Donovan Newton Mental Health Solicitor Profiles
Solicitor – Mental Health/Mental Capacity Department
Mobile: 07977 114148
Simon qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and is a long-standing member of the Law Society Mental Health Accreditation Scheme. Simon is a director at Donovan Newton Solicitors, which together with Malcolm Donovan he set up in 2003. He has worked tirelessly to establish Donovan Newton Solicitors as one of the leading mental health firms in the Midlands and has overseen the continued growth of the mental health department. He has also supported the establishment of the mental capacity department. Simon continues to manage the firm’s mental health law department.
Simon represents client at Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers' Reviews. He advises his clients about all aspects of mental health law, including "nearest relative" displacement proceedings.
Away from work Simon enjoys spending time with his family. He has a keen interest in playing and coaching football, as well as listening to rock and heavy metal music.
Assistant Solicitor – Mental Health/Mental Capacity Department
Mobile: 07985 295954
Leanne qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and joined Donovan Newton Solicitors in 2015 in order to specialise in mental health law.
Leanne is an accredited member of the Law Society Mental Health Accreditation Scheme and is therefore qualified to represent clients who are detained in hospital in proceedings before the Mental Health Tribunal. Leanne primarily represents clients at Mental Health Tribunal and Hospital Managers' Reviews. Leanne also advises clients about "nearest relative" displacement proceedings.
Leanne is also an important member of our expanding Mental Capacity Act department and acts for litigation friends, RPRs and families in Court of Protection welfare proceedings.
When asked about her job Leanne commented ‘I enjoy meeting with clients and understanding their needs, I offer professional and practical advice in areas of law which require a great deal of sensitivity.’
In her free time Leanne enjoys spending time with her family, horse riding and socialising.
Consultant Solicitor
Mobile: 07342 945 349
Daniel specialises in mental health and mental capacity law, having achieved accreditation in the Law Society’s mental health and mental capacity (welfare) schemes. He represents patients detained under the mental health act and acts for litigation friends, RPRs and families in Court of Protection welfare proceedings.
Daniel read law at Queen’s University, Belfast before completing his legal practice course at Northumbria University. He completed his training contract with a firm in the North East of England, during which he developed his specialism in mental health and mental capacity law. In particular he has an interest in the interface between the mental health and mental capacity act:
Later, Daniel relocated to the Midlands and joined Donovan Newton in August 2016, quickly establishing a busy workload across the region.
Daniel specialises in the following areas:
Court of Protection and the Mental Capacity Act 2005
Mental health and the Mental Health Act 1983
Daniel has been involved in a number of notable cases including:
Away from work, you will find Daniel watching, playing or talking about football, usually about Liverpool FC.
Consultant Solicitor
Email: karen.charles@donovannewton.co.uk
Karen qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and specialised in family and child protection work for many years but also undertook some Mental Health Act work and was first accredited to the Law Society's Mental Health panel in 1996. Karen worked for some charitable and public organisations during the noughties, returning to Mental Health Law in 2010 and becoming a member of the Law Society's Mental Health Accreditation Scheme again in 2013. She has worked with Donovan Newton Solicitors since 2016, initially as an agent solicitor and more recently as a consultant solicitor.
Karen specialises in representing clients at Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers' Reviews. She very much enjoys the advocacy involved in this work and the opportunity to ensure that the views and wishes of her clients are clearly heard.
In her leisure time Karen enjoys playing golf and walking her dog, but not necessarily at the same time.
Solicitor
Email: Emily.Patterson@donovannewton.co.uk
Emily qualified as a solicitor in 2010 with a dual specialism in Mental Health Law and Criminal Law. In 2017 Emily made the decision to focus exclusively on mental health work however regularly draws upon her criminal defence background when dealing with forensic mental health cases. Emily is a longstanding member of the Law Society Mental Health Accreditation Scheme. Emily joined Donovan Newton Solicitors in 2022 and covers the West Midlands and Worcestershire region.
Emily’s area of specialism is representing patients, whether under the care of mental health services via the criminal justice system or not, at First-tier Tribunal Hearings and other important meetings concerning their detention or compulsion under the Mental Health Act. Emily has a wealth of experience dealing with all different sections of the Act acting for clients either as their instructed solicitor or being appointed to act where patients lack capacity to instruct a lawyer but it is deemed in their best interests by the court that they be represented. Emily is also very experienced in representing Nearest Relatives of patients.
Emily was immediately attracted to Mental Health law due to the varied and integral nature of the work with an individual’s liberty and freedoms being at stake in each and every case.
In her spare time Emily enjoys spending time with her family, socialising and travelling across the Highlands of Scotland.
Solicitor
Mobile: 07951 795384
Julian qualified as a solicitor in 2004 having previously served in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, with a dual specialism in Mental Health Law and Criminal Law. In 2016 Julian decided to focus himself on mental health work but uses his longstanding criminal law knowledge in assisting patients on forensic cases. Julian is a longstanding member of the Law Society Mental Health Accreditation Scheme and joined Donovan Newton Solicitors in 2022 and covers the West Midlands area.
Julian represents patients in both Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers Hearings and is able to assist and advice on many aspects of Mental Health Law.
In his spare time Julian enjoys spending time with his family, enjoying walking, watching Rugby League and spending time in Cornwall and Norfolk
Consultant Solicitor
Mobile: 07702 546767
Jill qualified as a solicitor in 1983, originally specialising in criminal law where she was recognised as band 1 for crime in the Midlands. She mainly dealt with serious crime with a particular emphasis on youth court work. From this she has developed a desire to work with all those detained under the MHA but particularly young people. Jill is now a specialist in these cases. Jill has now decided to only deal with this area of law and no longer accepts criminal cases although her extensive knowledge of the criminal law helps enormously when dealing with IPP or restricted patients.
In her spare time Jill enjoys family time, letting her dog take her for a walk and travelling. Jill is a reluctant runner and swimmer when time allows (any excuse not to!) Jill loves her job and is determined that her desire to help people will continue.
Consultant Solicitor
Mobile: 07734 716051
Deborah trained and qualified with a national law firm where she developed her passion for mental health law. She has been a specialist in mental health law since 2016, qualifying as a solicitor in 2017 and has been a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme since 2018.
She is highlighted in the UK Legal 500 2018/19 for her regulatory law work as an ‘amazingly efficient’ solicitor and part of a ‘very assured and reliable team.’ For three years Deborah also practiced in education law expanding her knowledge and experience.
Now exclusively practicing in mental health law Deborah is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes for her clients. She represents patients both in the community and in hospital who are detained under both Parts II and III of The Mental Health Act. She challenges doctors and Responsible Authorities in respect of their decision making and compliance with primary legislation and the Mental Health Act Code of Practice.
Deborah is committed to ensuring those deprived of their liberty are fairly treated and have their rights protected. These patients are often vulnerable and unable to advocate for themselves. Deborah is determined to ensure that their detention and treatment is lawful while supporting them to exercise their legal rights.
Paralegal
Jill is a paralegal in the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Law Departments. Jill has been with Donovan Newton since it was established in 2003, initially in an administrative role before progressing to her current role.
Her key tasks are to advise clients on mental health matters including taking initial instructions, obtaining information and reports from relevant parties, advising clients with regard to their legal status, entitlement to public funding, nearest relative and right to a pre-hearing examination.
Outside of work, Jill enjoys painting, photography, walking her dogs and holidays with her family.
Paralegal
Tel: 07741 910524
Deane is a paralegal working within the Mental Health department. Previously, he worked as an Independent Mental Health Advocate and has extensive experience supporting clients detained under the Mental Health Act.
Deane provides advice regarding mental health matters, nearest relative rights, taking initial instructions and further instructions as clients prepare for tribunals or other meetings. Deane also represents clients at managers hearings to ensure that clients’ detentions are properly reviewed and challenged in line with their instructions.
Deane hopes to complete the Mental Health Law Accreditation Scheme in 2024 so that he can take the next step of becoming a panel member. This will enable him to represent clients at Mental health Tribunal’s and further expand his ability to fight for clients’ rights while detained.
In his free time Deane enjoys playing football and tennis, as well as spending time in the gym and socialising with friends.
Paralegal
Tel: 07711 950184
Joanne is a paralegal working within the Mental Health department. Previously, she worked as an Independent Mental Health Advocate and has extensive experience supporting clients detained under the Mental Health Act. Prior to becoming an Advocate, Joanne had many years of experience working for a different firm in their Mental Health department gaining lots of experience benefiting her current role with us. Joanne has also worked as an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate and again has extensive experience supporting clients deprived of their liberty in care home/hospital settings.
Joanne provides advice regarding mental health matters, nearest relative rights, taking initial instructions and further instructions as clients prepare for tribunals or other meetings. Joanne also represents clients at managers hearings to ensure that clients’ detentions are properly reviewed and challenged in line with their instructions.
Joanne hopes to complete the Mental Health Law Accreditation Scheme in 2024 so that she can take the next step of becoming a panel member. This will enable her to represent clients at Mental Health Tribunals and further expand her ability to fight for clients’ rights while detained.
In her free time Joanne enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, shopping, eating out, reading, arts and crafts, jigsaw puzzles and going to the cinema.