Sean Bowers

Specialist SEN Advocate

Tel: 01722 658855

E-mail: sean.bowers@senaction.co.uk

Qualifications:

• Solicitor/ Solicitor-Advocate (England & Wales)
• Solicitor of the Republic of Ireland
• Attorney-at-Law (New York City)
• Civil and Commercial Mediator (2007)

Sean is able to offer you a comprehensive specialist service including full management of your case and specialist representation at Tribunal Hearings (please see details of his experience below). Please note that although able to, Sean has chosen to no longer hold a legal practicing certificate in England & Wales. Whilst this means that neither Sean or SEN Action provides a legal service, it has enabled SEN Action to offer its specialist services at a highly competitive cost (please see details of our costs by clicking the link above). 

Experience

Prior to becoming the Managing Director of SEN Action and its Specialist Advocate, Sean worked as a Solicitor-Advocate for a leading national education legal practice representing local authorities. He has extensive experience and expertise in handling appeals to Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals (SEN Tribunal/ SENDIST). This includes full case management and representation at Tribunal Hearings on complex cases.

Sean also has considerable experience in representing clients at the Upper Tribunal and has been involved in the following reported decisions:

• Buckinghamshire County Council v HW [2013] UKUT 470 (AAC)
• Cambridgeshire County Council v SF (SEN) [2015] UKUT 0231 (AAC)
• KC v LB Hammersmith and Fulham (SEN) [2015] UKUT 0177 (AAC)
• LW v Norfolk County Council (SEN) [2015] UKUT 0065 (AAC)
• MA v Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (SEN) [2015] UKUT 0186 (AAC)

In his previous role, Sean obtained a very useful insight into how local authorities operate, including how they make their decisions, what their thought processes are and their approach to gathering evidence. Having supported local authorities for a number of years, Sean has an integral understanding of how they prepare for SEN Appeals and what issues they can find particularly difficult to deal with. Sean has also worked directly within the SEN Teams of two London local authorities, which has provided a unique and invaluable insight into local authority practices. 

Sean has also advised a number of parents and young people on a pro-bono basis, which has included support on matters such as SEN Tribunals, disability discrimination and equality issues at University.

Sean therefore, is able to provide a specialist and holistic service to assist you in your case. He is more than happy to discuss his experience with you and invites you to give the office a call or to send us an e-mail. 

Before becoming a lawyer, Sean has worked in a number of jobs, which has included the following; A Theatre Host in The Grand Opera House in Belfast, a call centre operator and a sales assistant in a shoe shop. Also, following his qualification as a New York Attorney, Sean became a tutor on the New York Bar Programme in Dublin. 

Hobbies / Interest

Sean loves all things football and until recently often played Saturday and Sunday league. He now enjoys spending more time with his Wife, Danielle and two young daughters, Abigail and Evelyn. In their spare time they take advantage of the beautiful Salisbury and its surrounding areas. 

Sean also enjoys spending time with his Uncle Barry, who is also SEN Action’s Events Officer (see Barry's profile above). They are both known to sneak off to the local for a game of pool or two and to watch the football. 

Volunteering

Sean has previously volunteered for a number of charities. He has visited both Kenya and Zambia with Habitat for Humanity. He also volunteered for NICE, a cross community charity in Northern Ireland and whilst at school volunteered for a charity that provided activities for children with special educational needs during the school holidays.