Megan joined JMW Solicitors as Partner and Head of Court of Protection in September 2020. She studied Law at the University of Manchester, graduating in 2009 and immediately studied her LPC at Manchester College of Law where she obtained a distinction. Following her studies, Megan completed her Training Contract at Pannone Solicitors, qualifying as a solicitor and building her Court of Protection expertise at Linder Myers before joining JMW. Her team are ranked in UK Chambers and Legal 500 top tier and have been ‘Private Client Team of the Year’ finalists in 2020 and 2021 in the Manchester Legal Awards.
Megan manages the Court of Protection department at JMW, a 40-strong team with a caseload nearing 650 matters and growing. Megan acts as Professional Deputy, Trustee and Attorney for many vulnerable and/or incapacitated clients, across a highly varied set of circumstances and range of disabilities, including profound physical and mental injuries and significantly reduced life expectancy. Her diverse client base has enabled her to gain substantial experience in dealing with clients living in isolation, family conflict, financial abuse, fluctuating capacity, drug, alcohol and gambling addictions, sexual behaviours and victimisation, self-harming, volatile circumstances and criminal behaviour.
Megan has successfully dealt with many contested court applications, statutory will applications, gift applications, health and welfare matters and a number of contested deputyship applications and hearings including allegations of wrongdoing and fraud and involving multi-million pound disputes. She has complex cases where liability has been compromised, substantially reducing settlement of their multi-million pound personal injury claim. Her background in clinical negligence and personal injury litigation enables her to provide unique insight in litigation support work, for both internal and external litigators, acting as expert witness in damages claims.
She recently had a TEST case published, considering whether and in what circumstances a deputy can step down or be replaced, bringing about long-awaited and needed clarity in this area.
Megan has a particular expertise in:
- Deputyship and Personal Injury Trust general management work
- Court of Protection applications
- Litigation support and expert witness statements
- Looking after clients with acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy, learning difficulties, mental health, addictions and age-related degenerative conditions
- Statutory Wills and Gift Applications
- Contested Court of Protection hearings
- Financial abuse investigations and claims
- Advising on compensation awards for children and protected parties
She also collaborates with many businesses, promoting awareness and offering vulnerable clients multiple services to ease the pressures and challenges they face. She regularly provides training, troubleshooting sessions and guidance seminars to care providers, local authorities, charities and not-for-profit organisations across the UK.
Outside of work, Megan is a naturally active and outgoing person who loves adventure-seeking travel in addition to attending concerts, the theatre and comedy shows.
Memberships
- Court of Protection Practitioners’ Association (CoPPA)
- Court User Group
- Founding member of the Professional Deputies Forum (PDF)
