Neil Bowker

He/HimPartner
UK Group Head of Litigation & Regulatory
Tremendous commercial acumen with a top-notch tactical brain
— Chambers & Partners
LondonBirmingham
About

Neil is Head of the UK Litigation and Regulatory Group. He advises on all aspects of dispute resolution and risk management, managing multi-disciplinary teams in complex situations across various industry sectors. His caseload has a strong international element and involves matters with significant commercial sensitivity and reputational implications.

Neil is a trusted advisor to various multinational companies and plcs, including RTX Corp, Intercontinental Hotels Group plc, Croda International plc and Compass Group plc.

Areas of FocusData, Privacy and CybersecurityFranchiseHospitality and LeisureIndustrialsLife SciencesLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsRegulatory and Government AffairsTechnology
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a multinational hotel operator regarding numerous contractual situations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including Court and Arbitration proceedings.
  • Defending a significant land and property regeneration company against multi-million pound claims that a joint venture entity with the claimant had been granted an extension to a pre-existing option to purchase and develop a substantial brownfield redevelopment and that our client had breached this alleged option. Our client settled on terms that saw it receive a substantial payment and take full possession and unencumbered title to the development land.
  • Pursuing and defending numerous claims being advanced in confidential Arbitration proceedings relating to long term contractual relationships and sale and leaseback arrangements.
  • Acting for a multinational hotel operator in relation to a sensitive situation involving a hunger striker who was pursuing an unlawful campaign against the operator, including unlawfully occupying a room in prominent London hotel and threatening to take his own life. We assembled a multi-disciplinary team, and worked closely with the emergency services, to obtain an urgent injunction and to evict him without incident and advised our client on managing its reputational and legal exposure.
  • Successfully defending a worldwide Casino operator against claims of breach of contract and statutory duties and allegations of fraud in relation to online roulette services. Our client was accused of unlawful conduct and unfair contractual terms rendering them liable for various losses. We obtained Summary Judgment, dismissing the claim in its entirety and securing a full costs award.

Awards

  • Neil is recognised by Acritas as a Star Lawyer and as a tier one Litigation and Dispute Resolution expert in the leading legal directories, which comment on Neil’s “rare strategic insight” on cases “reading the courtroom incredibly well, never losing sight of the big picture and leaves no stone unturned in fighting his client’s corner”. Neil is also credited with an “ability to handle delicate situations with utter professionalism, and continue to give first-rate advice throughout”, remarking his approach “is truly excellent”.
  • Chambers & Partners describe Neil as a "highly pragmatic, sensible litigator", with [interviewees appreciating his] "practical and tailored advice" noting he brings together "tremendous commercial acumen with a top-notch tactical brain".
Education
  • University of Nottingham, LLB Hons – Law

Seminars

Neil is heavily involved in the firm's WIN programme for in-house lawyers and regularly speaks at legal conferences on topics ranging from legal professional privilege to fraud awareness and crisis management.

My latest insights

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6 October 2025

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DLA Piper appoints new partner to its London Litigation and Regulation Practice

13 November 2023 .1 minute read

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DLA Piper appoints new Litigation and Regulatory partner to its Edinburgh Office

4 January 2023 .2 minute read

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Phone

+44 207 153 7162
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+44 7971 142 555
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