Nick is a specialist in personal injury work and is recognized by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading junior in this field. Nick’s practice focuses on complex claims and claims of significant value for both Claimants and Defendants.
Nick has a down to earth and accessible approach to his practice. He gives clear, concise and realistic advice. Nick is noted for his ability to provide a prompt turnaround of work is more than happy to respond to urgent requests for advice and assistance at short notice. He works very effectively as part of a team with those who instruct him and, where necessary, leading counsel.
His practice embraces a broad variety of personal injury work including accidents at work, road traffic accidents, occupier’s liability claims, highways claims, sports injuries, cases involving allegations of fraud, group litigation and industrial injuries.
Nick has particular experience of claims involving significant spinal injuries, significant orthopaedic injuries, psychiatric injuries, serious brain injury, paralysis and amputation.
His practice often involves receiving instructions at the inception of a claim and giving clear, structured advice on the most effective manner in which to pursue or defend the claim thereafter.
Nick is at ease when interacting with expert witnesses and is adept at ensuring expert evidence is as comprehensible and supportive as possible. He regularly clarifies expert evidence in conference and/or by the preparation of detailed questions to experts.
Nick has very substantial trial advocacy experience, in addition to considerable experience of resolving claims during the course of joint settlement meetings.
Nick is an accredited pupil supervisor.
Recommendations
"Nicholas is not afraid to take on a difficult case. He is great to have in your corner."
Chambers UK 2023
"Nick is a formidable advocate who quickly gets to grips with the key issues in a case and through skill and extensive expertise, navigates through the complexities of the claim to the benefit of the client. He has excellent attention to detail. He is also able to gain the confidence of clients with good manners and a personable approach."
Legal 500 2023
"He is wonderfully efficient and a very good advocate. He's also very approachable."
Chambers UK 2022
"Advice is always comprehensive, legally excellent and level headed; turnaround time is exceptional. He is a first-class advocate, knowing when to push on with a line of argument and also when to bring a line of questioning to an end."
Legal 500 2022
“Nick has a broad range of expertise encompassing industrial disease and catastrophic brain and spinal injury claims. He is particularly well regarded for his handling of cases arising from RTAs and accidents at work. He acts for both claimants and defendants. “He has an excellent rapport with clients and really puts them at ease.” “He has the ability to master expert evidence and enhance it via conference with experts.””
Chambers UK 2021
“Very thorough, personable with clients, he handles unrealistic client expectations well.”
Legal 500 2021
“He’s a safe pair of hands, doesn’t pull any punches and great when you have a difficult client.” “Thorough, knows his stuff, passionate about getting the right result and has a fast turnaround.”
Chambers UK 2020
“He is able to quickly identify the issues in a case and focus on the key points. He’s very good with clients, manages expectations very well and drives the case forward.” “He’s good on paper, his advice is detailed and he's always very well prepared.”
Chambers UK 2019
Notable Cases
University of East Anglia v Spalding (2011) EWHC 1886 (Spencer J)
This focused on the interpretation on the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. Successfully represented Claimant at trial and successfully resisted appeal.
Severn Trent Hydrogen Sulphide Litigation
Nick represented multiple claimants who suffered personal injury due to prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulphide. A number of novel issues arose in relation to the issue of breach of duty.
B v F
Subtle brain injury claim for cyclist involved in road traffic accident. Multiple, complex expert input. Claim of significant value settled for damages in excess of £1,500,000.
W v M.O.J
Novel claim involving prison officer contracting T.B from prisoner. Psychiatric injuries followed development of T.B. Claimant succeeded,
E v LCL
Novel dispute in a fatal accident claim where nature of deceased’s relationship with the Claimant was in issue and where dependency denied. Claim succeeded in full.
I v S
Fatal accident claim in a factory where the accident was unwitnessed. Represented Deceased’s family at inquest and then through to joint settlement meeting, where matter settled for a very significant sum.
A representative selection of some of Nick’s ongoing cases includes :-
L v BSP
A claimant whose dominant hand was amputated in an industrial accident. Claim worth in excess of £1,000,000
W v MIB
A claimant who suffered a below knee amputation as a consequence of a road traffic accident. Claim worth in excess of £1,500,000
DA v TVGC
An occupier’s liability claim where the Claimant suffered brain injury after a fall at a golf club. Claim worth in excess of £1,000,000; and
DJ v M& M D LTD
A Work at Height claim where the Claimant suffered significant orthopaedic and head injuries and where liability remains in dispute. Value in excess of £750,000
RC v DP
A claim arising from a road traffic accident where the Claimant suffered significant bilateral leg fractures. Value in excess of £650,000
Memberships
Personal Injuries Bar Association
Qualifications
LLB (Lond)
LLM (Lond)
