Business Details
23 Years
experience
Expert Mental Health Law Services in Derby
Established in 2003 Donovan Newton Solicitors specialises in mental health and mental capacity law providing expert legal representation and advice. Our team of accredited solicitors has extensive experience in handling cases under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 including tribunal hearings hospital managers reviews and court of protection proceedings. We hold a legal aid agency contract covering the midlands and east of england ensuring accessible justice for vulnerable clients.Our services include challenging unlawful detention advising on aftercare provisions and resolving capacity-related disputes while maintaining membership in the law society's mental health accreditation scheme. We combine legal expertise with compassionate client support to protect individual rights and promote best interests in complex cases.
Services
Mental Health Law
Mental Capacity Law
Legal Aid Services
Tribunal Representation
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- We have 20+ years' experience in mental health law specialism
- Our solicitors hold Law Society accreditation in mental health and capacity law
- We operate under a Legal Aid Agency contract for accessible services
- Our team includes Accredited Legal Representatives for Court of Protection cases
- We combine tribunal advocacy expertise with personalised client support
Associations and certifications
- Law Society Mental Health Accreditation Scheme
- Legal Aid Agency
Services
Mental Health Law
Specialist legal representation for individuals detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. We handle tribunal appeals hospital managers reviews and nearest relative displacement proceedings. Our solicitors challenge unlawful detention decisions and advise on section 117 aftercare provisions ensuring compliance with mental health legislation and code of practice.
Mental Capacity Law
Expert legal support for cases involving the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We represent clients in deprivation of liberty safeguards reviews and court of protection proceedings. Our services include capacity assessments disputes about living arrangements and welfare decisions ensuring vulnerable individuals' rights are protected through accredited legal representation.
Legal Aid Services
Access to publicly funded legal representation under our Legal Aid Agency contract. We provide means-tested and non-means tested services for tribunal cases and mental health law matters. Our solicitors guide clients through eligibility assessments and offer affordable fixed-fee options when legal aid isn't available.
Tribunal Representation
Advocacy services for Mental Health Tribunal hearings and Upper Tier Tribunal appeals. Our accredited solicitors prepare case strategies present evidence and challenge unlawful detention decisions. We represent patients' interests in hearings concerning section renewals and treatment compliance under the Mental Health Act.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
Specialist legal challenges to deprivation of liberty safeguards under the Mental Capacity Act. We handle court of protection applications and section 21a reviews ensuring care arrangements balance individual freedoms with safety requirements for vulnerable clients.
People
Simon Newton
Director
Qualified solicitor since 2000 and co-founder of Donovan Newton. Specialises in mental health law tribunal representation and nearest relative displacement cases. Leads the firm's mental health department while maintaining accreditation through the Law Society's scheme.
Leanne Glover
Head of Mental Capacity Law
Senior solicitor and accredited legal representative with expertise in Court of Protection proceedings. Specialises in section 21a challenges and capacity assessments. Leads the mental capacity team handling complex welfare disputes for vulnerable clients.
Karen Charles
Consultant Solicitor
Specialist in mental health tribunal advocacy with experience since 1992. Represents clients in hospital managers reviews and tribunal hearings. Combines mental health law expertise with background in family and child protection law.
Emily Patterson
Solicitor
Focuses on mental health law with particular experience in forensic cases. Represents patients under criminal justice system supervision. Handles first-tier tribunal hearings and section appeals while advocating for clients' legal rights.
Daniel Bradley
Accredited Legal Representative
Specialises in Court of Protection proceedings as an accredited legal representative. Handles mental capacity welfare disputes and deprivation of liberty cases. Provides expert legal guidance for clients lacking decision-making capacity.
Questions
What areas do you cover for legal services?
We operate across the Midlands and East of England with offices in Derby Nottingham Coventry Birmingham and Lincoln.
Can you help with Mental Health Tribunal cases?
Yes we provide full representation at Mental Health Tribunals including appeal preparation evidence submission and hearing advocacy.
Is legal aid available for your services?
We hold a Legal Aid Agency contract with non-means tested aid available for tribunal cases and means-tested options for other matters.
What mental health law specialisms do you offer?
We handle all aspects of the Mental Health Act 1983 including sections 2/3 detention community treatment orders hospital managers reviews and tribunal appeals.
Do you handle mental capacity disputes?
Yes we specialise in Mental Capacity Act 2005 cases including deprivation of liberty safeguards court of protection applications and best interests disputes.
