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Court of Protection Conference 2027

Bringing together expertise, experience and a shared commitment to supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society.

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DATETuesday 22 June 2027

TIME9am – 5pm

VENUECrowne Plaza NewcastleGround floor · NE1 3SA

On Tuesday 22 June 2027, professionals from across the legal, health and social care sectors will come together at the Crowne Plaza Newcastle for BHP Law’s second annual Court of Protection Conference.

Following the success of our inaugural event, we’re delighted to be bringing the community together once again for a day dedicated to sharing knowledge, tackling challenges and exploring the issues that matter most to those supporting people who lack capacity.

We’re especially honoured to welcome Lady Hale, former President of the UK Supreme Court, as our headline speaker. Together with an exceptional line-up of experts, she will help shape a programme designed to inform, challenge and inspire.

Alongside high-quality CPD, you’ll have the opportunity to meet colleagues from across the sector, build new professional relationships, visit our exhibition area and enjoy a full day of learning in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Because the best outcomes happen when knowledge, experience and ideas are shared.

About the conference

The Court of Protection is a unique area of practice, bringing together professionals from a wide range of disciplines who all share a common goal: helping vulnerable individuals live with dignity, independence and the right support around them.

This conference has been specifically created to provide a space where those professionals can learn from one another, exchange ideas and strengthen the relationships that make such an important difference to the people and families they serve.

Who the conference is for

Whether you’re a solicitor, deputy, social worker, healthcare professional, therapist, financial adviser, case manager or support practitioner working in the public or private sector, you’ll find practical insights, expert perspectives and meaningful conversations throughout the day.

As well as hearing from a distinguished panel of speakers, delegates will have the opportunity to connect with specialist organisations exhibiting at the event, discover new services and resources, and become part of a growing community committed to excellence in Court of Protection practice.

More than a conference, it’s a chance to come together, share experiences and continue improving outcomes for those who depend on us most.

Who you’ll hear from

Jacqueline Thomas KC

King's Counsel, Joint Head of Chambers, Spire Barristers

Jacqueline has extensive experience in Public Law children matters, including allegations of sexual abuse and non-accidental injury in all levels of Court, representing all parties.

Jacqueline Thomas KC

King's Counsel, Joint Head of Chambers, Spire Barristers

Jacqueline has extensive experience in Public Law children matters, including allegations of sexual abuse and non-accidental injury in all levels of Court, representing all parties.

Jacqueline has a particular interest in Court of Protection work and the representation of individuals lacking mental capacity, particularly in cross-jurisdictional matters. She is experienced in the effective representation of parents in care proceedings who lack capacity to litigate, or have a need for treatment under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Jacqueline is currently studying for an MA in Medical Law and Ethics, with an interest in the medical treatment of children and young people, and the treatment of women and pregnancy in the Court of Protection.

Jacqueline has extensive experience in the inherent jurisdiction in the securing of placements for children and young people in unregistered settings, and is the author of “Transitions from children’s to adult social care”, a Law Brief Practical Guide in this area of work.

Anna Datta

Parklane Plowden

Anna is a specialist Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection barrister.

Anna Datta

Parklane Plowden

Anna is a specialist Clinical Negligence and Court of Protection barrister. In 2020 she was appointed as a Fee-Paid Judge of the First Tier Tribunal, assigned to Health Education and Social Care (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

She is recommended as a leading barrister by the Legal 500 for Clinical Negligence. The guide describes her as ‘very pragmatic in her advice and pleadings which helps to cut through a lot of the complexities of medical negligence’.

Anna prides herself on being approachable and she is able to work collaboratively with solicitors to assist at all stages of proceedings. She is able to quickly build a good rapport with lay and professional clients and give straightforward advice in complex cases. Anna aims to return paperwork promptly, whilst giving detailed and focused advice.

Since 2019 Anna has been a tutor on the medical ethics module for University of Leeds medical students.

Anna is the Vice President of the Leeds and District Medico-Legal Society.

Anna is the head of Chambers Clinical Negligence Team.

Ali Sea

Independent social worker, Sea & Co

Independent Social Worker Ali Sea has spent two decades supporting disabled and neurodivergent adults.

Ali Sea

Independent social worker, Sea & Co

Independent Social Worker Ali Sea has spent two decades supporting disabled and neurodivergent adults.

Her work is predominantly focused on needs assessments under the Care Act 2014, and Mental Capacity Act work including Mental Capacity Assessments and Best Interests Decision assessment. Ali has experience working with people subject to Court of Protection processes, as well as people subject to the Mental Health Act including preparing reports for the parole board and mental health tribunals.

In this talk, she makes a case for a genuinely holistic approach to best interests assessments by creating meaningful engagement with the people she works with. Ali explores how an independent social worker is uniquely placed to look at a person’s whole life – their history, values, relationships, and what a good life looks like for them – to inform not just a single decision, but meaningful care planning going forward.

TBC

St Cuthbert's Care

TBA

TBC

St Cuthbert's Care

TBA

Lady Hale

Lady Hale retired as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2020, after a varied career, as an academic lawyer at the University of Manchester.

Lady Hale

Lady Hale retired as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2020, after a varied career, as an academic lawyer at the University of Manchester (also practising for a while as a barrister), then as the first woman member of the Law Commission, and finally as a Judge. Her first book was on Mental Health Law; and her first judicial appointment was as a legal member of Mental Health Review Tribunals; and her work as a Law Commissioner led to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

She is an honorary FRCPsych.

Sharon de Jesús

Head of Advocacy, Your Voice Counts

Experienced advocate Sharon manages Your Voice Count's advocacy service, overseeing and developing the work they do to provide statutory advocacy services.

Sharon de Jesús

Head of Advocacy, Your Voice Counts

Experienced advocate Sharon manages Your Voice Count’s advocacy service, overseeing and developing the work they do to provide statutory advocacy services in the Newcastle and South Tyneside local authority areas.

Working closely with their commissioners and other partners, Sharon is responsible for keeping abreast of best practice, driving innovation, and ensuring our policies, procedures and systems deliver the best outcomes for the people they support.

Sharon also provides complex case support and promotes the role of advocacy across and beyond the sector, striving for quality and championing co-production of services with the people who use them.

Our sponsors

We are delighted to be working alongside a number of exceptional sponsors whose services, expertise and innovation support professionals, families and protected parties across the sector. Their backing enables us to continue delivering a high-quality conference experience while creating opportunities for learning, networking and collaboration.

These organisations represent the very best of the Court of Protection community and the wider professional network that surrounds it. Their support helps make this event possible, and we know delegates will value the opportunity to meet them throughout the day, learn more about their services and discover new ways of working together to improve outcomes for those they serve.

Jungle IT

Jungle IT is driven by a simple belief: IT starts with people. For over 20 years, we’ve helped organisations use technology in a way that supports their ambitions, empowers their people and delivers meaningful outcomes.

Law firms are under growing pressure to balance client expectations, operational demands and emerging technologies. Through Compass, Jungle’s strategic framework, we help firms understand how well their people, technology and business goals are aligned. By creating clarity around where they are today and where they want to be tomorrow, Compass helps legal organisations turn alignment into momentum and make technology a genuine business advantage.
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Her Invest

Her Invest helps women understand their money and feel confident about their financial future. We give clear, expert advice based on your life, your goals and what matters to you. Whether you are starting to invest, planning ahead or dealing with a big life change, we can help you to make informed choices and build long-term financial security.

Money can feel confusing, but financial planning does not have to. Our qualified and experienced advisers explain things clearly, listen without judgement and create a plan that feels right for you.

Your money should support the life and future that you want.
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Spire Barristers

Spire Barristers is a leading specialist Family and Public Law set and a Legal 500 UK Bar 2027 Top Tier Set for Court of Protection (Health and Welfare).

Its highly regarded Court of Protection team acts for local authorities, health professionals, family members and other interested parties in complex cases concerning mental capacity, health and welfare, deprivation of liberty and the transition from children to adult services.
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Parklane Plowden

Parklane Plowden Chambers is a leading UK barristers’ chambers with a highly regarded Court of Protection practice. Recognised for its expertise in mental capacity, health and welfare, and property and affairs matters, the chambers is home to specialist advocates who advise and represent clients in complex and often life-changing cases. With offices in Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne, Parklane Plowden is widely recognised for the quality of its advocacy, expertise and client service.
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CliveOwen

CliveOwen is one of the North’s leading independent accountancy and advisory firms, with five offices across Darlington, Middlesbrough, Durham Newcastle, and York.

Professional Services is a key sector for us, and we provide specialist accounting, tax and business advisory services to legal, consultancy, advisory and partnership-based businesses.

We are proud to have built strong relationships across the professional services community, working closely with firms to deliver ongoing support, valuable insight, and strategic guidance.

We keep up to date with regulatory and market developments, helping you navigate change and respond with confidence.
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Sponsorship enquiries

LOCATION

Crowne Plaza Newcastle

Ground floor Stephenson Quarter, right next to Newcastle Central Station.

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Our chosen charity

For more than 80 years, St Cuthbert’s Care has been supporting people across the North East through some of life’s most challenging circumstances.

From children and young people who cannot live with their families, to adults with disabilities, individuals facing complex disadvantages, and older people requiring specialist nursing care, the charity provides compassionate, person-centred support that helps people live with dignity, independence and purpose.

Guided by values of compassion, respect and the belief that every individual matters, St Cuthbert’s Care works across a diverse range of services including fostering, residential care, disability support, supported living, nursing care, and accommodation for vulnerable women.

Their mission remains simple but powerful: to cherish life and help people build brighter futures.

We are proud to support St Cuthbert’s Care as our chosen charity partner for this conference.

Our chosen charity

For 80 years, St Cuthbert’s Care has supported people from across the North East through some of the most important, and sometimes most difficult, times in their lives.

Founded as the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Rescue Society to care for vulnerable children in the aftermath of the Second World War, the charity has evolved as people’s needs have changed. What began with children has grown into an organisation supporting people of all ages and across a wide range of needs and circumstances.

Our Catholic heritage is part of our history and has helped shape the values that continue to guide our work: compassion, dignity, respect and a belief in the value of every individual.

Children and families

We provide homes and specialist care for children and young people who are unable to live with their birth families, often following experiences of trauma, neglect, abuse, family breakdown or significant instability. Our teams support children with complex emotional and behavioural needs, providing the safety, consistency and trusted relationships they need to recover, develop so they are prepared for independent adulthood.

Through the charity’s fostering service, Fostering North East, we bring children together with foster families who can provide the security, care and stability they need. For some children, fostering provides support until they can return to their birth family. For others, it provides longer-term stability and preparation for adulthood.

Disability services

Our disability services support children and adults with a wide range of needs, from learning disabilities and autism to profound and multiple disabilities, acquired brain injury and complex health needs.

The Alan Shearer Centre provides a welcoming, fully accessible environment where children and adults with complex disabilities can take part in activities, develop friendships and enjoy experiences that may otherwise be difficult to access. The Centre is funded by the Alan Shearer Foundation.

The Alan Shearer Specialist Residential Home provides highly personalised care for adults with complex disabilities, with specialist support built around each person’s individual needs, choices and abilities.

Most recently, we have expanded our work at the Alan Shearer Centre with a home for children with complex disabilities. It provides specialist residential care in a nurturing, family-style environment, with support tailored to each child and opportunities to develop skills, independence and confidence.

Independent supported living

Our independent supported living services reflect the breadth and complexity of people’s needs. We support adults with learning disabilities and autism to develop everyday skills, make their own choices and live as independently as possible.

We also support people experiencing significant mental health challenges, substance misuse and other complex behaviours. Support is tailored around the individual and can include helping people maintain their tenancy, manage risks, build stability and move forward with their lives.

At The Hub @ Parkhead our day centre in Ashington, adults with learning disabilities can develop skills, build friendships and play an active part in their local community.

Nursing care

At St Catherine’s in Newcastle and Holy Cross in Sunderland, we provide residential, nursing and respite care centred around each individual, their choices and what matters to them.

Life doesn’t stop when someone moves into one of our homes. Residents become part of a community where friendships, activities, shared experiences and connections with the wider community are part of everyday life. People are supported to maintain their independence wherever possible and to continue doing the things that are important to them.

Both nursing homes have achieved Gold Standards Framework accreditation, recognising the quality and compassion of the care provided to residents and their families, including during the final stages of life.

Fresh Start

Fresh Start provides supported accommodation for women in Newcastle experiencing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, trauma, poor mental health, substance misuse and involvement with the criminal justice system. Many of the women we support have experienced several of these issues simultaneously and can struggle to access services able to respond to the complexity of their needs.

Alongside a safe place to live, Fresh Start provides stability, trusted relationships and recovery-focused support, helping women rebuild their lives and take steps towards greater independence and a more positive future.

What connects our work

Our services are diverse, but they share the same purpose: cherishing life and recognising the value of every individual.

From children who cannot live with their birth families, to people living with complex disabilities, women experiencing multiple disadvantage and older people requiring nursing care, our role is to provide the care, support and opportunities people need to live with dignity, choice and purpose.

Secure your place at the conference

Tickets will go on sale via the BHP Law website at 9.00am on 2 November 2026.

A limited number of Early Bird discounted tickets will be released, alongside special reduced rates for advocates, recognising the valuable role they play within the Court of Protection system.

Following the overwhelming success of the 2026 conference, we anticipate significant demand for places. Attendance will be capped at just 230 delegates, and we strongly encourage those wishing to attend to secure their place as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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