Partner, Solicitor & Notary Public
Nicola Dowling is a partner in Williams Solicitors LLP, specialising in conveyancing, employment law and family law.
Nicola has extensive experience dealing with commercial and residential property transactions, including compulsory first registrations, sale of businesses, complex land registry dealings, acting for management companies in multi-unit developments, overseas purchasers and investment properties. She has acted for both landlords and tenants in litigation, commercial leases, short-term letting arrangements, licences and concessions. Nicola deals with all financial aspects of transactions, including analysing and advising on loan facilities, and dealing with financial institutions regarding redemption terms, certificates of title and personal guarantees. She has advised registered providers of childcare services on legal and regulatory matters and has acted for both vendors and purchasers in respect of the sale of childcare services.
Nicola is experienced in a wide range of employment law matters, both contentious and non-contentious, as well as employment issues arising in commercial transactions such as a transfer of undertakings. She has advised on sensitive matters such as protected disclosures, termination packages and NERA prosecutions. She advises both independent contractors and consultants in a variety of commercial and employment law matters. She has represented both employers and employees before the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court. She previously worked in HR in a large multinational retailer and has considerable experience advising on internal investigations and disciplinary matters, and drafting policies and procedures.
Nicola has a particular interest in family law and has acted for private clients in access, custody, guardianship and maintenance disputes. She joined Williams Solicitors in 2014 from a general practice specialising in family law, having acted for guardians ad litem in child law cases. She has negotiated cohabitation agreements, judicial separations, divorces and co-ownership agreements on behalf of clients experiencing marital breakdown and made Section 29 applications in respect of the recognition of foreign divorces. Nicola is experienced in all matters of probate and has acted for personal representatives and beneficiaries in the administration of estates and settlement of disputes.
Nicola holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Trinity College Dublin and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies from Dublin Institute of Technology. She also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Employment Law from University College Dublin. She is a member of the board of directors of Duleek Credit Union. Nicola is a member of the Law Society of Ireland and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in 2013. She holds a Diploma in Notarial Law and Practice (Dip.Not.L.) (F.N.P.I.) and was appointed a notary public in July 2019. She is a member of the Faculty of Notaries Public in Ireland.
