Steven Howard

Call 2009
Email steven.howard@3pb.co.uk
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Before coming to the Bar, Steven practiced as a Solicitor Advocate, primarily in family law where he gained experience in the following areas:

• Private law children proceedings 
• Public law children proceedings (care cases) 
• Domestic violence and injunctions 
• Ancillary relief Cohabitation disputes (TOLATA) 
• Divorce 

Steven is a specialist family practitioner, with a focus on proceedings involving children.

Care proceedings

The majority of Steven's practice is care proceedings, in which he has represented clients throughout their proceedings, appearing in the FPC, County Court and High Court. He has appeared in:

• All hearings in care order and supervision order applications up to and including final hearings 
• Applications for placement orders 
• Contested ICO applications 
• Contested s.38(6) applications 
• Contested s.34 applications 
• Arguments as to the designated local authority 
• EPO applications 
• Applications for orders for the secure accommodation of children. 

The majority of his cases involve substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health issues, and an increasing number involve allegations of sexual abuse. He has appeared for Schedule 1 offenders in care proceedings and private law proceedings.

While often appearing for parents, Steven has experience representing guardians throughout care proceedings. He is currently instructed on behalf of children in a case involving non-accidental injury to one of the children.

Steven has appeared in the Court of Appeal on behalf of a father seeking to appeal the making of a final care order and a placement order.

Private law children proceedings

Steven often appears in private law children proceedings, and has represented parents in proceedings relating to:

• Contact orders (including enforcement) 
• Residence orders 
• Prohibited steps orders 
• Leave to permanently remove children from the jurisdiction 
• Specific issue order applications 
• Parental responsibility orders 

Often the cases involve issues relating to domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health difficulties. He is used to dealing with acrimonious disputes between parents. Steven has appeared for Schedule 1 offenders in private law children applications, both as parties and as intervenors.

Domestic violence

A frequent feature of Steven's cases is domestic violence, often associated with other issues such as substance abuse or mental health problems. Steven is experienced in advising in respect of non-molestation orders and occupation orders, and has appeared for applicants and respondents throughout these applications, from ex-parte application to final hearing. He has also appeared in applications to enforce those orders.

Financial applications

Steven has advised on financial issues relating to married couples, civil partners and cohabitees. He has appeared in applications for ancillary relief, TOLATA 1996 applications and Schedule 1 applications.

He has represented applicants and respondents in ancillary relief applications at FDA, FDR and final hearings, and has advised in respect of dissipation of assets.

Direct Access

Steven is qualified to accept cases under the Direct Access Scheme. He accepts direct access instructions in suitable family cases to advise generally in respect of proceedings or proposed applications, assist in the preparation of paperwork, and represent clients at Court throughout their cases.

Notable Cases

Re G (A child) [2011] EWCA Civ 1004
Where Steven appeared for an appellant father seeking permission to appeal a care order and a placement order

Re M (A Child) [2009] EWCA Civ 1385
where Steven acted for the appellant father dealing with numerous issues including a rape allegation that was successfully overturned on appeal.