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.
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, 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.
I regularly help people challenge decisions made by public bodies, including local authorities and the NHS. This includes challenging cuts to NHS services and the closure of local government services, challenging local authorities' policies, and working with people who have received unlawful care assessments or inappropriate care packages.
Notable cases include the Court of Appeal case of Re G (Court of Protection: Injunction) [2022] EWCA Civ 1312.
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 curling up with a good book are all ways I like to relax!
Testimonials
"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 experience 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. I was totally out of my comfort zone, but the firm guided me to victory after a truly stressful year."
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
