New Head of Court of Protection and Trusts

Lancashire’s Vincents Solicitors has appointed Oliver Banks as the firm’s new Head of Court of Protection and Trusts within the Private Client department.

With almost 10 years’ experience in Court of Protection work, Oliver will oversee the financial affairs of clients who have lost capacity through injury or illness. Appointed either by the client as their named Professional Attorney or Professional Trustee, or the Court of Protection as their Professional Deputy, Oliver will be personally responsible for managing and paying for care needs, investing compensation pay outs, and protecting funds from misuse or fraud.

Oliver said: “It is my responsibility to provide the highest quality care and support to clients as their named Professional Attorney, Professional Trustee or Professional Deputy; the buck stops with me. This highly personal service is my preferred approach and I’m delighted that Vincents takes the same view. It benefits clients much more than a Trust Corporation which many other companies use, where anyone in the firm can work on that client’s case. Court of Protection clients are extremely vulnerable and deserve nothing less than one-to-one support and continuity, and it’s crucial to develop genuine trusted relationships.

“Family can often feel uneasy having to manage someone else’s financial affairs, especially where there is a substantial amount of money from a compensation pay out for example.
It’s not something they’ve had to do before and it’s a lot of responsibility; it can lead to stress for individuals and even conflict within families.

“Appointing a Professional Deputy or Attorney puts that responsibility into the hands of someone who understands how to support the individual and work with the family, and has experience in dealing with the Court of Protection directly. By being that person I can let the family members get back to simply being mum, dad, husband, wife, son or daughter again.”

Most of Oliver’s work comes through personal recommendation and word of mouth, particularly via case managers and financial advisors with whom he works closely on behalf of clients, and other law firms without a Court of Protection specialist in-house.

Oliver will also take on Trustee work for clients of Vincents’ successful Personal Injury department, helping victims for whom the firm is fighting for compensation.

“From the first interim payment through to the final settlement I appoint case management, carers, support worker, therapists, rehab consultant, etc to provide whatever is needed. The compensation, which ensures the victim is supported for the rest of their life, includes funding for professional management which can free the family from that responsibility and allow them to concentrate on providing emotional support and love,” he added.

Oliver, who is from Bury in Manchester, joins Vincents from Fletchers Solicitors prior to which he has worked at Slater and Gordon, Clyde & Co, and Serious Law. He takes over the head of department position from Lisa Lodge, who was promoted to Head of the Private Client department earlier in the year.

Lisa, who also heads up the Garstang Branch and is a director of the firm, said: “It’s an enormously important decision for clients and their families to appoint a professional to support them at an often difficult time. It’s crucial that is someone they can trust and get on with, alongside being professional and experienced. Oliver has that unique combination of knowledge and compassion which will make him an exceptional advisor for his clients. While I will continue to support my existing clients, I am delighted to have appointed Oliver to take the department forward.”

To contact Oliver Banks and Vincents’ Private Client team, please call 01995 606 442 or email OliverBanks@vslaw.co.uk

Pictured: Oliver Banks, Vincents Solicitors’ new head of Court of Protection and Trusts