A CHESTER lawyer has been retained as the city’s only representative on the Court of Protection’s approved panel of professional deputies.

Clive Pointon, pictured, head of the wills, trusts and tax team at Aaron & Partners LLP in Foregate Street, said it was an honour to be re-appointed to the panel.

Mr Pointon was re-appointed to the panel following a rigorous three-stage selection process, and despite the number of deputies across England and Wales being cut from 180 to 60.

Joanna Tarne, an associate solicitor at Aaron & Partners, has been included on the new reserve list.

Mr Pointon, who was first appointed to the panel of deputies at its inception in 2001, added: “With an ageing population, the issue of mental capacity and lasting powers of attorney is becoming increasingly important.”