Court of Protection
“St Johns buildings has a strong Court of Protection team.”
“The training programmes put on by the Court of Protection team are second to none and really showcase the range of talent that they have to offer.” Legal 500 2023
“St John’s Buildings houses a strong bench of barristers experienced in the handling of a variety of health and welfare proceedings in the Court of Protection. Members are regularly instructed in serious medical treatment matters, including disputes concerning the termination of treatment and the withdrawal of artificial hydration and nutrition, and also offer expertise in deprivation of liberty and capacity to consent to sexual relations cases. The set’s broad client base includes the Official Solicitor and families of vulnerable individuals, as well as several local authorities and clinical commissioning groups.” Chambers UK bar 2023
The team
The Court of Protection team consists of highly specialised practitioners who routinely act for all parties in this field of litigation. There are a number of leading practitioners in the field of:
- Administrative law
- Community care law
- Family law
- Civil liberties
- Human rights litigation
It is this depth of knowledge and expertise that creates a vibrant and busy group of advocates who can bring these specialist skills to the particular case.
Cases of Deprivation of Liberty, medical treatment/termination of treatment and alleged human rights infringements of vulnerable adults are areas of particular speciality for the advocates specialising in welfare cases. These counsel routinely appear in the COP in all aspects of welfare and treatment cases.
There are counsel in the group who appear in financial abuse and property and affairs litigation within the Court of Protection and satellite litigation arising from the COP applications. Members of this group have been (and continue to be) involved in the leading cases that have shaped the Court of Protection jurisprudence since its inception.
“Every single clerk at St John’s is amazing.”
“The clerks are excellent, faultlessly responsive, charming and accommodating.”
“Clerk Jayne Harper is incredibly helpful and responsive.” Chambers UK Bar 2023
Directory recommendations
“St John’s Buildings are ‘an excellent set for COP‘ and offers a ‘good range of experienced counsel‘. The team has a broad range of expertise and represent clients in cases that involve medical treatment, termination of treatment, and alleged human rights infringements of vulnerable adults.”
“Friendly, organised and very professional.”
“Good solid chambers.” Legal 500 2022
“St John’s Buildings is home to a strong team of specialised barristers experienced in the handling of a range of health and welfare matters. The set is regularly instructed in cases concerning deprivation of liberty, medical treatment and the infringement of vulnerable individuals’ human rights, drawing on expertise in complementary areas of law such as family, community care and civil liberties. Members are widely recognised for their work at the cutting edge of developing the law in the Court of Protection.” Chambers & Partners 2019
“St John’s Buildings is home to Joseph O’Brien who has established expertise in Court of Protection cases; deprivation of liberty matters are a key speciality.” Legal 500 2019
“Chambers has a national reputation due to the fact that it is involved in some of the most significant landmark cases.” Chambers and Partners 2016
“St John’s Buildings’ Court of Protection team specialises in deprivation of liberty matters, health and welfare cases, medical treatment (including treatment termination) and alleged human rights infringements of vulnerable adults.” Legal 500 2017

Karl Rowley KC
Year of Silk: 2013
Lorraine Cavanagh KC
Head of the Family GroupYear of Silk: 2019
Kate Burnell KC
Year of Silk: 2021
Joseph O'Brien KC
Head of Court of ProtectionYear of Silk: 2022
Clare Grundy
Year of call: 1989
Deborah Shield
Year of call: 1991
Ben Lawrence
Year of call: 2003
Christopher Pare
Year of call: 2006
Natalia Levine
Year of call: 2007
Jonathan Bellamy
Year of call: 2008
Lucinda France-Hayhurst
Year of call: 2009
Elliw Roberts
Year of call: 2009
Laura Twist
Year of call: 2012
Eleanor Keehan
Year of call: 2013
Tom Hughes
Year of call: 2017
Navpreeth Gihair
Year of call: 2013
Kelly Hutchinson
Year of call: 2014
Rebecca Titus-Cobb
Year of call: 2017
Helen Crowell
Year of call: 2019
Daniel Currie
Year of call: 2019
Rebecca Carr
Year of call: 2015
Hannah Bakshani
Year of call: 2017