Profile
Work Department
Position
Partner.
Career
Damian is a Partner in the Court of Protection team, based in our Manchester office.
He was appointed by the Court of Protection team to act as a professional deputy for people who have lost capacity to manage their financial affairs. Most of his clients have received multi-million-pound settlements as a result of serious injury or medical negligence.
He works closely with both our Personal Injury and Medical Negligence teams to manage interim payments for clients until their claims are fully settled. Damian also provides expert evidence to budget future deputyship support costs for them. This means the compensation claim can be set at the right level, to ensure they receive the right care and support that they need for the rest of their lives.
Once a claim has settled, he supports clients with their everyday financial affairs. This may involve investing their compensation, buying and adapting a property that is suitable for their needs, and putting rehabilitation packages in place for them.
He also deals with Statutory Will applications - this is for when a client lacks capacity to give instructions about their own Will and the Court of Protection must do it on their behalf. This can be a sensitive area and may be complex when family members are not in agreement as to what should happen.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Lucy Nicol has a real feel for COP work. I know that she and members of her team always act with the incapacitated person's best interests at the forefront of their minds. She has a very practical and pragmatic approach to litigation.'
‘Irwin Mitchell have highly qualified and personable solicitors that work closely with their clients. Damian Hodkinson, Sally Murphy and Lucy Bazley are members of the the team that we work with most regularly.’
‘Lucy Nicol & Gillian Hitchen are leading industry practitioners which is of huge benefit to their clients.’
‘Angela Jackman KC is very experienced and highly regarded in this area. She is very effective in running the case and works collaboratively with all parties for the benefit of her clients. She is pragmatic and has excellent judgment.’
‘Angela Jackman KC and Oliver Studdert are exceptional advocates, combining deep expertise with unwavering dedication to protecting their clients’ rights.’
‘Damian Hodkinson is an outstanding Court of Protection professional deputy: able to deal sympathetically with a wide range of clients and their families, but also firm enough to push strongly for P's best interests when firmness is required.’
‘The team are quite simply the best in their field. They combine a compassionate, human approach to the most sensitive of cases, whether representing a protected party or a family member. The team's knowledge of the law is superb.'
‘Mathieu Culverhouse's knowledge and experience of health and welfare COP work is unparalleled. He has been involved in some of the jurisdiction's leading cases and continues to bring his experience and professionalism to difficult cases. He is down to earth and easy to work with.'
'Lots of good people around the country. The COP team relies on a workhorse of excellent associates.' 'Irwin Mitchell are well known for their strength in representing protected parties and families in Court of Protection proceedings. They are a national powerhouse and leave no stone uncovered.'