CASES & NEWS
2BR and Nick are recommended in the Legal Directories
Dec 2024
2BR has again been recognised as a top-ranked set by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partner legal directories. This is what they have to say about me and 2BR: ‘Nick is a brilliant, charming, impressive advocate who is fearless in his approach. He quickly understands complex cases and his advocacy is superb.’ “Nick …
2BR has remarkable 9 nominations at 2024 legal awards ceremony
Sep 2024
2BR goes from strength to strength, with nominations across the board: Crime and Extradition Set of the Year Corporate Crime Silk of the Year: Jim Sturman KC Financial Crime Set of the Year Financial Crime Junior of the Year: Alastair Smith Professional Disciplinary Set of the Year Professional Disciplinary Junior of the Year: Sam Thomas Sport …
Legal 500
Feb 2024
The 2024 edition Legal 500 directory of lawyers has again identified Nick as a leader in the field of criminal law: ‘Nick is exceptionally intelligent and a brilliant advocate who eloquently articulates his submissions in court and robustly defends his clients. Clients always like Nick because he he is meticulously prepared, gives clear advice, and …
Kidnap and false imprisonment acquittals
Feb 2024
After a 3-month trial involving the kidnap of two men in what was said to be a drugs feud, my client was acquitted of all charges. The kidnap gang had freed one man in order that he could arrange for a ransom to be paid. In the meantime, the other man was held for a …
Conspiracy to murder acquittal at the Old Bailey
Feb 2024
Nick represented a man alleged to be the gunman in a drive-by shooting. After a two-week trial which involved a detailed cross-examination of the prosecution expert cell-site expert, Nick successfully argued there was no case to answer and his client was acquitted of two offences of conspiracy to murder, and firearms offences. It was alleged …
Current Cases
Sep 2022
I am presently instructed in cases involving: Fraud and conspiracy to defraud (a cash for crash case involving the running of sham companies) Conspiracy to defraud (£15.5 million excise duty fraud involving “missing trader” companies) Joint enterprise murder Conspiracy to murder Prison riot/ GBH Historic child abuse Money laundering £millions
Attempted Murder Acquittal – September 2020
Sep 2020
In one of the few trials to be listed in the country during the Covid epidemic, I represented Mr O who was accused of attempted murder and offences under the Firearms Act 1968. It was alleged that Mr O and two others tried to kill a man by shooting him with pump-action shotguns. The prosecution …
Expert Witnesses- A View From The Bar
Sep 2020
This is a comment piece the Solicitors Journal Gazette asked me to write for publication in March 2020. A barrister co-defending with me in a Crown Court trial pulled no punches when he began his cross-examination of an expert witness with this question; “Are you going to apologise for your incompetence now or at the …
Lawrence Dallaglio spent £10,000 in brothel
Apr 2020
A jury at Wood Green Crown Court heard how an organised crime group rented up-market London houses to use as high-class brothels where they sold cocaine. There was evidence they made at least £400,000 in six months, and had a network of cab drivers to bring clients to them. Police set up a large-scale operation …
How long does a jury take to reach a verdict?
Jul 2019
In a case I did last week the jury took about 15 minutes to acquit my client. Whilst I too would have found my client not guilty, I was surprised at the swiftness of the verdict because all 12 jurors had to agree on the verdict. Clients in the Crown Court often ask how long …
Breach of s.179 Planning Enforcement Notice.
Jun 2019
Breach of s.179 Planning Enforcement Notice. R v L: Harrow Crown Court. This case is a good illustration of how a barrister needs to have a good grasp of the facts, the relevant law, and to have a poker face. And why people should find a lawyer who knows his or her stuff. In this …
Trafficking and Rape Case
Apr 2019
I was instructed in to represent a young man who was one of 22 defendants alleged to be involved in more than 80 offences involving the trafficking and serious sexual abuse of girls. There were a total of 247 witnesses giving 28,000 pages of evidence. The case was one of the largest, most sensitive and …
Shotgun Conspiracy and DNA transfer
Apr 2019
R v X, Harrow Crown Court, April 2019: After a string of fraud cases, I was instructed in a case alleging conspiracy to possess shotguns. The case hinged on DNA evidence. DNA evidence is often used in criminal cases, see for example, where it has been used in murder cases – R v P. In …
2018: 35-Week Fraud Trial
Nov 2018
For most of 2018 I defended the principal defendant in a 35-week fraud trial at Southwark Crown Court. This complex case arose from the largest ever investigation carried out by the Immigration Enforcement’s Criminal and Financial Investigation department. The case threw up all sorts of legal issues, such as Legal Professional Privilege, disclosure, the manipulation …
Cocaine Conspiracy Defence Success
Jan 2018
I represented KS who was accused of being involved in a massive conspiracy to supply cocaine. After a six-week trial, KS was the only defendant to be acquitted. The co-defendants received a total of 116 years’ imprisonment.
Prosecution of Leading Breast Surgeon
Apr 2017
Although a defence barrister, I was instructed to advise pre-charge and then to prosecute in the case of Ian Paterson who was convicted of carrying out unnecessary operations on patients and received a sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment. This was a one-off case involving complicated medical and criminal issues brought against one of the country’s leading …
Representing TOWIE’s Michael Hassini
Dec 2016
I represented TOWIE’s Michael Hassini who was acquitted of assaulting a custody officer at a police station. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4033926/TOWIE-star-Mike-Hassini-kicked-custody-officer-police-cells.html
Largest Ever Importation of Firearms into UK
Jun 2016
I defended Richard Rye at the Old Bailey in a case involving the largest ever importation of firearms into the UK. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36446462 http://www.itv.com/news/2016-04-21/gang-guilty-of-smuggling-guns-arsenal-into-uk-that-could-unleash-carnage-on-a-terrifying-scale/
Tax Fraud and Money Laundering Acquittal
Jan 2016
I represented a lady at the Old Bailey who was acquitted after it was alleged she ran a company and diverted money from the company into personal bank accounts in order to suppress profits and cheat HMRC of VAT, Corporation Tax and Income Tax. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3406911/Gipsy-couple-drove-Bentley-failed-pay-160-000-tax-profits-lucrative-driveway-paving-business.html
Conspiracy to Murder: Not Guilty
Feb 2015
I defended Irene Smith in a conspiracy to murder case which attracted national press attention when it was suggested that Irene Smith planned with her bigamist husband to kill his other wife in order to protect a family property development. Although Irene Smith provided a false alibi and concealed clothes worn by the murderer, she was found not guilty of …
