Court of Protection
With a postgraduate degree focusing on mental capacity and consent to treatment in the context of obstetric management, Matthew has extensive advisory and advocacy experience in cases concerning welfare, financial and serious medical treatment decisions, deprivation of liberty safeguards challenges, displacement of nearest relatives, judicial review, inherent jurisdiction and habeas corpus applications.
Matthew has acted for local authorities, NHS trusts, CCGs, patients, protected parties (often through the Official Solicitor or advocates) and family members at all levels. He has personally been instructed in some of the most significant cases in the development of the Mental Capacity Act jurisdiction (for example, Dunhill v Burgin and IM v LM & Others, respectively the leading authorities on capacity to litigate and capacity to consent to sexual relations) and brings complimentary experience of judicial review, community care, education, clinical negligence and personal injury law to his mental capacity and mental health work.
Matthew provides clear and practical advice, often on an urgent basis, with a reputation for accessibility and going the extra mile. He has particular experience of cases involving acquired brain injury, jurisdictional disputes and those with complex clinical or forensic issues.
