Elizabeth Young, Director of Private Client Services at Howes Percival has recently been selected to be re-appointed to the Court of Protection Panel of Professional Deputies.

The Court of Protection is responsible for the care and financial management of individuals in the UK who are unable, because of mental incapacity to manage their own finances, or are unable to make or communicate decisions regarding health and welfare issues.

In many cases family members are given court authority to act on behalf of the incapacitated person, but in cases where there are no family or friends able or willing to act, or the matter is complex or contested, the Court of Protection will now appoint from a limited panel of professional deputies, each recognised for their expertise in this specialist area.

Elizabeth was first appointed as a panel deputy in 2001. Since then, Elizabeth has been privileged to have been given responsibility for carefully overseeing the day to day finances of some of the most vulnerable in our community. Her portfolio of deputyship clients ranges from children who sustained brain injury at birth, adults who have received substantial damages or criminal injuries awards, and those who suffer permanent and severe psychiatric problems, such as depression, anxiety, phobias, schizophrenia, and degenerative mental diseases mainly affected the older generation. Elizabeth is also a member of Solicitors for the Elderly.

Only 60 new panel deputies have been appointed out of three times as many applicants. Deputies have been selected based on their expertise, experience, qualifications, reputation, and geographical position. Howes Percival has had to demonstrate robust financial management, exceptional client service levels, and security of its IT systems.

Elizabeth's deputyship work has involved day to day financial management, liaising over investments, management of care provision including direct employment of carers, litigation relating to probate and trust matters as well as vast experience in dealing with Court of Protection process and procedure.

Jane Cowley Partner and group head of Private Client Services says '' We are delighted that this appointment has now been confirmed as it places Howes Percival even more prominently on the map for specialist Private Client Services. I know how much this means to Elizabeth personally to have been selected from such stiff competition, and how dedicated she is to preserving and protecting the finances and also the integrity of some of the firm's most vulnerable clients. Not only is she a specialist lawyer in this field, but she is also renowned for her sensitivity to people in the most difficult of personal situations.

In addition to acting as deputy, Elizabeth also advises Deputies and attorneys and the families of those with incapacity issues on all aspects of their affairs and can be contacted on 01604 258041 or at elizabeth.young@howespercival.com.