Melanie Williams Image

Melanie Williams

Director & Head of Oxford Court of Protection | London | Milton Keynes | Oxford | Bristol | Birmingham

"Highly skilled and dedicated team with plenty of resources to meat their clients needs. Melanie Williams stands out as someone who can take time to fully understand her clients needs before delivering on them."
The Legal 500, 2025

Call: 0345 128 6965 Mobile: 0771 776 0083

About Melanie

Melanie is a professional Property and Affairs Deputy and a professional trustee for Personal Injury Trusts. Melanie helps her clients from all over the country to manage their money because they struggle to make financial decisions for themselves. This includes everyday payments as well as administering multi-million pound compensation awards.

The majority of Melanie’s clients are people with dementia, learning disabilities and brain injuries following medical negligence or personal injuries.

Melanie provides a tailored approach to the financial situation of every client, taking account of the wishes of the person lacking capacity and their support team. Melanie receives valuable support by working closely with several independent financial advisers, our Oxford-based Trusts, Estates and Tax team, and attending regular training on financial planning.

Melanie has extensive experience in the care, social services and benefits systems, and so ensures her clients receive all available state funding.

Melanie can advise friends and family on applications to become financial affairs or welfare deputy themselves, as well as applications for one-off decisions by the Court of Protection. This might include welfare decisions, tax planning approval, gifts, trusts and statutory wills.

Melanie supports litigation solicitors by providing expert witness statements for claims involving mental capacity. These statements itemise a professional deputy’s range of responsibilities and put a monetary value on likely future expenses.

Melanie is a court-approved deputy by the Office of the Public Guardian. There are only 71 “panel deputies” in England and Wales.

Melanie is listed as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 (2024 edition).

Melanie received a 'Distinction in the STEP Advanced Certificate in Advising Vulnerable Clients'.

Melanie’s work includes:

  • Managing funds arising from catastrophic clinical negligence and personal injury claims.
  • Deputy for those with dementia and learning difficulties.
  • Acting for professional & lay deputies on statutory will and welfare deputyship applications.
  • Drafting and administrating Personal Injury Trusts, including High Court approved trusts for injured children.
  • Special interest in NHS Continuing Healthcare matters.
  • Managing cross-border assets, which can include making applications to become the legal guardian of clients’ financial affairs abroad.

Memberships

  • Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners
  • Scope recommended Adviser

Notable work & expertise

Testimonials

  • "I think you know how much we appreciate the arrival of you, Robyn and Freeths…. It is a breath of fresh air for us."

    Client testimonial

  • "Melanie Williams is personable and effective in her work as Deputy and always looks at the wider picture."

    The Legal 500, 2025

  • "Melanie Williams - very forward thinking and pragmatic. I have worked with Melanie for several years and have found that we are able to work toget...

    The Legal 500, 2025

  • "Melanie Williams is an experienced and highly capable practitioner."

    The Legal 500, 2024

  • "Melanie Williams is the head of the team. Melanie has been appreciative, I believe, of our collaborative approach and I feel we work well together...

    The Legal 500, 2024

  • "Melanie has a talent to interpret the facts and has the ability to see how they directly effect the client both personally and in the aspect of law."

    The Legal 500, 2022

  • "Melanie Williams has the ability to recall facts of the case and use them with regards to the relevance of the topic under discussion."

    The Legal 500, 2022

  • "Melanie brings an analytical mind to the discussion, enabling clear understanding of the case and direction."

    The Legal 500, 2022

  • "Melanie Williams is the stand out candidate as she is caring as well as very capable."

    The Legal 500, 2022

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