Caroline Bowler

Expertise

• Commercial disputes and litigation
• Professional negligence including claims against the veterinary profession
• Equine law including horse sale and purchase disputes, veterinary negligence claims, co-ownership disputes. In addition to litigation, her practice also includes preparation of various agreements including sale and purchase contracts, livery agreements, loan agreements and co-ownership agreements.
• Property litigation including rights of way and boundary disputes
• Partnership disputes
• Financial services litigation
• Adverse possession
• Building work disputes
• Commercial contract disputes
• Faulty products or services
• Personal disputes

Approach

Caroline is a Dispute Resolution Partner and has a passion for equine law. She is instructed by individuals and businesses and is experienced in resolving disputes using alternative dispute resolution methods including mediation, as well as traditional court proceedings.

Equine Law

Caroline advises on a broad range of matters relating to equine law including disputes relating to the sale and purchase of horses, co-ownership of horses, and negligence claims predominantly involving the veterinary profession. Caroline has a close relationship with British Dressage, with Rothera Bray being the Official Legal Partner to British Dressage.

Caroline is acknowledged by Legal 500 for her work in equine law, where she is recognised as having “notable expertise in equine disputes and leverages additional experience in professional negligence litigation to act in claims against veterinary professionals”.

Background with Horses

Caroline was riding ponies before she could walk – having been brought up at her family’s riding school, she’s always had horses in her life.

Caroline is currently kept busy with her collection of 12 horses and ponies, ranging from young Connemara ponies to her retired working hunter horse – who is now in her late 20’s.

Caroline began competing in affiliated show jumping competitions on ponies as a child, moving on to horses as she grew older. She then enjoyed success in the show ring, concentrating on working hunter and show hunter classes at county level. As a result, Caroline has achieved a national working hunter title on her 16.3hh Hanovarian x, Maatilda.

In recent years Caroline has accumulated an impressive collection of Connemara ponies, making regular “shopping” trips to Ireland. She now competes these ponies in ridden and working hunter competitions on a regular basis.  She has enjoyed success at Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International Horse with her ponies.  She has also in recent years started a breeding programme using her own connemara stallion.

Rothera Bray LLP are Official Legal Partners to British Dressage and The British Show Pony Society

Property Disputes

Caroline also handles a large number of property disputes, including adverse possession, rights of way, and boundary disputes. She worked on a landmark case in the High Court involving the interpretation of an agricultural right of way. She has also been recognised in Legal 500 for her “expertise in property litigation”.

Professional Negligence Claims

Caroline regularly advises on complex high-value professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants and other professionals.  Her negligence work also includes claims against the veterinary profession.

Commercial Litigation

Caroline is regularly instructed in commercial litigation matters including contractual disputes and disputes arising in the context of the financial services sector. She has in recent years been instructed on several high profile matters relating to peer to peer lending. Her commercial work also encompasses partnership disputes.

Career Highlights