Simon Cheverst

Simon specialises in healthcare with a particular focus on mental health, regulatory and public law.

He has over 15 years’ experience across the health and social care sectors. His key clients include commissioners and providers across both the private and public sectors. Simon has a detailed and practical understanding of the regulatory underpinnings of these services and is often asked to deliver training and/or advise upon policy development.

Much of Simon’s professional career has been spent advising upon issues arising out of the care of people affected by mental health problems, particularly as they relate to the Mental Health and Mental Capacity Acts. Simon is often involved in defending and bringing judicial reviews, and regularly appears within both the Court of Protection and Coroners Court representing Interested Persons from commissioners and care home operators to providers of community, acute in-patient, prison and mental health care.

Simon is uniquely positioned to advise both providers and Commissioners with a view to minimising exposure to adverse events and the regulatory and reputational consequences that can often follow.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Successfully defending a Mental Health Trust in habeas corpus proceedings at both first instance and in the Court of Appeal.
• Successfully defending a Mental Health Trust in Judicial Review proceedings considering a payment of in-patient pocket money with costs saving ramifications for the wider NHS estate.
• Represented Trusts and private providers at high profile multi-party Article 2 Jury Inquests.
• Advising and representing hospital Trusts, Commissioners and providers on serious medical treatment, welfare and deprivation of liberty cases in the Court of Protection.