Michael Butler

Director

Email: ku.oc.sroticilos-reltub%40bpm

Phone: 01823 692800

Mental Health LawMichael advises patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983, and regularly represents such patients at applications for discharge to Mental Health Tribunals and at hospital managers’ hearings. He receives instructions to act for detained patients all over the country with a wide range of mental health conditions. In particular, though, he has a wealth of experience as a criminal litigator and therefore has a particular expertise in relation to forensic mental health cases. Accordingly, he represents a large number of clients detained in secure units. Michael also represents detained patients in High Court proceedings to challenge the lawfulness of decisions taken about their care and treatment by hospitals and/or local authorities.
Court of ProtectionMichael is frequently instructed to act on behalf of both patients and their families in proceedings at the Court of Protection. The majority of his work in this regard relates to health and welfare cases and, in particular, those involve deprivations of liberty. Michael therefore regularly acts for parties involved in proceedings brought under s21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
He accepts instructions on behalf of patients from paid representatives and from family members acting as litigation friends. He is also regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor.
Training/LecturingFor more than 25 years, alongside his work as a solicitor, Michael has spent a large amount of time lecturing and training fellow lawyers and other professionals on mental health, Court of Protection and criminal law.
Michael has also acted as an assessor for professional accreditation schemes. 
In 2023, Michael was appointed as an Associate Professor of Law in the Medical School at the University of East Anglia.
PublicationsAuthor of ‘A Practitioner’s Guide to Mental Health Law’, Wildy, Simmonds and Hill (second edition due in 2025)
Co-author of ‘Autism and the draft mental health bill in England and Wales: Unintended consequences?’, Medical Law International, March 23, 2023 (https://doi.org/10.1177/09685332231158740)

Qualifications & Memberships

Michael's Articles: