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James Pantling-Skeet

James Pantling-Skeet

Partner

“My experience of working with James Pantling-Skeet is that he is an extremely knowledgeable and conscientious member of the team. He remained tenacious and determined throughout the long and protracted process, keeping us informed of progress throughout." Legal 500, 2024.

“He provided clarity around any issues or concerns taking time to ensure that we fully understood any developments."  "James was always both optimistic and realistic about our chances of success.", Chambers Guide 2024.

James’s professional biography

James Pantling-Skeet is an experienced Partner in Boyes Turner’s highly regarded Community Care, Court of Protection and Special Educational Needs teams. He provides a holistic, empathetic yet focused service to parents, young people, families, Attorneys, Deputies, Case Managers and Charities. His combined Community Care and Special Educational Needs expertise means he is well-placed to provide comprehensive legal advice relating to rights of children and adults living with a disability, injury, or illness.

His expertise includes:

  • Special educational needs provision – alternate provision, disputes relating to the Education Act 1996 and Children & Families Act 2014, including appeals to the Special Educational Needs & Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) regarding refusals to assess, refusals to issue, and EHCP contents disputes. In addition, transition from children to adult’s services.
  • Social care funding - Care Act 2014 eligibility, assessment, personal budget negotiations, care planning, ordinary residence, financial assessment and direct payment disputes. In addition, deprivation of asset disputes.
  • Healthcare funding – Hospital Discharge, NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility, assessments and appeals. In addition, Personal Health Budget eligibility and challenges to insufficient funding to meet assessed needs. Section 117 Aftercare & CPA planning. Children and Young Persons Continuing Care eligibility, assessments and appeals.
  • Challenges to arbitrary funding decisions, such as reductions in the level of support provided to disabled children and adults.
  • Disputes between patients, representatives and statutory bodies regarding care fee liability.
  • Disability adaptations, including all aspects of Disabled Facilities Grants.
  • Issues relating to changes to support models – i.e. moving from residential care to supporting living, including relevant CQC guidance and safeguarding concerns.
  • Health & Welfare matters – mental capacity assessments, best interest decision-making, health & welfare applications (such as disputes relating to where a person should live to receive care) to the Court of Protection, deprivation of liberty safeguards (DOLS) and the Re X process (Community DOLS).

James is a member of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (COPPA) South Central Committee. He is an Ambassador of the Dorset Children’s Foundation.

James regularly provides pro bono seminars and webinars to professionals supporting vulnerable children, young people and individuals, and to parents of children and young persons with disabilities. James is a member of the Professional Deputy Forum Committee.

James is ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in Chambers, in both Education (Special Educational Needs) and Healthcare (Community Care). His expertise is recognised in the Legal 500.

"Excellent Service"
Thank you Boyes Turner LLP for your excellent service and support during my recent CHC appeal. It is a daunting process to go through, but your support made it feel less stressful. Your communication and response to emails was great and every step of the process was explained clearly so I was clear on my steps. Thank you in particular to James and Daisy.
"Excellent experience from start to finish"
In what was an overwhelming situation trying to get my son into the right education setting, James took all the stress off my shoulders and won the case against our local council. My son is now thriving in his new school and I know, without James' hard work, he would not have got there.
"Review following handling of our family's social care case."
We contacted Boyes Turner earlier this year after we ran into a dispute with our local authority. This was about a social care matter and learning disability. The case was handled with professionalism and tact.
"I would most definitely recommend"
James, Laxmi and Daisy, worked so Patrick’s case, due to his very complex profile we had to go through three tribunals. They all worked so hard to secure our son’s placement. I would most definitely recommend James and Laxmi to anyone wishing to pursue the right provision for their young person.

News articles by James

Press Releases by James

Podcasts by James

Videos by James

Webinars by James

Outside of work, James enjoys a good glass of wine, home-cooked food, travelling, hiking, cycling, running, paddle-boarding, listening to Fleetwood Mac and spending time with family, friends and his husband. James' next fitness challenge is the Round the Isle of Wight 100km bike ride in May. 

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