Nicholas Whitehorn

Barrister

Nicholas is an experienced and fearless criminal advocate who is regularly instructed in the most serious criminal offences including murder, fraud and offences linked to organised crime, such as large scale drug supply.

He has acted as junior alone for defendants charged with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, and industrial-level importations of class A drugs.

He has been described as a natural advocate and a superb junior by those who instruct him. He is as comfortable making submissions before the Court of Appeal as he is before juries where his speeches have been described as compelling and his cross examination ‘first class’.

He is fiercely passionate about defending in criminal cases but has an open and approachable manner and is easily relatable to his clients.

Nicholas also has extensive experience in criminal appeals. He has provided secondary advice on appeal against conviction and sentence for numerous appellants, often going on to achieve a successful result for clients given negative advice from their originally instructed counsel.

He has been instructed as counsel alone to advise and act in appeals including in cases of murder.

He also has experience of disciplinary law in football and sits as a panel member for the County FA.

Nicholas is instructed for the coming year in the following cases:

Central Criminal Court

R v S & Otrs: 5 handed murder.
R v Z: Junior alone for first defendant charged with a drugs importation involving what is described by the NCA as the ‘largest ever inland seizure’ of cocaine in the UK.

Loughborough ‘Super Court’

R v P & Otrs: Led by Keir Monteith KC in drugs and firearms conspiracy involving allegations of dealing in over 1 tonne of cocaine and possessing an Uzi sub-machine gun.

Isleworth Crown Court

R v P: Junior alone acting for defendant with alleged multi-national links, accused of importations of cocaine of over 500kg into Belgium and South Africa,

Southwark Crown Court

‘Operation Barbados’: Large scale VAT fraud.

Appeals

R v K & K: Instructed on a private basis for one of 2 defendants in an appeal against conviction for murder

Testimonials

"Nicholas provides great client interaction, listens, speaks his mind and is always on client's side." Legal 500 2023
"Nicholas is quite frankly my ‘go-to’ barrister. Intelligent and articulate, yet able to communicate with the most difficult of clients he provides robust advice and advocacy in the most challenging of cases." Legal 500 2022
"Nicholas is a charming and natural advocate who is always very pleasant to deal with. He has very good client care skills. A superb junior and first-class cross-examiner." Legal 500 2021

Articles

"Drill music in the dock: a look at the use of drill music in criminal trials and a practical guide for defence practitioners", LinkedIn with Rebecca McKnight, 2021
"The Law on abortion - time for a rethink?", New Law Journal with Lettie Egan, 2020
Nicholas featured and was interviewed in the i Newspaper's 4 part series on the jury system which won the 2019 Bar Council Legal Reporting Award.

Additional Qualifications and Training

Vulnerable Witness Training
Direct Public Access qualified (Bar Council)
Equality, Diversity and Fair Recruitment training (Bar Council)
Qualified Pupil Supervisor (Bar Council)
Football Association Disciplinary Panel member at County level

Memberships

The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn
Criminal Bar Association
British Association for Sport and Law (BASL)

R v S, 2022: Client acquitted of rape, Luton CC.
R v W, 2022: Client acquitted of importing class A drugs, Luton CC.
R v H, 2021: Junior alone. Client acquitted of attempted murder and 2 alternatives: s.18 wounding and s.20 on basis of deliberate act, St Albans CC. Defendant convicted of the least serious alternative left to the jury which led to his immediate release from custody.
R v H, 2021: Junior alone. Client acquitted of conspiracy to murder in gang related shooting, Central Criminal Court.
R v S, 2021: Successful dismissal argument on charges of possessing firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and perverting the course of justice, Snaresbrook CC.
R v K & Ors, 2020: Secured acquittal for defendant charged with large scale money laundering following 2 ½ month trial at Isleworth CC.
R v Walker, 2019: Appeared for mother accused of conspiring with others to cause her own abortion. Case heard by High Court Judge. Secured dismissal of charges at the end of prosecution case. All other defendants were convicted. Wrote article for New Law Journal with Lettie Egan on the law of abortion in the UK following this case.
R v Curd, 2019: QC-Led in case involving Murder of an 18 month-old child.
R v W, 2018: Successfully argued to dismiss charges in case of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
R v M and Ors, 2017: Defendant acquitted of conspiracy to convert firearms at Harrow Crown Court in multi-handed trial.
R v M and Ors, 2016: Defended in high profile case of attempt to effect prison escape using imitation firearms at Wood Green Crown Court where Jermaine Baker was fatally wounded by a police officer.
R v R, 2015: Secured acquittal of defendant charged with perverting the course of justice in murder trial, Central Criminal Court
R v Charles Bronson, 2014: Represented defendant often referred to in the media as 'Britain's most dangerous/notorious prisoner’ who was then facing his first criminal prosecution since 2000.

Criminal Appeal/Reported Cases

R v Wright (Amato Charles) [2019] EWCA Crim 342: Instructed alone to represent appellant who had pleaded guilty to murdering his mother. Case involving complex psychological issues.
R v Youlden (2019): Successful appeal for young defendant. Sentence reduced from 3 years imprisonment to a 1 year suspended sentence.
Cecil Scott [2017] EWCA 3038 (QB): Tariff review matter. Written submissions made to the High Court relating to the appropriate remaining tariff to apply to a person convicted of Murder in Canada in 1997 upon his repatriation to the UK. Mr Justice Nicol agreed with the submissions made and found in favour.
R v Johncock [2016] EWCA Crim 2218: Sentence for drugs supply reduced 4 years, 8 months to 4 years. Successfully argued that the sentencing Judge placed undue reliance on police evidence as to ‘local prevalence’.
R v Lingurar, Lingurar, Rostas [2015] EWCA Crim 2285: Represented all 3 defendants. Sentences reduced from 2 years to 18 months.
R v Woolastone (2014): 2 years for Robbery reduced to 12 months.
R. v R (N) [2012] EWCA Crim 3090: Conspiracy to Burgle Sentence reduced from 4 years to 3 years 4 months. Negative advice from original representatives.
R v Whalley (Paul) [2012] EWCA Crim 2700: Challenge to sentence following renewed application for leave for dwelling burglary offence. Sentence being reduced from 6 to 5 years.
R v Akinsete (Marcel) [2012] EWCA Crim 2377: Challenged conviction on basis of there being no direct evidence of actual supply where the defendants were charged with being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.
R v La-Croix (2012): Commercial supply of Heroin and Cocaine. Sentence reduced from 7 years to 5 years 4 months. Negative advice from original representatives.