Two new Schiff bases 2-((E)-(4-bromo-2-chlorophenylimino)methyl)-4-bromophenol(HL1) and1-((E)-(4-bromo-2-chlorophenylimino)methyl)naphthalene-2-ol (HL2) and their new nickel (II) complexes [Ni(L1)2]·DMF(1) and [Ni(L2)2] (2) have been synthesized and characterized by various physico- chemical and spectroscopic methods. The solid-state structures of synthesized compounds were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography, which revealed square planar geometry around Ni (II) ion. Infrared spectra, UV–Vis, thermal analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements agreed with the observed crystal structures. The ligand (HL1) crystallized in the Orthorhombic system of the space group Pbca,a = 7.5485(4)Å, b = 11.5514(5) Å, c = 30.1370(14)Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90°and Z = 8. Complex[Ni(L1)2]·DMF(1) crystallized in the Triclinic system of the space group P-1, a = 8.9954(3) Å, b = 9.4593(4) Å, c = 13.2657(5) Å, α = 101.478°, β = 99.595°, γ = 117.651°and Z = 2, whereas complex [Ni(L2)2]·(2) crystallized in the Monoclinic system of the space group P21/c, a = 9.301(9)Å, b = 12.149(8)Å, c = 13.792(10)Å, α = 90°, β = 106.35(4).°, γ = 90°and Z = 2. The Schiff bases (HL1and HL2) behaved as monobasic bidentate ligands possessing N and O donor atoms. The SOD activities of HL1 and its Ni (II) complex[Ni(L1)2]·DMF(1) have been measured using xanthine-xanthine oxidase as a source of superoxide radical and NBT assay as O2− scavenger. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the Ni(II) complexes (1) and (2)against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram + ve and Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli as Gram-ve species have been investigated comparing with the Schiff base ligands (HL1and HL2).