Rhiannon Phillips is an Associate Solicitor and Team Leader within the Mental Health & Capacity Team in Cardiff.
Rhiannon joined Reeds having attained a First Class degree in Legal Practice at the University of South Wales. Whilst undertaking her degree, Rhiannon volunteered at the University of South Wales Legal Advice Clinic during her third year as a student advisor, which is a student led pro-bono clinic. In her role there, she gained experience primarily in family law cases, where she supported clients through often very difficult periods of their lives, where they required legal advice and assistance with matters including divorces and child contact.
Rhiannon joined Reeds as a Trainee Solicitor and qualified in September 2021 as a Solicitor. She is a fluent Welsh speaker and became a Law Society Accredited Mental Health Representative in April 2021 and represents both restricted and unrestricted patients in front of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Wales and the First Tier Tribunal in England. Rhiannon also undertakes work in the Court of Protection, whereby she will deal with issues such as deprivation of liberty, capacity and best interests. Rhiannon also acts as an agent for the Official Solicitor in serious medical treatment cases.
Rhiannon attends Care and Treatment Planning meetings, s117 meetings and advises and represent both patients and their nearest relatives at Hospital Managers Hearings. With her warm, personable approach, Rhiannon is quickly able to build good working relationships with her clients and is able to discuss even the most delicate of topics sensitively, to elicit clear instructions. Coupled with a keen eye for detail, she is able to analyse expert evidence and adduce both positive and negative elements to properly prepare her client’s case, giving them the best chance of success at appeal.
Awards and recognition
Winner of the Rising Star of the Year Award 2023
Rhiannon won an award in the prestigious Wales Legal Awards 2023 for ‘Rising Star’. This award recognises one individual lawyer who has been nominated within the legal profession. It is a great honour to win, and winners must demonstrate that they have a high-level of involvement within the profession and area of practice – bringing insight, flair and imagination to everything they do.
The Rising Star award is one of only two awards for an individual. The judges look for personal and professional excellence alongside evidence of an individual who stands heads and shoulders above their contemporaries in Wales.
Recent and notable cases
Client detained under a S3. Client discharged after a successful appeal to the MHRT.
Client detained under S3. Client discharged after a successful appeal to the FTT.
Client detained under S3. Client discharged after a successful appeal to the MHRT.
Client detained under S3. Client discharged after a successful appeal to the MHRT.
Testimonials
'Rhiannon’s support has changed the overall outcome of my care for the better. She is incredibly skilled and knowledgeable, as well as kind! Thank you.'
Client