BHP Law’s Annual Court of Protection Conference 2026

District Judge Temple

Speaker

District Judge Temple is one of the 8 Regional Lead Judges for the Court of Protection covering the North East (North) area. She is also a tutor for the Judicial College on the COP induction and updating courses and has been a member of working groups on Post Pandemic Practice in the COP and on Assessment of Mental Capacity in Civil Cases.

District Judge Temple has been a full time Judge for 12 years and prior to that was a barrister in Newcastle upon Tyne for 21 years practising in Business and Property and COP work.

Ali Sea

Speaker

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.

Lucy Lowson

Speaker

Lucy Lowson is the Founder and Director of Glossa Speech Therapy, a Yorkshire based independent practice celebrating 18 years of service this year. As a Consultant Speech and Language Therapist, she specialises in working with adolescents and adults with acquired neurological conditions, particularly acquired and traumatic brain injury (ABI/TBI), although continues to hold additional clinical experience in learning disability, stammering and voice.
Lucy works extensively within the medico-legal sector as both an Expert Witness and treating therapist. Her practice includes assessment, rehabilitation and advocacy for clients involved in clinical negligence, personal injury, criminal defence and capacity proceedings. She has a particular interest in ensuring that individuals involved in legal proceedings are fully supported with their communication needs, and that the professionals working alongside them understand how best to facilitate communication, participation, and decision-making throughout the process.
Lucy works closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams to support access to rehabilitation and meaningful engagement during what are often highly complex and challenging circumstances, combining extensive clinical expertise with a strong commitment to person-centred practice.

Joseph O’Brien KC

Speaker

Joseph O’Brien KC is an exceptional barrister, widely acknowledged as “the King of the Court of Protection”. He acts for a broad range of clients including local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and the Official Solicitor. He has a broad practice that encompasses medical, welfare, and property and affairs matters, and is a noted expert in deprivation of liberty cases.

Joseph read law at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. After graduating he became a lecturer in law in the Faculty of Law, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He was called to the Bar in 1989. He undertook a pupillage in Newcastle upon Tyne and joined chambers in 1990. He remained in practice in chambers in Newcastle upon Tyne until May 2004 when he returned to his home city of Sheffield, joining Paradise Chambers, which subsequently became St John’s Buildings.

He practises in personal injury, clinical negligence, professional negligence, employment, public law and human rights, adult social care and in the Court of Protection.

Kelly Hutchinson

Speaker

Kelly Hutchinson has considerable experience in drafting Statements of Facts and Grounds and initial orders in applications under section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Kelly is frequently instructed in applications brought pursuant to s15, s16, and s21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Instructed to act on behalf of P at a final hearing, at which the social worker’s conclusions were challenged.
Instructed to act for a family member who had made an application to alter P’s package of care. The application was opposed by a number of other family members. Trial of altered package of care ordered.
Instructed to advise on potential remedies following an unlawful deprivation of liberty.
Instructed to act for a Local Authority in an urgent s16 MCA 2005 application, which was heard without notice to any other party.

Natalia Levine

Speaker

Natalia is a prominent and highly regarded Court of Protection barrister at the top of her field. Consistently ranked in the legal directories for the calibre of her work, Natalia is described as an “exceptionally talented barrister” [Legal 500, Tier 1, Court of Protection] who has a “brilliant eye for detail” and has “a clear eyed focus on trying to resolve problems in Court of Protection cases”.

Her practice involves advising and representing parties in respect of both Property and Finance, as well as Health and Welfare matters. She is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitors, hospitals, ICBs, family members and Local Authorities.

She does not shy away from difficult cases and is noted for her “fantastic ability to manage challenging clients” [Legal 500, Court of Protection]. She is regularly instructed in cases where a ‘finding of fact’ hearing is necessary before final declarations can be made, and where there are allegations regarding the mismanagement of funds.