Free Hybrid Seminar - Personal Welfare Decisions: Year in Review & Future Developments

This hybrid seminar offers essential perspectives on key developments in mental capacity law in 2023/24, concerning personal welfare decisions, from experienced practitioners in the Court of Protection team at Garden Court Chambers. The panel will also discuss anticipated future developments in the Court of Protection.

Garden Court is delighted to welcome Anselm Eldergill, former Judge of the Court of Protection, Honorary Professor at University College London, and author of the forthcoming book, 'ECHR and Mental Health Law', who will offer his view on reforming our mental health law, with reference to the area of personal welfare decisions in UK law. 

Speaker Bios

Liz Davies KC, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Liz is a social housing silk ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. Liz accepts instructions to appear in the Court of Protection and has provided training and written case updates on capacity, deprivation of liberty and other Court of Protection issues. She is committed to acting for the homeless, and for tenants and other occupiers, and has a tenacious and practical approach to conducting her cases. She also practises in areas of community care and Children Act cases, particularly where accommodation might be an issue. She has a particular specialism in domestic abuse and represented Southall Black Sisters and Solace Women’s Aid in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Module 2.

Tim Baldwin, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Tim is ranked in Chambers UK for Social Housing and Community Care and is identified as a leading junior in the Legal 500 for Social Housing; Court of Protection and Community Care; and Administrative Law & Human Rights. Tim is known for his fierce commitment to representing vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged clients including Gypsies, Travellers and Asylum Seekers concerning accommodation and support needs. He is experienced in proceedings concerning health and welfare decisions, accommodation and DOLS issues for applicants and all respondents, including emergency applications and instruction by the Official Solicitor. Tim is the co-chair of HLPA, co-convenor of the Garden Court Chambers Court of Protection Team and editor of the Community Care Law Reports. Tim is currently shortlisted for Court of Protection Junior of the Year at the 2024 Legal 500 Awards.

Felicity Williams, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Felicity specialises in public law, court of protection and community care cases. She has particular expertise in representing young and vulnerable people in public law proceedings. Felicity's court of protection casework includes deprivation of liberty issues, personal welfare applications and complex care packages. Felicity is experienced in community care and Children Act judicial review claims, which assists her approach to Court of Protection matters. Felicity acts for litigation friends, the Official Solicitor, local authorities and family members.

Anselm Eldergill, Solicitor, Honorary Professor at University College London & Former Judge of the Court of Protection
As a practitioner, Anselm was ranked Band 1 in the Chambers UK Directory of the Legal Profession and was, for many years, President of both the Mental Health Lawyers Association and the Institute of Mental Health Act Practitioners. He served as a Mental Health Act Commissioner and was the only Commonwealth judge appointed to the UN Committee on the CRPD and Access to Justice. His book: 'European Court of Human Rights and Mental Health',  is being published in September 2024. From 2010-2024, he was a judge in the Court of Protection. He left the court with the intention of returning to legal practice in January 2025. He will be concentrating on all aspects of mental health law, human rights work, healthcare law, drafting legislation, chairing independent inquiries and hearings and professional training. He can be contacted at medicolegal@email.com.

Reserve your in-person or online ticket

Please fill in the form below to reserve your in-person or online ticket. In-person tickets are limited to the capacity of the venue. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm your in-person place at this event. 

If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to everyone who has signed up on the day of the event. Please check your junk inbox if you have not received the link by Wednesday 2nd October. If you have not received the link by 3pm on Wednesday 2nd October, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.