Nikki Bowker

Partner

Areas of Expertise

Nikki is a disputes lawyer specialising in complex commercial litigation, advising Boards, C‑suite, ExCom and General Counsel on a wide range of contentious issues.

Nikki’s practice is sector‑agnostic. She acts for corporates, charities, not‑for‑profit organisations, facilities managers, public sector service providers, high‑net‑worth individuals and family offices. Nikki’s work spans corporate and shareholder disputes, commercial contract issues, professional negligence, fraud, IP, PFI/FM/infrastructure matters, business critical technology disputes and debt recovery.

Nikki has extensive experience conducting corporate fraud investigations, including securing urgent interim relief, interviewing suspects and pursuing recovery from perpetrators, third parties and insurers. Alongside investigations, she advises on engagement with regulators, investigating authorities, funders, investors and other stakeholders. Clients are increasingly instructing Nikki on private prosecutions following organisational fraud.

Crisis management is a core part of Nikki’s practice. She provides rapid response to critical incidents, media and communications advice involving defamation, malicious communications, harassment and privacy breaches, and support through regulatory, civil and criminal investigations.

In addition to commercial litigation, Nikki has significant experience in judicial review and wider public law matters. Nikki also acts in complex and high‑profile inquests, advising on disclosure, public interest immunity, vulnerable witnesses, special measures and related judicial review challenges, including cases with potential for subsequent police investigation or prosecution.

Experience

Prior to joining Devonshires, Nikki completed a specialist litigation and dispute resolution training contract at Harrowells, a regional firm based in North and East Yorkshire.

Publications

Hillsborough Law - Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation: Can the National Audit Drive Real Change?

Safe as houses? Not anymore – the legal reality of modern property fraud

Top Tips: handling negative press

Education

Nikki read Law at the University of Cambridge before completing her LPC at the University of Law in York.

Personal

Nikki is on the Board of Golden Lane Housing, a leading provider of specialised social housing for adults with a learning disability or autism. Its mission is to help people with a learning disability or autism find and enjoy a suitable home with advice and housing.

Nikki is a convert to cold-water swimming and swims regularly at Tooting Bec Lido.

Professional Memberships

Female Fraud Forum

Fraud Lawyers Association

Human Rights Lawyers Association

Chartered Institute of Housing

Notable Cases

Nikki launched the #theyknew campaign with her client Action for Accountability, which is led by prominent child sexual abuse and exploitation campaigner and advocate, Maggie Oliver. Action for Accountability has raised money for legal costs, through crowd funding by over 3,500 donors, to investigate and bring legal action against those who failed to act in the face of widespread child sexual abuse and exploitation. Further information about the campaign and Nikki’s work is available at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/theyknew/.

Nikki has recently conducted an extensive corporate fraud investigation focussed on allegations of tender manipulation, expenses fraud, and breaches of conflicts of interest and anti-fraud bribery and corruption policies.

Nikki is currently acting for Hayley Crawford, who created the public safety campaign ‘Ask for Angela’. Nikki is advising in relation to a range of matters around the establishment of Hayley’s new charity, Ask for Angela UK.

Nikki is currently acting on a number of professional negligence claims against accountants and solicitors.

Client Testimonials

“I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks for your invaluable input throughout this process. Your efforts and expertise have truly been instrumental in bringing this matter to its current point. Your dedication and keen insight have not gone unnoticed, and they are very much appreciated. Thank you once again for all your hard work.”

Executive Group Director

“Devonshires FM team are great to work with, always taking a pragmatic approach and offering tailored commercial advice to our FM and legal teams. Nikki, Pauline and Kris in particular are incredibly friendly and always a delight to work with. Not only is their legal advice always spot on, but they always offer added value by always thinking ahead and offering flexibility to best cater for our various FM workstreams and demands.”

Senior Legal Counsel