Since qualification, Connor has worked exclusively within the field of health and social care, with expertise in mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, mental health, medical treatment, and inquests. Connor brings his experience having advised CCGs/ICBs, Trusts, Health Boards, and private care providers regarding these difficult and sensitive areas of law.
Connor routinely conducts his own advocacy in the Court of Protection and the Coroner’s Courts.
With the Regulatory team, Connor uses his expertise to advise health and social care clients on complex mental capacity and adult safeguarding cases. This includes developing areas of law concerning capacity and best interests. Connor has a wealth of experience representing clients in contested welfare and s21a applications before the Court of Protection.
Connor frequently advises on proceedings being heard before the High Court where there are issues concerning capacity and best interests regarding contact, use of social media and the internet, engaging in sexual relations, and use of contraception, along with challenging issues involving the interface of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Mental Health Act 1983.
Connor has past experience working with individuals at the centre of Court of Protection welfare disputes, instructed for protected parties by professional advocates and the Official Solicitor. This professional history combined with having represented both health and social care organisations, means he has a well-rounded experience in this area.
Connor is experienced in representing health and social care clients at inquest proceedings, including hearings before juries, where Article 2 is engaged, and there is significant press interest. Connor has developing experience in advising Professional Deputies on inter-related property/financial affairs and health/welfare issues. He has advised clients at all stages of inquest proceedings on matters including deaths in custody and deaths arising from complex medical circumstances, and deaths of young adults with mental health concerns.
Away from contentious work, Connor provides advice on compliance with health and social care legislation and regulation, commissioning arrangements, and ordinary residence. Connor is often asked to provide training to legal teams and professional clients on health and social care issues.
Connor is a member of CoPPA Cymru. Mae Connor yn ddysgwr.
Education
- Queens University Belfast, Law with Politics
- Cardiff University, LPC Part-time
Career
- Solicitor at DAC Beachcroft 2017 – 2018
- Solicitor at NWSSP Legal & Risk Services 2018-– 2020
- Solicitor at CJCH Solicitors 2020 – 2023
- Associate at Hugh James 2023 – 2025
- Senior Associate at Hugh James May 2025
Experience
- Advising on disputed welfare and s21a (DoLs appeals) applications before the Court of Protection
- Advising a local authority on recognition and enforcement of a foreign order in the Court of Protection Argyll and Bute Council v RF [2025] EWCOP 12 (T3) (15 April 2025)
- Representing a protected party (P) in Court of Protection proceedings where a High Court judge made findings that P had been coercively controlled by her husband: MB v PB [2022] EWCOP 14 (15 March 2022).
- Advising a health board on an urgent application to seek dental treatment under restraint for a young man with a learning disability Cardiff & Vale University Health Board v P (by his litigation friend, CL)
- Advising a health board on an urgent out-of-hours application to the High Court to seek approval to administer blood products to a 12-year-old practising Jehovah’s witness.
- Advising a health board on an urgent application to administer medication to a 17-year-old under restraint to reverse the effects of an overdose
- Representing a Health Board at an inquest of a man who drowned while on escorted leave from a mental health unit
- Representing a Health Board at an inquest of a young man with an unexplained cause of death leading to an open conclusion
- • Advising a university at an inquest of a student who took his own life