“By having this specialism, we can offer a really high-quality service to clients to ensure they have a voice and their needs are met.”
Regional representation to support the vulnerable
Posted: 10th April 2025
A law firm with offices across the North of England has strengthened its specialist team that supports some of the most vulnerable people in society.
EMG Solicitors has grown its Court of Protection practice since being set up in 2014 and is now the largest independent Court of Protection team in the UK. The team of experts support vulnerable clients, any of whom lack the capacity to manage their own affairs.
Within the team, specialist lawyers work across the region to support those who lack capacity to make decisions about their own health and welfare and need someone to advocate for their best interests.
With EMG offices in Durham, Darlington, Newcastle, Penrith and Manchester, the Court of Protection Health and Welfare team also has extensive expertise in mental health and social care matters, disputes relating to assessments or care packages, as well as acting for clients that are referred to the Court regarding best interests’ decisions.
Members of the team have recently qualified as accredited legal representatives (ALR) under the Law Society Mental Capacity (Welfare) Scheme.
Among them is Sarah-Lyn Strong. Sarah-Lyn already advocates for people unable to speak up for themselves and the additional accreditation recognises her expertise in this area of law.
Her advice on health and welfare matters also extend to community care, which means she often represents people who are in the nursing or residential care system to ensure their wishes and needs are met.
Sarah-Lyn explained: “Solicitors with at least three years’ experience can apply for Mental Capacity (Welfare) Accreditation. I had been doing welfare work for almost ten years, but it was for a local authority before 2021. Now, working in private practice, I also have specific case work acting on behalf of incapacitated adult clients.”
Charlotte Greenwell, who joined EMG as a paralegal and has progressed to associate solicitor, based in Durham, has also achieved ALR.
Charlotte said: “Becoming accredited under the Law Society Mental Capacity (Welfare) Scheme has been a goal of mine since I started my career working in Court of Protection. I am passionate about advocating for people who may not be able to do so for themselves and this qualification will allow me to continue supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Along with Sarah-Lyn and Charlotte, Sarah Jackson and Victoria Burrows, both based in Darlington, and Eilish Ferry-Kennington, who works in Durham, also hold the accreditation.
Eilish Ferry-Kennington, Director and Head of Court of Protection Health and Welfare at EMG Solicitors, said: “To have five colleagues with the accreditation under the Law Society Mental
Capacity (Welfare) Scheme means we have accredited legal representatives for Court of Protection work across the North of England.
“By having this specialism, we can offer a really high-quality service to clients to ensure they have a voice and their needs are met.” In addition to Court of Protection, EMG Solicitors, which has 175 colleagues across its five offices, offers a wide range of services including wills, trusts and probate, residential conveyancing, family law and mediation, dispute resolution, education and employment law.