Nia Gowman > 30 Park Place > Cardiff, > Barrister Profile
30 Park Place Offices
30 PARK PLACE
CARDIFF
CF10 3BS
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Nia Gowman
Work Department
- Administrative Law
- Court of Protection, Mental Health, Vulnerable Adults & Community Care
- Family & Child Care
- Inquests & Inquiries
Position
Nia joined 30 Park Place in 2015 following successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Claire Williams (Family) and Angharad Davies (Chancery and Commercial and Court of Protection).
Nia is a diligent advocate with a busy Family, Court of Protection and Public Law practice.
Nia has developed a strong reputation in the Court of Protection arena and has been recognised as a rated practitioner in both Legal 500 and Chambers UK (see Recommendations). She regularly acts for Local Authorities, Health Boards, RPRs, the Official Solicitor and family members in Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Inherent Jurisdiction applications. Her experience includes cases involving capacity disputes and decisions about issues such as residence, care, medical treatment, contact, marriage, sexual relations.
Nia’s Family practice is focused on public law proceedings. Nia regularly appears on behalf of Local Authorities, parents, children and interveners in cases involving allegations of neglect, emotional harm and non-accidental injury. Nia also has experience in dealing with cases with an international element and proceedings involving the deprivation of liberty of children. Nia has an interest in cases involving medical treatment issues and recently represented a local health board in High Court proceedings concerning the withdrawal of medical treatment.
Nia is developing her Administrative and Public Law practice and was recently instructed as Junior Counsel for the Claimant in the High Court and Court of Appeal hearings in the judicial review case of R (on the Application of Driver) v Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC (‘RCT’) which resulted in confirmation of the equal standing of Welsh language legislation and guidance in respect of how the Court should approach questions of statutory interpretation involving Welsh language legislation.
Nia is commended by clients for her calm demeanour, sensible advice, thorough preparation, meticulous drafting and robust representation at hearings.
Nia is actively involved in providing seminars and training in respect of her areas of expertise.
Nia is a fluent Welsh speaker and is happy to conduct cases through the medium of Welsh.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Nia gained three years’ experience within the financial services sector. Nia also previously worked as a paralegal responsible for challenging Continuing NHS Healthcare decisions on behalf of her own caseload of clients. This provided her with a comprehensive understanding of Local Authority and Health Board duties towards its service users which has assisted in Nia’s practice.
Since becoming a tenant, Nia has continued to pursue additional opportunities to enhance her knowledge and experience. In 2016 Nia was seconded to NHS Legal and Risk Services where she advised and attended court on a range of matters including Court of Protection and Inquests. In 2017 Nia was awarded a prestigious Inns of Court Pegasus Trust Outgoing Scholarship and travelled to India to work in the legal sector for two months.
Languages
Welsh
Memberships
- 2020 – Present: Bar Council Wellbeing Committee, Court of Protection Bar Association Representative
- 2020 – Present: Court of Protection Bar Association Committee, Committee Member
- Appointed to the Committee of the Court of Protection Bar Association as a co-opted member.
- 2017 – 2018: Wales and Chester Circuit Management Committee, Young Bar Representative
- 2017 – 2018: Bar Council Young Barristers’ Committee , Circuit Representative
Education
- 2012 – 2013 – Cardiff Law School – BPTC – Outstanding
- 2011 – 2012 – International Compliance Association – Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention – Merit
- 2007 – 2010 – University of Bristol – LLB (Hons) Law – 2.1
- 2000 – 2007 – Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Court of Protection and community care
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1Nia Gowman – 30 Park Place Chambers ‘She is the leading barrister in Wales for Court of Protection work. Her knowledge and understanding of the law is excellent. She is great with clients, both lay and professional. She also gets on well with judges. Her advocacy is top-notch.’
Members of 30 Park Place Chambers have extensive experience acting for local authorities, health boards, family members and protected parties in relation to both deprivation of liberty safeguards and financial disputes in the Court of Protection. Members also regularly advise and represent individuals and statutory bodies in respect of powers and duties under the community care legislation. Head of team Rebecca Harrington is ‘very good with clients’ and is primarily involved in welfare cases. Nia Gowman is ‘knowledgeable, practical, and robust’ and with Welsh language proficiency is regularly instructed by local authorities, health boards, the Official Solicitor, and family members in Mental Capacity Act 2005 and inherent jurisdiction applications, as well as sitting as a deputy district judge. Rhian Jones represents a wide range of parties in relation to health, while Laura Shepherd gives ‘practical and clear advice’ and is building a Court of Protection practice founded on s21A appeals against standard authorisations.
Regional Bar > Wales and Chester Circuit > Inquests and inquiries
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 1Nia Gowman – 30 Park Place Chambers ‘She is particularly sympathetic and relates well to clients. She sets out clearly what the obligations of the inquest are and what clients can expect from it and is clear during hearings and ensures that all questions are answered.’
30 Park Place Chambers hosts several practitioners with considerable experience acting in high-profile inquests and inquiries. Christian Howells and Lloyd Williams KC continue to represent hundreds of Welsh and Northern Irish victims in the Infected Blood Inquiry, concerning the infection of thousands with Hepatitis C and HIV through blood and blood products supplied by the NHS in the 1970s and 1980s. Howells is also active for the Welsh Government in connection with the Covid-19 Public Inquiry. Williams KC has broad experience, including in relation to workplace fatalities, deaths in custody, and road traffic accidents, and is also involved in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry, having been instructed on behalf of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. Nia Gowman has an excellent reputation for handling inquiries into deaths in custody, care homes, and hospitals.