- Kate qualified as a Solicitor in 2014 and has specialised in mental health law since 2010. She has been an accredited member of The Law Society’s Mental Health Panel since 2014.
- Kate deals with all aspects of mental health law and will often represent nearest relatives and family members, as well as those detained across all levels of security. She also has a wealth of experience in dealing with s.117 after-care disputes and displacement proceedings.
- Kate is a Legal Aid Agency Peer Reviewer for Mental Health.
- Kate has been a member of the Mental Health Lawyers Association since 2014 and is currently Vice Chair of the Association. She was previously Chair (2018-2021)
Sam Polson – Senior Consultant Solicitor
- Sam is an experienced solicitor, admitted in 2001 and has been a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 1999.
- Sam represents clients at Mental Health Tribunals and Hospital Managers hearings. Sam’ s clients include civil and forensic patients detained in low, medium and high secure hospitals as well as those discharged to the community and seeking after-care and absolute discharge.
- Sam has undertaken cases, which have been subsequently reported and have had an impact on the development of case law in this very dynamic area. These include: R (on the application of B)V Camden LBC {2005}EWCH ; Robinson v London Borough of Waltham Forest Co/9360/2005.
- Sam is available to represent clients in London, Essex, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Sussex and Kent
- Sam is a member of the MHLA.
Neil Hickman – Senior Consultant Solicitor
- Neil qualified as a Solicitor in 2010 and has been a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 2010.
- He has extensive experience in all areas of mental health law and previous experience in public and private family law.
- Before re-training and qualifying as a solicitor, Neil previously worked as a mental health social worker for twelve years and as such has specialist mental health training.
- Neil holds a Masters degree in Social Work
- Neil is a member of the MHLA.
Elizabeth Beaney – Consultant Tribunal Representative
- Elizabeth is a Mental Health Tribunal Representative. She has a wide breadth of mental health law experience and has specialised in this area since 2003.
- She has extensive experience of representing clients at Tribunal hearings, Hospital Manager’s hearings and Care Programme Approach reviews. She has been a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 2007.
- Elizabeth is available to represent clients in the whole of Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight.
- Elizabeth is a member of the MHLA.
Kayt Foster – Senior Consultant Solicitor
- Kayt qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and has been a member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 2006 .
- She has a wide experience in all areas of mental health law with previous experience in criminal and family work.
- With a Masters degree in Child Law Kayt has a particular interest in child and adolescent psychiatry.
- Kayt is a member of the MHLA
Tam Gill – Principal Solicitor
- Our Principal Solicitor, Tam Gill, qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and has specialised in mental health work ever since, with a particular focus on complex forensic cases. She has been an accredited member of the Law Society Mental Health Panel since 2004.
- Tam was appointed as a Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) in 2021.
- Ranked at Band 1 in Chambers UK since 2019.
- Tam has been engaged as a Law Society assessor for the Mental Health Accreditation Scheme since 2012.
- She is regularly involved in developing and delivering legal training, providing fellow legal professionals, qualified doctors and social workers with seminars and workshops on mental health law issues, in particular in relation to restricted work, case preparation and Tribunal evidence and advocacy. This includes s12 and AC training to psychiatrists.
- Tam is a visiting lecturer at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (University of Sussex).
- In 2020, Tam was elected as President of the Mental Health Lawyers Association. Tam has been an active MHLA Committee member for many years and was Chair of the Association (2016-2018).
- She previously held positions as a LAA Independent Costs Adjudicator, LAA Peer Reviewer for Mental Health, Mental Health Act Commissioner for the Care Quality Commission (CQC).