Furley Page Partner and Trust appointed to esteemed Panel of Deputies role by the Office of the Public Guardian

Nicola August, Partner and Head of the Vulnerable Client team at Furley Page, has been appointed by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) as a Deputy for the third time, becoming one of only 52 Deputies in England and Wales and the only one appointed in East Kent and Medway. Also appointed is the Furley Page Trust Corporation, which means the firm will have two panel deputies for the first time.

In many cases a family member or friend will be appointed as Deputy to manage the finances of someone who lacks mental capacity. In circumstances where no one else is able or willing to act on behalf of an individual, a professional Deputy may be appointed by the Court of Protection. The OPG supervises a panel of deputies, and in instances where a Deputy is required, one can be appointed from this panel. The Deputy is appointed to manage the person’s financial affairs and/or health and welfare.

The application process to become a Deputy is rigorous, with applicants required to demonstrate their understanding of, and adherence to, complex codes of practice, regulations, standards and pieces of legislation.

Nicola August said: “I am genuinely honoured to be re-appointed to the Panel of Deputies. The role carries with it great responsibility and I am committed to ensuring the welfare of the client is paramount.

“This appointment will enable me and the team to continue to support some of the most vulnerable individuals in Kent and the South East, when they need that support most.”

Nicola is an Accredited Lifetime Lawyer and one of the most qualified lawyers in the country for supporting vulnerable and older people with legal matters. She was first appointed as a Deputy in 2011, and her successful re-appointment, which begins at the end of this year, means she will continue on the panel for a further ten years.

As well as being a Deputy, Nicola is co-chair of Kent Autistic Trust, a specialist provider of services for autistic young people and adults.

Jeremy Licence, Managing Partner at Furley Page, said: “I am delighted with these appointments. It is a clear reflection of Nicola’s level of experience and expertise in this highly specialised area of work, and it is a huge honour for both her and the firm.”

The appointments apply from the end of 2025.

Nicola is based at Furley Page’s Canterbury office and her team of specialist lawyers cover all elements of Court of Protection matters, wills, trusts, care funding and estate planning.

To contact Nicola, email her on nja@furleypage.co.uk or call 01227 763939. For more information about Furley Page please visit www.furleypage.co.uk. You can also follow the firm on LinkedIn and Facebook.