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Court of Protection appointment for Furley Page Partner

23 June 2011

Nicola Rostron, partner and head of the elderly and vulnerable client team at top regional law firm Furley Page Solicitors, has been appointed as a Deputy by the Court of Protection.

The Court of Protection oversees the affairs of people who lack the mental capacity to make their own decisions, and a Deputy is someone who is appointed by the Court to act for such vulnerable individuals.

The Court of Protection made news this month when it returned 21-year-old autistic man Steven Neary to the care of his father, Mark. A judge ruled that the London Borough of Hillingdon had acted unlawfully in keeping Steven in a unit specialising in accommodating people with behavioural problems. After the case was settled in his favour, Mark Neary praised the Court for its decision to reunite him with his son. 

The Court of Protection maintains a list of approved Deputies for clients in situations where nobody close to the client is willing or able to act. There were previously around 250 Deputies but the Court of Protection recently announced an overhaul and invited applications to join a new Panel.

The Panel now consists of just 60 Deputies and Nicola Rostron was chosen for this prestigious position after a rigorous eight week application process, which attracted more than 600 applications. She is the only Deputy appointed in East Kent, and one of only three in Kent.

The appointment means that the Court of Protection can call upon Nicola to act as a Deputy for an incapacitated person. Nicola will act for people in matters relating to property, financial affairs, health and personal welfare.

Nicola joined Furley Page in 2005 having previously worked for two large regional law firms. Furley Page is recommended by Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Nicola said: “I’m delighted and honoured to be chosen as a Deputy. The Court of Protection helps vulnerable people who need highly specialist help in often complex situations.

“This appointment not only recognises my personal experience within this highly-specialised area of work but also the skills and hard work of my colleagues in the elderly and vulnerable client team at Furley Page in dealing with this important and sensitive area of the law.

“The role of Court of Protection Deputy brings with it great responsibility and I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Nicola, aged 44, is based at the Canterbury office of Furley Page but works out of the Chatham office one day a week. She heads up a team of nine specialist lawyers who cover all elements of Court of Protection matters, wills, trusts, care funding and Estate planning.

Nicola can use British Sign Language at level one and is planning to develop this skill further. She is married with two children and lives in Sittingbourne.

For further information contact Nicola Rostron on 01227 763939.
 

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