The countdown is on until the PDF’s Annual Conference in Coventry. In just a few short months, we will be set to welcome over 40 exhibitors and 300 CoP professionals for a jam-packed day of networking, knowledge sharing, and informed discussions.
2026 Theme: Shifting Sands
Our theme this year is Shifting Sands and is focused on bringing together leading voices from across the Court of Protection community to explore how the role of the professional deputy is changing, and what this means in practice for those working in and alongside the jurisdiction.
As the “sands” continue to shift, staying informed and connected has never been more important. Our conference offers a valuable opportunity to our members and other CoP professionals to come together and reflect on best practice and practical solutions to the real-world issues we are facing as a sector.
This year’s programme includes expert-led sessions, panel discussions and practical case studies from incredible speakers.
The Sessions
Over the course of the day, there will be sessions covering topics such as cost, AI and technology, leadership, resilience, and case law.
When the Numbers No Longer Match the Reality – PLG Consultants
Rising construction and labour costs are reshaping what it takes to deliver suitable long-term housing. In many cases, accommodation figures agreed earlier in the litigation process no longer reflect the reality of delivering the works required today.
For deputies and professional teams, this can create difficult conversations around feasibility, expectations and how to move forward without compromising on what the client needs long term.
This session will explore how increasing costs are affecting delivery in practice, the risks of relying on outdated reporting, and why early collaboration and realistic planning are becoming more important than ever in order to achieve successful outcomes.
COP v AI: Navigating Risks, Ethics, and Efficiency
The Court of Protection landscape is shifting. As Artificial Intelligence moves from a “future tech” concept to a daily tool, practitioners face a new set of professional hurdles. This session will explore what this might mean for Deputies in practice, detecting the Use of AI in documents and correspondence, responding to AI-Generated documents and correspondence, changes we may need to implement, data protection & GDPR duties, and more.
Key note: Henry Nelson-Case
Deputyship leaders face growing pressure from regulators, the Court, clients, and their teams, while navigating an increasingly complex and demanding practice area. This session will explore sustainable leadership, the importance of building genuine resilience, creating psychologically safe and supportive team cultures, and improving recruitment and retention. Highlighting why investing in leadership wellbeing is essential to delivering high-quality, compliant, person-centred deputyship services.
Navigating the Shifting Sands: Practical Strategies for the Professional Deputy
As Deputies we are constantly navigating the shifting sands of the Court of Protection world as case law changes the way we manage our client’s property and affairs. Over the last few years in particular we have seen a huge shift in the way we manage decisions on a practical level.
This panel session will look at a selection of different approaches taken through the eyes of a Deputy where we will explore those changes in detail and they have changed the way we work in practice so that attendees can take away top tips on the changing landscape.
Case Law Update
This session will provide an overview of recent and significant case law developments in the Court of Protection, exploring the practical implications for professionals working in deputyship and wider Court of Protection practice. Attendees will gain insight into key judgments, emerging legal themes, and evolving judicial approaches, with a focus on how these developments may influence decision-making, best interests assessments, deputyship practice, and day-to-day case management.
Deputy Panel Session
Popular panel session where you have the opportunity to ask questions directly, or submit in advance on issues your face in your role as a deputy or practitioner working in the Court of Protection.
- Joan Gouldbourn – OS
- HHJ Hilder – CoP
- Judge Whalan – SCCO
- John Howard – OS
- Andrew Scott – OPG
Who is speaking?
We look forward to welcoming a range of industry experts and leading CoP professionals to speak at the conference.
Nyasha Weinberg, Barrister, 39 Essex Chambers
Nyasha has a busy court practice appearing all levels up to the Supreme Court with particular expertise in health, regulatory, social care and education.
She acts as junior counsel in construction adjudications and international arbitration and has undertaken secondments on data protection law and construction law.
Before coming to the Bar, Nyasha worked as a civil servant, political advisor and management consultant. She has been widely published on devolution, the Rule of Law, international trade policy, UK-EU relations, technology and the future of work with her research cited by major UK and international newspapers.
Alexandra Knipe, Partner, Anthony Gold
Alexandra specialises in Court of Protection practice, working for and with vulnerable individuals who lack capacity in the administration of their affairs and finances. She frequently oversees the effective financial management of incapacitated persons who may have received a significant award following a personal injury. This involves acting for brain damaged children and adults.
She also advises on various Welfare issues within the Court of Protection and have experience in dealing with matters concerning the medial treatment, physical safety, care and repatriation of incapacitated persons. She has been involved in cases where an incapacitated person has been detained against their will or forcibly removed from the jurisdiction and has assisted in securing urgent orders to protect the rights of those individuals.
Henry Nelson-Case, Content Creator. Lawyer (non practising). TedxSpeaker. Workplace Wellbeing Advocate.
A qualified lawyer with several years’ experience in both private practice and as in-house legal counsel at leading law firms and organisations, Henry also creates relatable and impactful content on social media aimed at positively supporting those affected by negative corporate workplace behaviours.
Henry is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, particularly in the workplace, and regularly speaks about improving wellbeing for legal professionals and corporate leaders. Drawing on his personal journey and professional experience, he focuses on the importance of mental health support, work-life balance, and creating healthier workplace cultures.
He’s delivered talks at TEDx on the impact of toxic masculinity on men’s mental health, at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford on workplace wellbeing in the legal profession, and at Legal Geek on how Gen Z and Millennials are driving conversations about wellbeing.
Emma Gaudern, Chief Executive Officer, EMG Solicitors
Emma is a solicitor and CEO of EMG, specialising in acting as professional deputy and trustee for vulnerable and incapacitated individuals, representing clients that vary in their range of disabilities, from learning difficulties through to the most serious of acquired brain injuries. As deputy or trustee, Emma works with the clients, their family members and support network to make sure that their needs are catered for and they are being enabled to live life as they choose, as far as that is possible. This involves empowering clients to make as many choices for themselves as they can, and then supporting them in achieving their aims.
Francesca Gardner, Barrister, 39 Essex
Francesca is a specialist in all areas of mental capacity and mental health law. Francesca’s practice encompasses all areas of Court of Protection work, including welfare disputes, serious medical treatment, and property and affairs matters. Francesca receives regular instructions from individuals, the Official Solicitor, local authorities, NHS bodies, and care homes.
Arianna Kelly, Barrister, 39 Essex
Arianna is a public law and mental capacity barrister at 39 Essex Chambers and part-time Family Record and First-Tier Tribunal Judge, with a background in policy and legislative work.
Arianna works extensively in community care, advising local authorities, NHS bodies, and national public bodies on both policy and individual matters relating to health, social care, and mental health, frequently undertaking judicial reviews in areas including eligibility and care planning, community care charging, safeguarding investigations, and provider de-registration. Her Court of Protection practice spans a wide range of complex welfare and serious medical treatment cases.
Bigger and better in 2026, we will be welcoming over 40 exhibitors to Coventry in September.
For yet another year, all exhibition spaces sold out in less than 48 hours! Once again we were overwhelmed by the response.
The exhibition is also highly popular with conference attendees (and not just for the potential swag!), and this year will see our Corporate Members showing up in force.
“Exhibiting at the PDF Annual Conference is now an essential event in our calendar. It is one of the best opportunities to showcase what we do at William Martin and connect with deputies and other legal professionals.” – Julian Rendall, William Martin
To see all the exhibitors and sponsors for PDF Annual Conference 2026, click here
**This article appeared in the PDF’s Quarterly Journal Deputyship Matter (June Edition)**
