Mathieson –Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Mary-Rachel McCabe – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Judges like her attention to detail and practical approach. She is a strong advocate and very thorough.'
Rowena Moffatt – Doughty Street Chambers
Asma Nizami – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Asma is completely on top of the law in this area and has a gift for working with vulnerable clients.’
Jake Rylatt – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers
Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright  – Garden Court Chambers
Hannah Slarks – 11KBW 
Felicity Williams  – Garden Court Chambers
Nancy Williams – Doughty Street Chambers ‘Nancy's down to earth approach sets clients at ease. Her preparation is impeccable.’
Susan Leslie Wright – Garden Court Chambers 'Susan is exceptional in explaining things clearly and simply to unrepresented family members and presenting the case in a firm but balanced way both in court and in round table meetings. Her experience and expertise is self evident and she has a very inclusive manner.'
Matthew Wyard - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Matthew is very client-friendly, and is able to find solutions to the most difficult problems very quickly.’

Rising Stars

Olivia Beach - One Pump Court 'A conscientious and diligent junior.'
India Flanagan – Cornerstone Barristers 'India is articulate and confident. She is very approachable and make the clients feel at ease. An exceptionally skilled and persuasive barrister.'
Rachael Gourley - Serjeants' Inn Chambers 'Rachael is tenacious to ensure her clients' needs are comprehensively met. She is an incisive, diplomatic and effective advocate who clearly cares for her vulnerable clients.'
Donnchadh Greene – Doughty Street Chambers 'A very client-focused junior.'
Jim Hirschmann – 3PB 'Jim fights tooth and nail for his client's position with composure and professionalism. He is a persuasive advocate who exudes a gentle authority.'
Aristide Hoang-Brown - Field Court Chambers 'Aristide is a calm and confident advocate.'
Alice Irving –Doughty Street Chambers 'She has a sensible and pragmatic approach, and can shed light on complex cases with a long and difficult history. She prepares cases diligently and thoroughly. She is also great with lay clients.'
Olivia Kirkbride – Serjeants’ Inn Chambers 'She reads the court well during hearings and is able to preempt problems before they arise.'
Imogen Mellor - One Pump Court
Isaac Ricca-Richardson – Garden Court Chambers 'Isaac is a formidable talent at the Bar. He is responsive, sensitive, and pragmatic in his approach, making him a go-to for anyone acting for vulnerable clients.'
Joanna Thom - Field Court Chambers

Court of Protection: health and welfare in London Bar

39 Essex Chambers


39 Essex Chambers is ‘very well respected in the Court of Protection health and welfare arena‘. In a high-profile matter, Vikram Sachdeva KC, Catherine Dobson, Neil Allen and Alexander Ruck Keene KC appeared for various parties in Hemachandran v Thirumalesh, a Court of Appeal case concerning capacity issues regarding making decisions for medical treatment. The Court held that an individual’s belief in the relevant information when making a decision about medical treatment was not a legal requirement of the mental capacity test. In another matter, Victoria Butler-Cole KC acted for a client in Aberdeenshire Council v SF & Ors, a case involving the question of whether a Scottish Guardianship order could authorise a guardian to deprive a person, who was residing in an English supported living placement, of their liberty. Peter Mant KC was elevated to silk in March 2025; Saara Idelbi, Alex Cisneros and Matthew Wyard joined the team in August 2025.

Les références

‘The client care skills of Sheraton Doyle and Peter Campbell are superb.’

‘Oscar Redif is a pleasure to work with and always helpful, friendly and working tirelessly to go above and beyond expectations.’

‘Max Head and Oscar Redif are hugely helpful, friendly and polite.’





Serjeants' Inn Chambers


Serjeants’ Inn Chambers is lauded for being 'the leaders in the field of serious medical treatment cases in the Court of Protection'. In a high-profile matter, Bridget Dolan KC appeared for an NHS Trust in a case concerning ceilings of care matters following the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from a severely disabled child, on the grounds that it was in his best interests due to his expected imminent death. However, the child was alive and living at home four months after the treatment had been withdrawn. Nageena Khalique KC is very experienced in advising on complex medical treatment matters, as well as on cases concerning a young person's deprivation of liberty. David Lawson  is 'a silk in the making with a superb command of the courtroom'. The 'excellent' Rhys Hadden is active in cases involving complex safeguarding, residence and mental health issues. James Berry KC took silk in March 2025.

Les références

‘The clerks are well-led by Tom O’Connor.’

‘The clerks at Serjeants Inn are nothing short of incredible. They are quick to respond and will always do what they can to assist our team.’

‘The service provided by Serjeants Inn’s clerks is always excellent.’





Doughty Street Chambers


Doughty Street Chambers is lauded for its 'incredibly experienced' Court of Protection team. Aswini Weereratne KC is sought after for her expertise in advising on cases involving capacity, mental health and human rights issues. Jamie Burton KC appeared before the High Court in a high-profile judicial review and civil claim concerning the treatment of an autistic man with learning difficulties, who was detained in seclusion with no access to recreation and outside space for over 300 days. Ulele Burnham is well versed in advising on complex medical treatment issues and deprivation of liberty matters. Grace Capel joined the team in August 2024.

Les références

‘The clerks are excellent, responsive and helpful. Grace Walton and Keya Ahmed have both been fantastic.’

‘Keya Ahmed is always very prompt in response to my queries and always delivers in her promises.’

‘The clerks are very responsive and helpful.’





1GC | Family Law


1GC | Family Law's Court of Protection team is very experienced in acting for local authorities and the Official Solicitor. The 'excellent' Andrew Bagchi KC has an excellent track record in advising on complex health and welfare disputes, often representing clients before the High Court. Malcolm Chisholm is 'excellent with vulnerable clients' and 'his knowledge in Court of Protection law is extensive'; he is often instructed in complex cases concerning deprivation of liberty.

Les références

‘The clerks are always courteous, efficient and helpful.’

‘The clerks provide a good and efficient service.’

‘Polite, friendly, and always go above and beyond to assist.’





Field Court Chambers


Field Court Chambers has a solid track record in advising on complex Court of Protection cases involving deprivation of liberty and personal welfare matters. Francis Hoar regularly acts for local authorities and relatives in complex Court of Protection proceedings, and has particular expertise in handling medical treatment cases involving Covid-19 vaccinations. Hilton Harrop-Griffiths is instructed by Brighton & Hove City Council in the case of a man with autism and learning disabilities, who was detained under the Mental Health Act in a secure hospital for over 20 years following an initial temporary admission. In January 2025 Christine Cooper retired from full-time practice and was appointed as a nominated judge in the Court of Protection.

Les références

‘The clerks are particularly helpful and extremely responsive.’

‘The clerks provide an efficient service.’

‘Field Court Chambers provides a high level of customer service.’





Garden Court Chambers


At Garden Court Chambers, the 'diplomatic and highly experienced' Bethan Harris brings extensive experience in handling cases concerning individuals who lack capacity, and routinely advises on health and welfare matters and deprivation of liberty issues. Gráinne Mellon is advising on a case involving complex medical and safeguarding issues pertaining to a 28-year-old woman with autism and a history of trauma. Grace Capel left the set in August 2024.

Les références

‘Callum Gordon is always polite, helpful and quick to respond.’

‘Callum Gordon and Gavin John are very good clerks, they are very responsive and always able to offer assistance at short notice.’

‘The clerks are fantastic, very friendly and extremely responsive.’