Conor specialises in Court of Protection personal welfare cases and all aspects of community care law, including advising on the merits of applications for judicial review. Conor studied history at the University of Winchester before moving to South Korea where he taught English as a foreign language for two years. While in the Far East, Conor decided to pursue a career in law and returned to England to achieve his legal qualifications at the then College of Law in York. Conor then worked for 2 years at a regional firm in Yorkshire before completing his training to be a solicitor at a national firm headquartered in Sheffield. Upon qualification Conor practiced in all areas of public law. In 2013 he moved to a regional firm to develop his Court of Protection and community care practice and was appointed as the head of the Court of Protection and Community Care department from 2016.
Conor can advise in the following areas:
Court of Protection and the Mental Capacity Act 2005
- Personal welfare applications, including serious medical treatment
- Deprivation of liberty applications
- Personal welfare deputyships
- Cross jurisdictional applications
- Preparation of advance decisions to refuse life sustaining treatment
Mental health and the Mental Health Act 1983
- Nearest relative displacement applications
- Section 117 aftercare disputes
- Challenging the failure to assess the needs of those who may require community care services
- Challenging the outcomes of assessments of need and reductions in care provision
- Challenging decisions about national health service funding for care and the failure to provide funding under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 where appropriate
- Accessing specialist medical treatment including lifesaving treatment
- End of life decisions
Proceedings in the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court
Conor receives instructions from litigation friends, advocates and RPRs on behalf of those who lack capacity, as well as those individuals’ family members. He is a member of the Law Society’s mental capacity accreditation scheme, meaning he can act as an accredited legal representative.
Achievements
Conor has been recognised by Legalease in the Legal 500’s Court of Protection 2023 rankings, alongside co-directors Kate Jackson and Lauren Crow, for leading a “highly specialised team with a clear passion for Court of Protection work”.
Conor has been ranked in Chambers and Partners 2023 – Band 3. Some of the Chambers review comments include:
“Conor is really great – he’s very thoughtful and has the client’s best interests at heart.”
“He deciphers materials so quickly and identifies the key points to focus on.”
In 2020 Conor was recognised for his achievements and expertise in this area when he was awarded the Solicitor of the Year accolade at the Nottinghamshire Law Society Annual Awards.
Notable Cases
Conor has represented clients in the county court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and has been involved in a number of reported cases:
- R (on the application of W) v Croydon Borough Council [2011] EWHC 696 (Admin)
- X Primary Care Trust v XB & Another [2012] EWHC 1390 (Fam)
- R (on the application of Jane Nicklinson) v Secretary of State for Justice & Another [2013] EWCA Civ 961
- P v Cheshire West and Chester Council & Another [2014] UKSC 19
- Re KC [2020] EWCOP 62; A Local Authority v PG and Others [2023] EWCOP 9
