Umar Kankiya is an experienced Solicitor in the Mental Health Department at Sternberg Reed having joined the firm in October 2017 as the Head of the department. He is a Member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme.

He acts for clients detained under S.2, 3 and 37 of the Mental Health Act and for clients in the community under Community Treatment Orders (S.17A). He also acts for forensic clients, detained under S.37/41, 47/49, 48/49 up to and including representation at the First Tier Tribunal.

Umar represents clients at First Tier Tribunals, Hospital Managers Hearings and Care Programme Approach Meetings. Umar also represents Nearest Relative’s in applications to the County Court or where displacement proceedings have taken place.

He assists clients who are deemed to lack capacity (under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and is regularly appointed by the Tribunals Service under the provisions of Rule 11 (7) (a) or (b) of the Tribunal Procedure Rules 2008 to represent a patient before a Tribunal panel.

Umar provides a client focused service, helping some of the most vulnerable members of society. He is often noted for his ability to understand client’s needs quickly and to do so in the a compassionate, empathetic way. Umar is calm, clear and focused in his ability to provide the best service to his clients.

In his spare time he is active in his local community and is a local community activist. Umar is also a member of the Ethnic Minority’s Lawyers Division of the Law Society and represents views of BAME lawyers from across the profession to the Law Society and SRA. In addition Umar is married with a daughter (and another child on the way) and is an avid fan of football, being a passionate Manchester United fan!