Lucy is a Solicitor and Director at Rothley Law. Lucy is head of our Court of Protection Team that deals exclusively with mental capacity matters.
Lucy was admitted to the role of solicitors in April 2011 and has worked in private practice specialising in Court of Protection work since. Lucy’s experience of deputyship work predates her qualification and her previous experience in more general private client work and serious injury compliment her ability to assist clients. Lucy act as a Professional Deputy and Trustee on behalf of clients who are considered to lack the necessary mental capacity to manage some or all aspects of their property and affairs.
Lucy takes referrals from other firms in both complex and conflict cases. Lucy’s clients usually lack mental capacity by reason of a catastrophic brain injury or severe mental health difficulties. However, Lucy also acts for clients with degenerative conditions such as Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease. Lucy acts as a Professional Trustee of Personal Injury Trusts. Lucy’s clients range in age from young children suffering a lifelong brain injury sustained during their birth to older clients at the end of their lives.
Lucy’s clients have usually received or go on to receive substantial compensation awards as a result of severe and complex injuries. She is presently advising on a client’s estate in excess of £10million and in pre-settlement cases with varying values of schedules of loss.
Lucy’s clients have complex financial and personal arrangements, and some have historically been subject to financially exploitation and abuse. Lucy has extensive practical experience of arranging and managing complex and challenging care packages; dealing with the purchase and adaptation of accessible properties; implementing multi-disciplinary teams including case managers and various therapies. Given Lucy’s previous experience of more general private client work, she also acts for high-net-worth individuals as their Attorney or Deputy.
In her day-to-day practice, Lucy supports other professional and lay Deputies and advises on all aspects financial management work both routine and complex. She advises and represents Deputies in both contentious and non-contentious applications for their appointment, for the execution of Statutory Wills, for permission to make gifts and to deal with property and investment strategies.
Lucy and her team work seamlessly alongside litigation teams both internal and external to offer Deputyship and Personal Injury Trust services. Lucy understands the importance of ensuring that claimants are adequately compensated to ensure they receive the professional support they need. Lucy wealth of experience in practice means that she can provide independent expert evidence on thencosts of Deputyships and Personal Injury Trust management.
Lucy has been a Legal 500 Recommended lawyer in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and in the most recent edition is described as “…direct with a no nonsense approach and…always vigilant to obtaining the most cost effective outcomes for the client.” Lucy has also been listed in the Chambers Directory for the last 4 years as a “Star Associate” and described as a “Standout”. She is known to have a “wealth of experience in supporting clients with their finances following catastrophic injuries” with one source saying: “I have always been impressed by her down-to-earth and practical approach when supporting clients with tough decisions” and another saying: “She is extremely robust and has a conscientious approach to case”.
Lucy is a member of the Court of Protection Court Users Group and the Court of Protection Practitioners Association both allowing her to engage with the professional community to support ongoing professional development and improvements in practice.
Lucy regularly writes articles for the legal and disability press as well as delivering ongoing training to those practicing Court of Protection work and supporting vulnerable individuals and those lacking capacity.
Accreditation
- Band 4 2023 Chambers and Partners Court of Protection: Property& Affairs 5 years
- Recommended lawyer 2023 Legal 500 Court of Protection