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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
- 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. Mental capacity cases 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 and Disabled Children’s Social Care Project 2023-2025; 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.
Languages
French
Memberships
CPBA,STEP, ELI, ALBA, MHLA
Education
Johns Hopkins SAIS (MA); Oxford (MA)
Content supplied by 39 Essex Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- '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.'
- 'The clerks are helpful and attentive. When needed, they move heaven and earth to ensure matters are dealt with by the most suitable barrister. '
- '39 Essex Chambers is a first-class set.'
- '39 Essex Chambers is a firm favourite for Court of Protection work.'
- 'Brilliant. Great strength in depth.'
- 'They have strength and depth at all seniority levels.'