Skip to main content

Mental health solicitors

Our mental health solicitors have a national reputation as experts in the field of mental health law, acting for numerous mental health NHS trusts and a significant number of private sector psychiatric providers across the country.

We have specialist mental health offender care expertise, advising several medium and high security institutions and regularly conduct advocacy in complex jury prison inquests.

Our work includes operation of the Mental Health Act, mental capacity law and safeguarding matters including Court of Protection proceedings and issues regarding consent, confidentiality, admission, detention and treatment. We regularly advise on the validity of detention papers and MHA policy and provide representation at tribunals and inquests.

Our clients work in a challenging environment and are subject to a complex set of laws and regulations. They rely on our highly responsive mental health solicitors for expert and clear advice and representation on difficult legal and practical issues relating to the treatment and detention of the mentally ill, whether in high, medium or low security hospitals or living in the community. We have significant experience of working with issues relating to children from CAMHS units, and patients with eating disorders.

Our solicitors specialising in mental health law work closely with the clinical teams within our client organisations and understand the challenges which they face and the reputational issues for providers. Often this specialist advice is needed outside office hours, for which we offer a 24-hour helpline.

We also keep our clients up-to-date with legal developments through our mental health law briefings, lectures, seminars and annual mental health law conference. We also provide mental health training specific to our client's needs.

Our mental health law services

  • Mental Health Act
  • Mental Capacity Act
  • Deprivation of liberty
  • Human Rights Act
  • Complaints and compensation claims
  • Court of Protection proceedings
  • Safeguarding
  • Consent to treatment
  • Pre Inquest hearings and Inquests
  • Offender care
  • Representation at hearings
  • Judicial reviews
  • Policy review and preparation
  • Serious Incident Investigations
  • Reputational management advice
  • Information Governance
  • CQC, police and other regulatory matters
  • Advice to local authority AMPHs
  • Advice to police services on mental health issues
  • Commissioning disputes.

Key contact

Meet our experts

Healthcare law insights

View all insights