Christopher Cuddihee

Court of Protection

Court of Protection & Mental Health

Chris has extensive experience advising and representing adults and families in connection with mental capacity law matters. In 2010 he acted for Mark Neary, father of Steven Neary, in London Borough of Hillingdon v Neary [2011] EWHC 1377 which was the first reported challenge to a DOLS decision by a local authority.

He is familiar with the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. He regularly acts for families, local authorities and the Official Solicitor in relation to litigants lacking capacity. He is very experienced in ‘best interests’ cases relating to welfare, healthcare, residence, contact and deprivations of liberty (DOLS).

These are the reported cases I have been instructed on -

• OT (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 409

• RB (A Child) [2009] EWHC 3269 (Fam)

Judicial Review

Chris has extensive experience in judicial review and public law claims. He has acted for prisoners, mental health patients and others in claims against public bodies. He has particular expertise in tort actions and Human Rights Act claims, for example, relating to assaults or unlawful detention against public authorities including social services, the police, negligence by mental health professionals, and for misuse of private information. He has also successfully challenged decisions of lower Courts and Tribunals.

Chris has acted in a wide range of community care and social welfare cases representing disabled and other vulnerable adults and children in judicial review claims of public authorities. Those cases have involved children in need, children accommodated by local authority’s, access to healthcare and community care support, mental health after-care and challenges to refusals to fund or meet the care needs of individuals.