Bronte Cook

I specialise in Court of Protection cases relating to a person's health and welfare, and Civil Liberties matters such as inquests into deaths that occur in state detention, and the resultant civil claims.

Key highlights

I have had the privilege to be involved in interesting cases that touch upon core freedoms and rights of our clients since starting in the team, including:

• Representing the family of a woman who died in complex and unexpected circumstances whilst under Mental Health Act section.
• Supporting a young man to attend court to engage in the Court of Protection proceedings that concluded best interests in line with his wishes and feelings, and encouraging his engagement in these proceedings.
• Representing the family of a man who had sadly died in prison, in a matter where known risks at the prison that had contributed to deaths in similar circumstances were not mitigated.
• Successfully advocating for increased communication support for a man who had as yet been unable to fully contribute to his proceedings due to a lack of communication support that met his needs, allowing him to express more detailed wishes regarding his future.

What do you like about working at Irwin Mitchell?

It is a very welcoming and supportive place to work - I moved up to Newcastle for my training contract and was welcomed into the team immediately. There is a very genuine focus in the team on everyone working together to ensure we provide an excellent service to clients, which means there is an open atmosphere where it feels acceptable and encouraged to ask questions and share knowledge. It helps create a friendly place to work, and also improves the service we provide, as many brains are better than one.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

I find the most rewarding part of my role differs in the different spheres that I work in. In the Court of Protection it is the knowledge that I am assisting individuals at high risk of being vulnerable to their rights being overlooked, and playing a part in solving complex problems they are experiencing in their lives. In the Coroners Court, find it rewarding to help families to find answers as to what has happened to their loved one in circumstances that they would find difficult to navigate alone. There is a perception that law is dry, and all about statute and cases, but the bulk of my work is working with people, understanding what they need, and helping them to achieve it.

What inspired you to get into law?

After my undergraduate degree in Law, I studied for a MSc in Mental Health, Ethics, and Law at Kings College London. This was initially out of personal interest as opposed to any direct career development goals, however whilst I was studying, I found mental capacity law in particular fascinating and wanted to be involved in its application and development.

What do you do away from the office?

I enjoy creative writing, both poems and short stories. I spend time outside of work at creative writing workshops and festivals, and reading at poetry events. Being a solicitor involves a lot of reading and writing, and it is fun to take this outside of the workspace, and have fun with it.

Publications

Engaging in sexual relations: silos and person-specific assessments in the Court of Protection

Testimonials

"Irwin Mitchell are representing my family in my sister's inquest. The family have found themselves in an unexpected and unusually complex situation and to date the family have been extremely impressed by the expertise of the staff with regard to all aspects of the case. Their experience of the process is very evident. They keep us informed regularly with the progress made and the strategy to be employed moving forward. Fiona and Bronte are very approachable and they always show a great deal of understanding and patience in addressing the families questions and worries.

"We are so pleased to have chosen Irwin Mitchell to represent us and would definitely recommend them to anyone." - 5* Trustpilot review - Client in an inquest touching on the death of an individual who sadly died while detained on a mental health ward