Hilton (Tony) Harrop-Griffiths

Call: 1978

Tony specialises in public (administrative) law. His principal clients are English local authorities – about a third of London boroughs and several city and county councils.

He has more than 25 years’ experience of advising and acting for them in social services cases. Tony has probably been instructed at least once about every non-childcare issue a local authority social services solicitor could conceivably encounter.

He regularly appears on their behalf in the Administrative Court, the Court of Protection, the Upper Tribunal and the County Court. He has also acted for them in the Supreme Court (twice), the Court of Appeal (many times) and even the High Court of Northern Ireland (once).

Tony has a strong paperwork practice, which comprises writing advices, drafting letters (in particular pre-action protocol replies) and re-drafting policy documents.

He has hosted and taken part in many seminars, in particular about NRPF issues, ordinary residence, age assessments and charging for care.

If you would like more information about Tony’s practice, please contact his clerks or call +44 (0)20 7405 6114.

 

Areas of expertise

Adult social care - Care Act 2014

Tony regularly advises and represents local authorities in Care Act 2014-related matters such as:

Needs assessments

Eligible needs

Care and support plans

Charging for care:

Ordinary residence disputes:

Preferred accommodation

Top-ups

Direct payments

Continuity of care

Transition for children

Safeguarding

Delayed hospital discharges

Adult social care - Mental Health Act 1983

Tony has extensive experience of acting for local authorities in cases related to the Mental Health Act 1983.

Children’s services

Tony’s advice and representation concerning children services includes:

Part III of the Children Act 1989

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (re. disabled children)

Special guardian allowances

Foster carer allowances

Adoption allowances

Age assessments

Tony has acted in and continues to act for local authorities in some of the most significant age assessments such as R (AOJ) v. Islington LBC [2024] EWHC 427 See his notable cases for more details.

 

No recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Tony advises local authorities on cases concerning the Mental Capacity Act 2005:

Capacity issues

Deprivation of liberty (DOL):

Section 21A applications

Other health and welfare cases

Property and affairs:

International protection under Schedule 3

Notable cases

Education

Professional memberships