Andrew Bowmer

Partner
Solicitor

Email:

andrew.bowmer@milesandpartners

Languages:

English, French

Recent and notable cases

Multi-agency cooperation and complex care needs agreed

Case report: [2021] EWCOP 21. As more agencies get involved in a vulnerable person’s care and living arrangements, it can be harder to navigate the fine line between them to reach a solution. Rachel Turner, who is joint head of our mental health ...

Community care and moving on after mental health problems

Feeling good in your own home is an important element of anyone’s wellbeing, and this is particularly important when recovering from a mental health condition. Andrew Bowmer and Jasper Blumenthal from our community care team recently helped a lady to obtain suitable ...

Expertise and experience

Andrew Bowmer is a solicitor specialising in mental capacity law, with acknowledged experience in the cross over between community care, housing law and mental capacity law.

Andrew represents vulnerable adults and family members in the Court of Protection in proceedings concerning the best interests of vulnerable adults. He is frequently instructed by the Official Solicitor as litigation friend for vulnerable adults in proceedings within his areas of expertise.

The types of cases that Andrew has been involved in include:

acting for family members, and taking instructions from the Official Solicitor or other litigation friends on behalf of vulnerable adults, on challenges brought under s21A Mental Capacity Act 2005 concerning the operation of the deprivation of liberty safeguards and capacity and best interests proceedings brought under s15 and s16 Mental Capacity Act 2005;
obtaining declarations on behalf of incapacitated adults who have been unlawfully deprived of their liberty following placement decisions by the local authority;
housing and community care cases concerning vulnerable adults and children, including those facing eviction, those entitled to support from the local authority under the Children Act 1989 (either as children in need or having previously been in local authority care) and as adults under the Care Act 2014 or as asylum seekers; and
being instructed by the Official Solicitor in a number of housing possession cases where the local authority was pursuing the eviction of a vulnerable adult who was at the same time the subject of Court of Protection proceedings.

Legal 500

Andrew is recognised as a ‘recommended lawyer’ and a ‘rising star’ in the 2023 Legal 500. He was also received this excellent testimonial:

‘Andrew Bowmer is very experienced and highly specialist in Court of Protection practice. He is always up-to-date on the latest legal developments’.

Chambers UK

Andrew was ranked in Band 3 in the Chambers UK 2023 Guide. He is commended for his ‘years and years of experience. He is always up to date on legal case law.’

Practice areas

Community care

Housing

Court of Protection (Welfare)

1988-2005

Worked in central government, including on local authority governance policy and direct experience of decision making in the public sector

2006

Started training as a solicitor

2008

Qualified as a solicitor

2018

Joined Miles & Partners

2019

Appointed Accredited Legal Representative

2019 - 2022

Cited as ‘Star Associate’ in Chambers and Partners

2021

Became Partner

2022

Ranked in Chambers and Partners

Approach and ethos

Advocating on behalf of vulnerable adults, considering issues fairly and objectively, and commitment to transparency and accountability in decision making of public bodies.

What clients say

Andrew is a ‘Star Associate’ and ‘extremely bright’ .
‘He is very thorough and has an incredible attention to detail’ and ‘looks into every nook and cranny of a case.’
Chambers and Partners, UK 2022

Andrew Bowmer has an unusual and formidable combination of excellent knowledge of the Court of Protection with public law expertise.
2021 Legal 500

Andrew Bowmer, Floyd Porter and Kaileigh Hazeldine are an exceptional team with a strong background in mental health work. They stand out from other firms for their attention to detail and going the extra mile for their clients.
Legal 500 2020

“Andrew Bowmer is a great team player, unflappable and always courteous and a joy to deal with, even when under immense pressure. I was impressed by the way that he was able to communicate intricate information relating to the Mental Capacity Act/Court of Protection procedure, to a client who had complex intellectual difficulties. Andrew is outstanding. His analysis is extremely thorough, he relates well to difficult clients and provides excellent, well-considered advice.”
Legal 500 2020

“He is an exceptional lawyer. His advice is meticulous and well-reasoned, and I know that I can always rely on him to identify all the issues in a particular case, provide insightful advice on how to deal with those issues and ensure that all necessary actions are progressed in a timely manner without ever having to chase him.”
Chambers and Partners, UK 2019

“I would like to thank Jasper Blumenthal and Andrew Bowmer for all the work they have both done. I have not been this happy in a long time and have them to thank for that.”
Anonymous client

“Andrew Bowmer is extremely personable, works hard for clients and has real expertise both in COP work and in community care.”
Legal 500 2019

“Andrew Bowmer, mental capacity and community care solicitor is to be commended on his professionalism in a recent case concerning excessive restrictions in place on a vulnerable adult in a care home. Andrew wrote ‘an impressive letter’ to the local authority making representations, the quality of which was recognised by a professional litigation friend.”
Anonymous client