About Introduction Sexual Offences Financial Crime & Fraud Notable Cases Qualifications Memberships Testimonials Direct Access AREAS OF EXPERTISE Bribery and Corruption Crime Defence Drugs Financial Crime & Fraud Murder & Manslaughter Sexual Offences Violent Crime

Introduction

Nichola is a specialist criminal advocate. She has substantial trial experience working in a team both as Leading and led Junior, and has a well deserved reputation for methodical and meticulous preparation. Nichola is both approachable and dependable, believing that the best results can always be achieved by focusing on working as part of a team. She has an engaging court style, both as an attractive and natural jury advocate, and as a persuasive lawyer.

Due to the nature of her practice she is used to dealing with multi jurisdictional issues. She has particular expertise in defending in complex fraud/financial crime and serious organised crime. Nichola also has a strong track record defending in cases concerning allegations of serious sexual assault involving vulnerable witnesses, multiple complainants and cases involving allegations of historical sexual abuse. She has a wealth of experience in conducting cross-examination of young witnesses via video link. 

Sexual Offences

Nichola has a strong track record defending in cases concerning allegations of serious sexual assault involving vulnerable witnesses, multiple complainants and cases involving allegations of historical sexual abuse.

Financial Crime & Fraud

Nichola has particular expertise in defending in financial crime and serious organised crime.

Notable Cases Serious and Organised Crime:

R v R and Otrs: Leading Junior, allegations of human trafficking, controlling prostitution and organising sham marriages.

R v M and Otrs: Defence of large-scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering. 

Operation Hudson: Leading Junior acting for the head of international organised crime group facing allegations of human trafficking and rape.

Operation Gottzinger: Defence of first defendant in case involving allegations human trafficking, controlling prostitution and rape.

Serious Sexual Offences:

R v G: Professional man in historic sexual abuse case.

R v B: Professional man in multiple-complainant historic sexual abuse case.

Financial/Regulatory Crime:

Operation Stormgrad: Global pharmaceutical fraud involving international sale of counterfeit Pzifer products; prosecuted by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Operation Echowood: Evasion of over £5 million of revenue; defendants were extradited from Italy to the United Kingdom; cross-jurisdictional fraud involved the diversion of excise goods.

Operation Valgus: Multi-million pound subprime mortgage fraud.

Operation Metacarpal: Defending first defendant in international construction/plant fraud.

Homicide and Serious Violence:

R v W and Otrs: Gang related murder. Central Criminal Court led by Queens Counsel.

R v NC: Murder, led by Queens Counsel; issues relating to fitness to plead and insanity.

R v B and Otrs: Attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.

R v L and Otrs: Multiple complainant section 18 wounding with intent. This serious case was initially charged as double attempted murder; one complainant remained in hospital six months after the incident and was cross examined via a video link from hospital.

R v DF: Attempted murder resulting in the victim sustaining permanent brain damage.

R v HP and Otrs: Leading Junior in case involving conspiracy to commit arson.

Bribery and Corruption:

R v H and Otrs (Operation Elveden - the News International case): Conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

Call 1998.

Recent cases: Operation Gottzinger – defence of first defendant in case involving allegations of human trafficking, controlling prostitution and rape; R v H and Others (Op Elveden) – defence in case concerning an allegation of Conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office; Operation Valgus – defence in a multi million pound subprime mortgage fraud; Operation Metacarpal – defence of first defendant in international construction/plant fraud; Operation Hudson – leading Junior acting for the head of international organised crime group facing allegations of human trafficking and Rape (multiple complainants); R v L and others – Defence in multiple complainant section18 wounding with intent allegation. This serious case was initially charged as double attempted murder. One complainant remained in hospital six months after the incident and was cross examined via a video link from hospital; R v S – Defence elderly male facing allegations of historic familial sexual abuse. R v B – Defence of professional man in multiple complainant historic sexual abuse case Operation Quaker – Defence of first defendant in multiple Armed Robbery and money laundering case; Operation Echowood – Defence of first defendant in £20m international diversion fraud; R v H – Defence alone Attempted Murder; R v HP and Others – Leading Junior 9 handed Conspiracy to commit Arson (‘the M1 arson’); R v G and others – Defence in multi million pound construction fraud; R v DF – Attempted Murder, defence alone, assault resulting in the victim sustaining permanent brain damage; R v NC – Murder, led by Queens Counsel – issues relating to fitness to plead and insanity; R v I – Murder, led by Queens Counsel.

South Eastern Circuit, Midland & Oxford Circuit, Criminal Bar Association.

Merchant Taylors’ School; LLB(Hons) Warwick; Middle Temple Diplock Scholar.