Patti acts for a range of ecclesiastical clients including religious charities, bishops and individual members of clergy, parochial church councils, diocesan boards of finance, cathedral chapters and schools. She is also the Diocesan Registrar for the Diocese of Canterbury and the Deputy Diocesan Registrar for the Diocese of Rochester.

Previously a city employment lawyer, Patti developed a keen interest in ecclesiastical and safeguarding law whilst working for a regional firm specialising in this field.

Patti has particular expertise in dealing with high profile and complex safeguarding matters and disciplinary and grievance investigations relating to office holders. She advises bishops and individual members of the clergy in relation to clergy disciplinary processes and suspension issues and Church of England archdeacons and Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers as complainants in clergy discipline proceedings. She also carries out and advises on external reviews and investigations including providing advice about crisis management, data privacy and information sharing.

Patti also advises on governance, risk and constitutional matters with a focus on Church of England cathedrals.

Recent Experience

• Acting as an external reviewer for an inquiry into the leadership, management and culture including safeguarding at a Cathedral
• Acting as an external reviewer examining complex HR issues relating to the retirement of a Diocesan Bishop
• Acting for individual members of clergy, including Bishops, in clergy discipline proceedings, safeguarding investigations and risk assessments.
• Advising and managing an independent investigation by safeguarding professionals into allegations of spiritual abuse
• Advising a cathedral in respect of multiple data subject access requests, information sharing concerns and complaints to the Information Commissioner.
• Assisting a Church of England diocese with a complex grievance and whistleblowing disclosures submitted by an ecclesiastical office holder.