Kings Chambers:
Peter Edwards Law is a highly specialised and well-respected firm working in mental capacity and mental health law. Across the Liverpool area, they are a firm that could not be missed from any discussion within these fields.
Mental capacity and mental health law are areas where decisions are made on behalf of those who are vulnerable and may be unable to make them on their own. The decisions can often involve depriving individuals of their liberty and so they demand careful scrutiny to ensure that encroachment on an individual’s autonomy is legitimate and proportionate. Working in this area demands sensitivity and care, an ethos which, I have found, is synonymous with Peter Edwards Law. I have worked with the firm since completing my pupillage, so they have been a part of my career since the very beginning. The team has an immense amount of experience across both fields, and I have learned a great deal from working with them.
Together, we have represented countless individuals at the Court of Protection. Our clients have ranged from the elderly who have developed dementia later in life to young people who have complex care needs. They are often individuals who have been deprived of their liberty at care homes or within placements in the community. In each case, we worked hard to provide independent representation to the protected party. This involved reviewing assessments of their decision-making capacity, ensuring that it is being promoted, and scrutinising the decisions made on their behalf to ensure that they are in their best interests.
I have received instructions from members of the team who have decades of experience and those who are at the beginning of their careers. In both instances, their depth of knowledge and their dedication to the protected party has been second to none. The team pay close attention to detail when preparing the case, ensure that I receive comprehensive instructions (as a barrister it is hard to put into words how invaluable this is) and are always responsive. They are always a pleasure to work with.
Peter Edwards Law have made a valuable contribution to the fields of mental capacity and mental health law, and I am confident that they will continue to do so.