Fern Crabtree

Fern is a solicitor in our Public Law department based in London, specialising in Court of Protection matters.

Fern joined Simpson Millar’s Public Law department in August 2016 as a paralegal, and qualified as a solicitor in October 2022. She obtained her LLB Hons Law degree at the University of the West of England in Bristol, before completing the postgraduate LLM in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law.

Her caseload focuses on challenges against deprivation of liberty and best interests for personal welfare proceedings. The Court of Protection team are regularly instructed by Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCA), paid and unpaid Relevant Persons Representatives (RPPR/RPR), and the Official Solicitor, on behalf of individuals who lack capacity. The team is also instructed by family members, carers or friends of those who lack capacity.

Most of Fern’s work involves helping where a vulnerable adult wishes to challenge a decision which deprives them of their liberty, or where there are disagreements as to the individual’s capacity or best interests.

Fern also has experience in cases relating to Child Care Proceedings, primarily representing parents and other family members when the Local Authority becomes involved in their family life. This includes advising on Pre-Proceeding involvement. She also helps clients in cases involving domestic violence and parents in private law cases, including child arrangement disputes.