The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > Regional Bar > Court of Protection and community care

Following his move from No5 Barristers Chambers in June 2020, 39 Essex Chambers is the new home to well-known practitioner Ian Brownhill, who specialises in health and welfare cases, particularly those involving safeguarding concerns. Recent instructions include A Local Authority v JB, Re EOA, and The Hospital v JJ, where he acted on behalf of a student who was refusing to comply with treatment for his type 1 diabetes. Brownhill's 'good knowledge of other jurisdictions that sometimes come into play, really adds a lot of value in complicated COP matters that need someone who can tie all the disparate strings together'.

No5 Barristers Chambers has established expertise in mental capacity law allows the chambers to represent a wide variety of clients in Court of Protection property and affairs matters. The 'composed' David Gardner 'is practical in all situations and great at offering viable solutions/alternatives to a client'. In one recent instruction of note, Gardner represented a local authority in the Family Division of the High Court exercising its inherent jurisdiction.

Members at St John's Chambers have worked on a number of interesting cases with patients affected by a range of issues, including vascular dementia, paranoid schizophrenia, and brain injuries caused either through personal injury or medical negligence. The 'approachable' Alex Troup, who 'has a strong presence which asserts itself when needed', predominantly focuses on property and affairs disputes. Abigail Bond represents parties in health and welfare cases and is a fee-paid judge of the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health jurisdiction). A 'good advocate' with a 'very sound understanding of law', Oliver Wooding is also recommended.