Specialisms and expertise
Brian has 15 years of experience in Private Client practice, specialising in Court of Protection work. He has particular interest and experience in administering the finances of those who suffer from incapacity due to an acquired brain injury, or from injuries resulting from birth mismanagement. His experience includes:
- Acting as a professional deputy appointed by the Court of Protection
- Undertaking expert witness work.
- Brian works with both claimant and defendant solicitors in complex personal injury and clinical negligence cases where the claimant lacks capacity, in the provision of expert advice on the role of a Deputy and the likely costs involved
- Acting as a trustee in trusts established to deal with personal injury damages
- Acting for parties (both applicants and respondents) in Court of Protection proceedings, including contested and non-contested Deputyship and statutory will applications.
What Brian’s clients say
- Chambers UK conducted independent and anonymous interviews with clients, and quoted one as saying: “Brian is efficient, polite and understanding. Everything is a pleasure for him, just as you would expect from a good lawyer.” The 2016 edition of Chambers notes that Brian “absolutely knows what he's doing, is refreshingly pragmatic and looks at the wider picture in acting for the person who lacks capacity". He was “very highly rated” by the Legal 500 2015 edition, and noted as “very efficient” in the 2016 edition.
- “Thank you to you and all your colleagues who have work on this case, and for the helpful way in which you have always dealt with us. We are very impressed with your firm” father of a woman with autism, following a Court of Protection application.
Achievements and other appointments
- Ranked as a ‘Leading Individual’ for Court of Protection work in the 2016 edition of Chambers UK
- Leading seminars on Court of Protection issues at the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 Annual Conferences of the Private Client Section of the Law Society
- Speaking at the 2011 Annual Conference of Headfirst, a firm of specialist brain injury Case Managers, on factors that can affect Court of Protection costs
- Commissioned to write on Court of Protection practice and issues for the Law Society's Private Client Section magazine, Elder Law Journal, Solicitor’s Journal, e-bulletins for Title Research, and to contribute to a blog for the Private Client Adviser magazine and website.
Profile
Brian joined the firm in 2000. He became a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 2003. He went on to complete his training whilst working, to qualify as a solicitor in 2006. He was promoted to Partner in 2011. Brian is a full member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a member of the Law Society's Private Client Section.
