James Pantling-Skeet

James Pantling-Skeet is a Partner in Boyes Turner’s highly regarded Community Care, Court of Protection and Special Educational Needs teams. He leads the Community Care and Court of Protection Health & Welfare team.

James’ team specialises in providing niche advice and assistance to Court of Protection Deputies, case managers, families, cared for persons, P and professional referrers in respect of education, health and social care funding issues, along with and welfare considerations, for children and adults living with disability, injury or illness.

James is well-known for his work with Professional Deputies. This includes advising on how potential options to resolve complex statutory funding, regulatory and welfare issues sit with the scope of a Deputy’s authority, including when Court authority may be needed.

He is at the forefront of navigating issues arising with general authority and the grey area for Deputies between property & affairs on the one hand, and health & welfare on the other.

James is committed to improving outcomes for P, demonstrated through his contribution to organisations such as the Professional Deputies Forum.

In addition to leading the team to support Court of Protection Deputies and professional referrers nationally, James works as part of the firm’s Court of Protection team, advising on statutory funding and welfare considerations arising within the scope of the Deputy’s general authority. As part of this role, James is also a Director of Boyes Turner’s Trust Corporation. He, and his team, therefore have first-hand experience of the challenges of navigating complex statutory funding issues and welfare considerations as a Deputy. They can put themselves in the Deputy’s shoes.

James is deeply passionate about improving outcomes for cared-for persons, protected parties and their families. In addition to his case work, James sits on the Professional Deputies Forum Committee and is the vice chair of the newly established Health & Welfare group.

In addition to supporting Deputies to navigate complex public law and court of protection issues in the context of HHJ Hilder’s decision in Re ACC [2020] EWCOP 9.

More recently, James has worked closely with Professional Deputy Forum Chair Stacey Bryant, Counsel of 39 Essex Chambers and co-Deputies, to clarify issues arising from HHJ Hilder’s decision in Lumb v NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB & Anor [2024] EWCOP 57 (T2) regarding management of direct payments. The outcome of these applications and Court’s guidance is awaited.

James regularly provides pro bono seminars and webinars to professionals supporting vulnerable children, young people and adults, and to parents of children and young persons with disabilities. This includes to professional support organisations such as the Professional Deputies Forum and British Association of Case Managers (BABICM), as well as charities.

James is recognised by leading legal directories Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 for his expertise in statutory funding and court of protection matters.

He is ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ by Chambers in both Education (Special Educational Needs) and Court of Protection: Health & Welfare (incorporating his community care, court of protection and public law practice). His specialist knowledge is highlighted in The Legal 500.