The University of Nottingham, BA Hons History (First Class)

The College of Law, Guildford, Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)

The College of Law, London, Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding)

Major Inn Scholarship from Middle Temple

Crime, Civil Litigation, Employment, Personal Injury.

Nich became a tenant in April 2008 after successful completion of his pupillage. During pupillage he undertook research and completed written pieces of work in cases encompassing all of Chambers’ areas of practice. In particular, Nich assisted with the defence of the first person to be prosecuted in England for breaching a control order and a Fathers for Justice campaigner who was acquitted of falsely imprisoning Margaret Hodge MP.

Crime

Nich’s Crown Court practice has flourished since he became a tenant and he has successfully represented clients in cases covering the full spectrum of criminal offences, including violence, drugs, fraud, dishonesty and offences against public justice. Nich also continues to represent clients in the Magistrates and Youth Court which has led to particular expertise in defending those facing local authority prosecutions. He frequently represents those charged with motoring offences, including an internationally capped professional footballer and a member of the Brawn GP Formula One Team in this regard.

Nich is regularly instructed in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings. His experience includes enforcement proceedings concerning a confiscation order for £20 million (R v PE, City of Westminster Magistrates Court) and another for £½ million following on from a conviction for trafficking and charges of running a brothel (R v AM, Northampton Crown Court), contested hearings in the Crown Court (R v SM, Canterbury Crown Court and R v SC, Snaresbrook Crown Court) and in the case of R v SH, an application for a certificate of inadequacy (at the RCJ) followed by a fully contested hearing (Norwich Crown Court).

Notable cases include:

• R v JB Instructed as junior counsel, led by Phillip Noble in Chambers, representing the second defendant in a four week trial concerning charges of corruption between City councillors and local businessmen (Maidstone Crown Court)
• R v AH Ongoing multi-handed case representing a defendant charged with s.18 GBH and Affray (Snaresbrook Crown Court)
• R v MS Representing the first defendant in a multi-handed three week long trial concerning a business alleged to have facilitated the retention of over £½ million of stolen and counterfeit goods (Leeds Crown Court)
• R v AA Instructed counsel for the first defendant in a multi-handed five day trial of Kidnap and Robbery charges (St Albans Crown Court)
• R v JB Allegation of ABH, a case involving four alleged confessions by the defendant, each disputed by him (Winchester Crown Court)
• R v CM Instructed for the defendant in a Kidnap and ABH trial (Harrow Crown Court)
• R v DBD Two day trial in multi-handed ‘cannabis factory’ case (Kingston Crown Court)
• R v PG Defending a professional driver charged with dangerous driving in a two day trial (Northampton Crown Court)
• R v BL Three day trial concerning assault and theft (Snaresbrook Crown Court)
• R v LK Four day robbery trial (Blackfriars Crown Court)
• R v AM Five day Actus Reus trial, after defendant found unfit to plead, in multi-handed case involving multiple counts of robbery, representing a defendant suffering from psychosis and severe learning difficulties (Basildon Crown Court)
• R v SA Three day robbery trial involving substantial arguments in relation to bad character evidence (Inner London Crown Court)
• DWP v NK 20k benefit fraud, an interesting case concerning substantial legal argument concerning the admissibility of hearsay contained in business documents (St Albans Crown Court)

Civil Litigation

Nich is regularly instructed in small claims, fast track and multi track trials. His experience includes contractual disputes, credit hire claims, road traffic accidents and general commercial litigation. Recent cases include representing the defendant in his defence and counterclaim in a two day multi track trial concerning a contractual dispute, followed by a separate contested costs hearing (BO, Bromley County Court), representing the claimant in a multi track trial involving allegations of fraud (MA, Central London County Court) and a number of fast track trials concerning credit hire claims (HK, Croydon County Court), and RTA claims (DH, Birmingham County Court, NA, Central London County Court and SM, Uxbridge County Court).

Employment

Nich’s employment law experience includes Claimant and Respondent work, both in case management hearings and at full tribunal hearings. Recent cases include representing an employer resisting a claim for Unfair Dismissal (two day hearing, Central London Employment Tribunal) and representing a claimant in his claim for Constructive Dismissal, Unlawful deduction of wages and Race/Religious Discrimination (three day hearing, Reading Employment Tribunal).

Personal Injury

Nich regularly advises in personal injury claims. He has been instructed in employer liability claims, a disrepair claim, injuries arising from road traffic accidents, occupiers liability and actions for breaches of statutory duty.

Food, Football, Reading novels, Modern history