Mr Robert Povall > Exchange Chambers > Liverpool, England > Barrister Profile

Mr Robert Povall

Work Department

Family

Position

Robert specialises in family law, representing local authorities, parents, grandparents and children through their guardians (including under FPR 16.4) as well as parties in domestic abuse proceedings. He is a confident and thorough advocate whose cross-examination has been described as ‘incisive’ by the judiciary.

Practice areas:

• Child Arrangements (Residence and Contact)
• Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders
• Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders
• Care & Supervision
• Special Guardianship
• Interim Separation
• Placement and Adoption
• Deprivation of Liberty
• Applications to Discharge or Vary
• Parental Responsibility and Declarations of Parentage
• Part 25 Applications
• Appeals
• Enforcement & Committal for Contempt

Robert has developed an expertise in cases featuring complex issues such as non-accidental injury, domestic and sexual abuse, substance misuse, psychology, parental alienation and jurisdiction.

Diligent and down-to-earth, Robert is respected for his ability to identify the key issues at an early stage. When representing parents and other vulnerable individuals, he employs a frank but empathetic approach to manage expectations and advance the best case possible on their behalf.

Notable Cases

 

2020:

• Shadowed in Re C [2020] EWCA Civ 257 at the Court of Appeal.
• Successfully represented an applicant in complex domestic abuse proceedings with historical allegations and voluminous digital evidence. Findings made that the respondent’s ‘relentless’ harassment would continue without an order and that his conduct during proceedings constituted an extension to his controlling behaviour.
• Defended a client with over 140 breaches proven against him in an application by a local authority for a total exclusion clause. Detailed written submissions prepared on client’s Article 8 rights which persuaded the court against making the order.

2021:

• Represented a mother at an interim hearing where the care plan had changed last minute, causing great distress to her and the child. The court described Robert’s submissions as ‘compelling.’
• Successfully applied to dispense with notice of proceedings upon a father incarcerated for attempted murder and kidnap. Robust submissions made that the mother and children’s Article 6 rights should supersede those of the father.
• Successfully opposed interim separation of a new-born from his mother even though his four older siblings had been removed seven months prior under the same threshold.
• Cross-examined an independent social worker on behalf of a father and undermined the fairness of her assessment. Resultantly, the matter was adjourned part-heard for the instruction of a fresh expert.
• Represented a social worker who faced allegations of professional misconduct in private law proceedings. No findings made.
• Successfully represented a mother in an interim separation contest. The guardian supported the local authority. The court did not sanction removal and described Robert’s submissions as thorough and well-prepared.
• Whilst representing a mother, Robert advanced a case on behalf of a child’s grandparents who acted in person. The local authority sought a placement order and the grandparents had received a negative independent social worker assessment. After a contested final hearing, the court was persuaded to adjourn for further assessment of the grandparents.

Career

Called 2019

Memberships

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
The Northern Circuit
The Family Law Bar Association
The Criminal Bar Association
FreeBar
Queer Lawyers of Tomorrow
Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Education

Qualifications:

BA French and Italian: First Class (The University of Leeds, 2011–2015)
Distinction in Spoken French
Distinction in Spoken Italian
93% with Distinction during year abroad at Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”
GDL: Distinction (The University of Law, 2017–2018)
LLM in Bar Practice: Distinction (The University of Law, 2018–2019)
BPTC Component: Very Competent
Hilbre High School Humanities College, Wirral

Scholarships & Awards:

Pupillage Grant (2019), Middle Temple
Winner of the University of Law Family Law Moot (2019)
The Godfrey Heilpern Memorial Scholarship (2018), Middle Temple
Michael Sherrard ‘Access to the Bar’ Award (2018), Middle Temple

Leisure

Robert is committed to the conservation of British wildlife. He enjoys hiking and birdwatching. He and his partner are also the proud owners of three ‘wild’ axolotls.

Robert speaks fluent French and Italian and is currently learning Spanish.