Free Hybrid Seminar – Burning Issues in the Court of Protection

Join us for a hybrid seminar exploring emerging issues in the Court of Protection and mental capacity law that appear to fall outside the scope of the current statutory framework.

The event will take place at Garden Court Chambers, 57–60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ, and will also be available to attend online via Zoom.

Topics to be covered:

• Understanding “executive functioning” and how (or whether) it is addressed within the current statutory scheme
• The Court of Protection’s approach to 16–17-year-olds
• Repatriation of individuals lacking capacity
• The relationship between the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court and the Court of Protection
• Challenges within Court of Protection applications, case management, and operations – and possible solutions

Following the seminar, attendees joining in person are warmly invited to stay for a networking drinks reception at Chambers.

Speakers
Amanda Weston KC, Garden Court Chambers
Amanda is a leading silk in public and administrative law, with a particular focus on the rights of vulnerable adults. She regularly advises and acts in cases concerning the Court of Protection, the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, and Tribunals. Amanda appeared in one of the earliest high-profile deprivation of liberty cases, representing Mark Neary in his successful application for the return of his son, Steven, home. She has a particular interest in adult safeguarding, the rights of people with learning disabilities, and discrimination in the context of capacity and access to care. Amanda uses her expertise in mental capacity law and safeguarding practice to inform her approach to the representation of vulnerable adults and their litigation friends in a wide range of cases, including access to legal aid and welfare benefits, damages claims for unlawful detention, and breaches of the human rights and civil liberties of people with disabilities. She is co-author of Judicial Review: A Practical Guide (Lexis Nexis) and is on the ‘A’ Panel of preferred Counsel for the Equality & Human Rights Commission.

Tim Baldwin, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Tim Baldwin is ranked in Chambers UK for Social Housing, Community Care, and Civil Liberties and Human Rights, and is recognised in The Legal 500 as a leading junior in Social Housing, Court of Protection and Community Care, and Administrative Law and Human Rights. His practice includes complex cases in the Court of Appeal, High Court, and County Courts. Tim has extensive experience in Court of Protection proceedings, particularly in health and welfare decisions, accommodation issues, and deprivation of liberty. He acts for all parties, including the Official Solicitor, in cases involving residence, care, contact, and urgent applications. He also has experience in damages claims for false imprisonment arising from unlawful deprivation of liberty. He is Co-Convenor of the Garden Court Chambers Court of Protection and Mental Health Team, Co-Chair of the Housing Law Practitioners’ Association, and a member of the ACO User Group. Tim also sits on the advisory panel for Access Social Care and the LAPG panel, and is an editor of the Community Care Law Reports. He was nominated for ‘Court of Protection Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2024.

Eleanor Sibley, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Eleanor specialises in Court of Protection law, and related areas of public and human rights law. Her work focuses on cases concerning mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, social care, and fundamental rights under European law. She has particular expertise in health and welfare and deprivation of liberty applications, including matters involving residence, care, contact, and disputes about capacity. Eleanor regularly appears in the Court of Protection, instructed by the Official Solicitor, Accredited Legal Representatives, litigation friends, local authorities, and family members. She was junior counsel for the respondent in Re D [2019] UKSC 42, a landmark Supreme Court case concerning the deprivation of liberty of 16- and 17-year-olds. Eleanor is co-author of European Court of Human Rights and Mental Health (2024, Bloomsbury Professional). She led a Strategic Legal Fund-funded project for the AIRE Centre concerning people lacking capacity to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and sits on the advisory panel for the Migrant Mental Capacity Advocacy Project. Eleanor is ranked as a leading junior for Court of Protection and Community Care in the Legal 500 (2025).

Reserve your in-person or online ticket
In-person tickets are limited by the venue’s capacity. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm whether a place is available at the event.

If you have booked an online ticket, joining details will be sent on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on Wednesday 2nd June, please check your junk inbox. If it is not there, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.