Barristers

Simon Povoas

Simon Povoas

Exchange Chambers, North West

Work Department

Family

Position

Simon is a specialist family law practitioner in all aspects of Children Act work but his focus and practice relates to the representation of parents, intervenors and children in complex public law proceedings involving serious and fatal injury to children.

He has a particular interest in paediatrics and medicine generally, especially head and spinal injuries, but regularly represents parents and children in the full spectrum of cases that involve the perpetration of harm or alleged harm. Recent cases that highlight this interest include the development of significant bruising and its inter relationship with bleeding disorders: specifically viral transient inhibitors; the inducement of hypernatraemia by the protracted salt poisoning of a very young child; rare genetic and inherited bleeding disorders and their association with bone fragility and intracranial haemorrhages.

Simon has a background in the practice of mental health tribunal work (and criminal law); has particular experience of representing vulnerable adults; those with issues of capacity; and, parents with personality disorders. He regularly appears on behalf of the Official Solicitor and in cases that engage the dual jurisdiction of the Court of Protection. Simon has also developed a specific interest and a practice in cases that involve the interplay of general medicine with psychology and psychiatry and their convergence in cases, such as those that involve FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness).

Career

Called 1996

Memberships

FLBA

Education

LLB (Hons), MA (Hist. of Art)