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Dan Stowers
Partner, Head of Corporate Defence & Compliance
0113 518 5068
07450 515 771
dan.stowers@brabners.com
Dan is a Partner and leads our corporate defence and compliance team.
With over 27 years as a white-collar crime practitioner (having qualified in 1997), he acts for a range of clients including individuals, corporates, partnerships and charities.
Over his almost three decades in practice, Dan has vast experience in acting in the full range of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions including those brought by the Serious Fraud Office, Financial Conduct Authority, CPS, HMRC and other regulators including those with parallel regulatory and linked financial, confiscation and restraint matters.
In 2015 he became an Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist having been trained by the City of London Police Economic Crime Academy and as such advises organisations and individuals in respect of compliance (including anti-money laundering, bribery and corruption and the Criminal Finances Act 2017) and counter fraud as well as internal investigations.
Dan is a member of the Fraud Lawyers Association, Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association and the International Bar Association (Business Crime).
He previously secured the first ever acquittal of a Managing Director of a steel tech company prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for bribery and corruption in the UK’s first prosecution of individuals following the second ever deferred prosecution agreement being reached with the corporate Sarclad Ltd. This case involved an internal investigation conducted by external lawyers instructed by the parent company.
Dan is a Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 and recognised in Chambers and Partners. He has been described as a "strategic thinker", "outstanding solicitor" and "one of (if not) THE standout lawyer in the region and equally a match for sector leading London lawyers" who possesses "clarity, drive and determination to deliver on complex issues…" and stands "head and shoulders above the competition" as well as being "particularly effective during investigations and has managed to stop criminal investigations before his client has been charged".
Examples of Dan's work include:
- The SFO investigation into TATA Speciality steels.
- The SFO investigation into AMEC Foster Wheeler Energy.
- The SFO case arising from the investigation into the Anglo-American Group.
- The SFO Miners Compensation Fund investigation.
- The SFO case arising from the collapse of the menswear group Ciro Citerrio.
- The SFO investigation involving Lord Davenport and Gresham Ltd.
- The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Duckers Furniture Ltd asset stripping case.
- The SFO prosecution involving the collapse and asset stripping of Uno Shopfitting Ltd, Wavetown Ltd and Abbotts Wholesale (Tobacconists and Confectioners) Ltd.
- The SFO prosecution of individuals in the Prudential Commercial case.
- Representation of two directors charged with bribery and corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in respect of matters concerning the London Underground.
View more of Dan's case highlights — as well as his legal directory testimonials — below.
Dan joined us in 2022. He works with clients across the country.
“Dan Stowers leads the team focusing on business crime and compliance and has vast experience in defending serious fraud cases and financial crime compliance issues.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Dan Stowers is one of (if not) THE standout lawyer in the region and equally a match for sector leading London lawyers. He never loses focus on the endgame and is an expert in navigating prosecution minefields. He is both a tactician and negotiator, with a keen eye for detail... Dan has extensive experience of fraud, but also regulatory matters and is going from strength to strength in representing clients pre-charge or at the point of internal investigations.”
The Legal 500, 2022
“He is very efficient and has a great eye for detail... really commercial and tactical.”
Chambers and Partners, 2022
“'Tenacious' and 'forthright' financial crime and fraud specialist Dan Stowers leads the team... which combines high-profile white-collar defence cases relating to bribery, fraud and money-laundering with regulatory compliance advice on behalf of corporations and their directors... Dan has over 20 years’ experience, much of which relates to serious and complex fraud cases. He is friendly and approachable to clients, but tenacious with his opponents. Having worked with Dan, he has consistently proved to be a very strategic thinker with an incredible eye for detail. He is particularly effective during investigations and has managed to stop criminal investigations before his client has been charged.”
The Legal 500, 2021
“[Dan Stowers] is a very talented lawyer and he will go to the nth degree to get something right for his client.”
Chambers and Partners, 2021
“Dan Stowers is clearly in control of his cases. He has the exceptional ability of both being able to have a well-reasoned overview of a case as well as having all the details at his fingertips. This means that you feel that he is truly providing the best representation for his client.”
The Legal 500, 2020
“Dan Stowers is without doubt the most dynamic lawyer in his field, understanding the issues immediately and how to address them.”
The Legal 500, 2020
“[Dan Stowers is] meticulous... [he] regularly represents clients before regulators such as the HSE, Environment Agency and Trading Standards.”
The Legal 500, 2016
“[Dan Stowers] is a well-regarded white-collar specialist.”
Chambers and Partners, 2014
“[Dan Stowers is] highly experienced in all aspects of fraud work and is head and shoulders above his peers… a leader in the field.”
The Legal 500, 2012
“[Dan Stowers has] maturity and perception in criminal and regulatory cases beyond his years.”
The Legal 500, 2011
“[Dan Stowers] is commended for his technical skill in relation to complex frauds... has expertise in technically complex matters and recently handled an SFO prosecution into an alleged conspiracy to defraud creditors.”
Chambers & Partners, 2010
Case highlights
R (on the Application of AL) –v- Serious Fraud Office and XYZ Ltd, ABC LLP,MS and DJ [2018] EWHC 856 (Admin)
Acting for Third Interested Party (MS) in Judicial Review challenge against the Serious Fraud Office in relation to the above ongoing criminal prosecution. Dan Stowers and Matthew Howarth led the JR challenge on behalf of their client, instructing Catherine Callaghan QC of Blackstone Chambers. The Judicial Review related to the obligations of the SFO to ensure that there was compliance with the deferred prosecution agreement and an analysis of legal and litigation privilege when interviews are conducted by third parties during an internal investigation. It was a key challenge not only in the terms of the ongoing Bribery Act prosecution, but also in terms of the SFO position on legal professional privilege.
R v Chesterfield Justices & Chief Constable of Derbyshire, ex parte Bramley (1999)
Significant reported decision on Police powers of search under warrant where legal professional privilege likely to be an issue. This was an instrumental decision leading to the formalisation of the blue bag system, used to this day by law enforcement when they encounter material that may be subject to Legal Professional Privilege.
R v Sunderland Magistrates Court & 3 interested parties (2014)
Judicial review challenge to the issue of a summons (private prosecution) against two public officials in respect of misconduct in a public office. Successfully pursued, summons quashed and declaration that issue of summons unlawful.
R V F - Advance fee fraud
Acting for a director of a non-status commercial lending company in a multi-jurisdictional (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) advance fee fraud prosecuted by the Special Case Work team of the CPS.
R v F - DTI fraudulent trading
Acting for the director of a number of companies in a £1.8m DTI fraudulent trading allegation in which the directors of the relevant companies are alleged to have phoenixed.
R v B & Others
16 handed MTIC/Contra trading fraud (HM Revenue & Customs).
R v M - Theft of funds
Prosecution of Managing Partner of firm of solicitors in respect of multi-million pound theft of office and client funds (CPS Fraud Prosecution).
R v C - Insider trading
Representation of a defendant in a Financial Conduct Authority insider trading criminal investigation. Defendant officer / senior employee of a major retail PLC (FCA Investigation).
R V S & Others - £8m fraud
HM Revenue & Customs prosecution. £8m fraud on the construction industry scheme, PAYE and NI schemes [Operation Savate].
R V P - Investment schemes
Representation of an ex FSA (as it was then) approved director of branded mortgage lender in a £250m mortgage, re-sale, remortgage and property investment schemes.
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025
