He was previously a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and Allens
Addisons, a Sydney-based law firm, has announced the addition of Nicholas Cowie – a commercial real estate lawyer with nearly four decades of experience in the real estate industry, including almost three decades as a partner – to the partnership.
“We are thrilled Nick has joined the firm,” said Robert Kerr, managing partner of Addisons, in a media release.
Cowie has joined the Australian firm’s property practice. In its media release, Addisons shared that he has assisted diverse clients with their real estate portfolios, as well as with direct and indirect real estate transactions and developments.
He has focused on structured direct and indirect real estate, business, asset, and property trust acquisitions, financing, and disposals. He has also handled matters involving tenders, property development, due diligence, and Foreign Investment Review Board real estate applications.
Cowie’s practice has included commercial, retail, and industrial leasing for landlords and tenants alike. His work has also encompassed investment, property, and development management, co-ownership, unitholder, joint venture, and other commercial agreements.
“His formidable experience and reputation will be an asset to our long-standing clients in managing their significant real estate portfolios, as well as bolstering Addisons’ property transactions capability more generally,” Kerr said in the firm’s media release.
According to the media release, Cowie’s appointment has brought the size of the firm’s all-equity partnership to 24, 50 percent of whom are women.
Cowie’s LinkedIn profile provided more information regarding his professional experience and educational background.
Before joining Addisons, he worked as a sole practitioner focusing on real estate in Sydney from June 2025 to January 2026. He was a partner handling real estate matters at Herbert Smith Freehills in the Greater Sydney Area from October 2016 to April 2025.
At Allens in Sydney, Cowie served as a partner focusing on real estate from July 1998 to October 2016 and as a senior associate from March 1995 to June 1998.
In the Greater Sydney Area, he worked as a senior associate at Abbott Tout Lawyers from August 1988 to March 1995 and as a legal editor at Butterworths from January 1988 to July 1988.
Cowie earned his bachelor of economics and bachelor of laws degrees from the University of Sydney.
