John Bowers (barrister)

John Simon Bowers KC
Born	(1956-01-02) 2 January 1956
Education	Lincoln College, Oxford
Occupation(s)	Principal of Brasenose College, Barrister
Spouse	Suzanne Franks
Children	3

John Bowers KC (born 2 January 1956) is a British barrister and part-time judge who has been Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford since 1 October 2015.

Born in Grimsby, the son of Alfred Bowers and Irene (née Bolton), he was educated at Clee Grammar School in Cleethorpes, and then studied law at Lincoln College, Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1979, took silk (became a Queen's Counsel) in 1998, became a recorder in 2003, and has been a deputy High Court Judge since 2010. He is an honorary professor at the University of Hull.

Bowers is a supporter of Grimsby Town F.C. He is married to Suzanne Franks and has three children.

Publications

Bowers has written, alone or with others, 14 books on law including

• Bowers, John (2017). A Practical Approach to Employment Law (9 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198766544.
• Honeyball, Simon; Bowers, John (2012). Honeyball & Bowers' Textbook on Employment Law (12 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199639854.
• Lewis, Jeremy; Bowers, John; Fodder, Martin; Mitchell, Jack (2017). Whistleblowing: Law and Practice (3 ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0198788034.
• Bowers, John; Duggan, Michael; Reade, David (2011). The Law of Industrial Action and Trade Union Recognition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199589623.

Writing in The Law Society Gazette Graham Clayton described The Law of Industrial Action and Trade Union Recognition as "a work of authority and clarity". Writing in the Industrial Law Journal David Lewis described the first edition of Whistleblowing as "a comprehensive and insightful analysis".

He has also written Downward Spiral: Collapsing Public Standards and How to Restore Them, which was published in 2024.

External links

• Littleton Chambers homepage
• Interview with John Bowers in Times Higher Education