Biography
I joined Irwin Mitchell in 2014, as a trainee solicitor. In 2016 I qualified as a solicitor in the Public Law & Human Rights team, specialising in Court of Protection and community care cases.
Court of Protection
I act on behalf of vulnerable adults and their families in Court of Protection matters, particularly in relation to disputes regarding capacity and best interests. Typically, I represent clients in:
- s21A deprivation of liberty challenges
- Best interests health and welfare applications dealing with disputes about residence, care, engaging in sexual relations and contact
- Medical treatment disputes.
I act on behalf of the Official Solicitor, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs) and family members. I am also an Accredited Legal Representative, appointed by the court to act for persons whose mental capacity, welfare or deprivation of liberty arrangements are being reviewed by the court.
My clients are often highly vulnerable individuals, with diagnoses such as complex brain injuries, learning disabilities or dementia. I am committed to ensuring that each person’s voice is heard, and that I achieve the best possible outcomes, tailored to the needs of each client.
Public Law Challenges
I regularly help people challenge decisions made by public bodies, including local authorities and the NHS, through judicial review. This includes challenging cuts to NHS services and the closure of local government services, challenging local authorities' policies, and representing individuals who have received unlawful care assessments or inappropriate care packages.
In 2019 I was shortlisted for Manchester Solicitor of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards.
Key Highlights
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Legal challenges warning over disabled children respite - BBC News (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-65677035)
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Manchester Arena Bombing Survivors Legal Action On Public Inquiry (https://www.irwinmitchell.com/news-and-insights/newsandmedia/2020/june/survivors-of-manchester-arena-bombing-survivors-take-legal-action-on-involvement-at-public-inquiry)
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Survivors of Manchester Arena bombing in legal action to secure core participant status at public inquiry (https://localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/litigation-and-enforcement/400-litigation-news/43981-survivors-of-manchester-arena-bombing-in-legal-action-to-secure-core-participant-status-at-public-inquiry)
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Parents of siblings with Batten Disease take legal action over potentially life-saving treatment | ITV News Granada (https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2019-05-20/parents-of-siblings-with-batten-disease-take-legal-action-over-potentially-life-saving-treatment)
Notable reported judgments include:
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PS, Re (Severe Short Term Memory Loss: Capacity to Engage in Sexual Relations) [2024] EWCOP 42 (T2) (16 August 2024)
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A Local Authority v ZX [2024] EWCOP 30 (T2) (06 June 2024)
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P (Application to Withhold Closed Material: Concurrent Civil Proceedings), Re [2024] EWCOP 26 (01 May 2024)
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An ICB v G & Ors [2024] EWCOP 13 (27 February 2024)
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Re G (Court of Protection: Injunction) [2022] EWCA Civ 1312. (Court of Appeal)
What do you like about working at Irwin Mitchell?
We have an extremely friendly and collaborative team, and many of my colleagues have become close friends.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
It is wonderful to be able to assist vulnerable people to have their voices heard, and there is nothing better than to achieve a life-changing result for a client.
What inspired you to get into law?
I wanted to develop a career doing a job in which I had to use multiple skills, including analysis and problem-solving, while working with people. It is very important to me that my job makes a difference to people’s lives and gets tangible results, and that I can feel proud of the work that I do. Law has ticked all those boxes!
What do you do away from the office?
Prior to becoming a solicitor I worked with the United Nations overseas, and I still love to travel and experience new cultures. Spending quality time with family and friends, good food, listening to music and podcasts, and curling up with a good book are all ways I like to relax. I've also recently started the Couch to 5k!
Awards:
Shortlisted for Manchester Solicitor of the Year, 2020 (Manchester Legal Awards)
Testimonials:
We recently had the pleasure of using Irwin Mitchell solicitors and working with Saoirse de Bont and Liam Maguire. I couldn't be more satisfied with my experience. From the moment I reached out, the team supported us, was incredibly responsive and helpful, and ensured we secured a fantastic outcome. The quality of their services far exceeded our expectations. They went above and beyond to help us. Both Saoirse and Liam showed empathy and understanding and fought for us with unwavering commitment. I highly recommend Irwin Mitchell to anyone looking for legal support. I will definitely be a returning customer! - 5* Trustpilot review, 2024
Saoirse and Liam have been invaluable in the support and communication they have given us during COP legal proceedings. Ensuring that my son’s rights and needs were listened to and valued throughout the whole process. Thank you for your highly professional services provided. - 5* Trustpilot review, 2024
Liam McGuire and Saoirse de Bont were the solicitors engaged in raising a Section 21a DoL challenge in the Court of Protection. I am an advocate for a young man with Autism and a LD with restrictions on his care which amount to a DoL. Liam and Saoirse have been responsive and timely to all queries and questions surrounding the legalities. Liam has met on zoom and in person the client - he is approachable, knowledgeable and speaks in a language the client can understand. They have been impressive with the amount of work they have done in pursuing and gathering evidence for this case. - 5* Trustpilot review, 2023
I was fortunate enough to have been recommended Irwin Mitchell solicitors over a decade ago when my disabled adult son returned to Trafford local authority and there were several issues that required legal help to deal with. Matthieu Culverhouse was our first contact and was a great help soon after we had Saoirse de Bont who has now been my son's solicitor at IM for the last 10 years or more and she is a credit to the company. I don't think I could have got through some of the issues we had to deal with over 10 years without her help. Saoirse always went the extra mile. - 5* Trustpilot review, 2023
"Saoirse de Bont was the solicitor I instructed from Irwin Mitchell. Saoirse kept me up to date with everything that was going on throughout proceedings. Her support to my client and also to myself was second to none." - 5* Trustpilot review
"Thank you for all your hard work and time you put into my father's case and the help you provided for my father and his family. Great work by all the team involved. Forever grateful." – Trustpilot client review
"I highly recommend Saoirse, Mathieu and Yiokasti from the education and community care team; we are very grateful for all their help. They are very friendly and approachable and communicate in a very timely way, keeping you informed and involved at all times. They are also very professional." – C Gemstone, 5* Trustpilot review
"Thank you for all your kindness, support and diligence in this very protracted and difficult situation. It has helped the family considerably to know you were there fighting on Joe’s behalf and it was very reassuring to know that Joe was at the centre of all you did."
"I feel so privileged to have had such a positive and supportive exper
ience with what could have been quite different had it not been for you. Thank you so so much."
"The team at Irwin Mitchell are fantastic, great advice, friendly and always there to help, they are so understanding and compassionate but also passionate about what they do and achieving the right outcome for you, I would and have recommended them to others already and will continue to do so, Saoirse De Bont and Elizabeth Ridley have been exceptional in our case along with involvement from Mathieu Culverhouse."
"Brilliant solicitors. They helped me with a problem re: my handicapped daughter’s housing and I couldn’t have managed without them."
Publications:
Cheshire West: A Year Later – Mathieu Culverhouse and Saoirse de Bont – International Journal of Positive Behavioural Support (Spring 2015).
Murky Waters: Prosecuting Pirates and Upholding Human Rights Law – Saoirse de Bont – Journal of International Law and International Relations (2012), pp.104-145
