Nicholas Mather > Chambers of Sally O’Neill and Michael Holland KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Nicholas Mather

020 7405 3232 nmather@furnivallaw.co.uk

Work Department

Serious crime, criminal/civil fraud, regulation/compliance, asset forfeiture.

Position

Acts alone and as a junior for both prosecution and defence in all areas of serious crime throughout the country. Particular interest and experience in serious fraud and white-collar crime (including NHS fraud and passport fraud), drugs offences (large-scale importation and supply, covert operations), sexual offences (including historical child abuse, child pornography, rape and kidnap), serious violence (including homicide offences and those involving firearms), public order offences (particularly ‘protest’ cases). Also practises in cases involving sensitive public interest immunity and complex third party disclosure issues. Examples include informant evidence, covert surveillance and interception of communications and including information acquired by NCIS, NCS, Special Branch, Social Services, the IPCC and other agencies. Cases involving sensitive media or political issues, including those with celebrities and serving police officers as defendants. Experienced in dealing with confiscation hearings and cash forfeiture proceedings. Notable cases: junior for defence in R v Mohammed Dica (first conviction for GBH by reckless infection with HIV) (Inner London Crown Court, Court of Appeal [2004] QB 1257, Central Criminal Court, Court of Appeal (2) Times, September 7 2005); Operation Manzana: child prostitution and drugs supply; junior defence in R v Dean Williams (murder, domestic violence), Maidstone Crown Court, leave to appeal granted in relation to admission of evidence of previous incidents of strangulation; junior for defence in R v Keesoondoyal and James (£1.5m fraud by accountant working for major Plc), Cardiff Crown Court; protection counsel in Operation Aciento: prosecutions resulting from large scale supply of Class A drugs and firearms in West End nightclubs (Metropolitan Police Clubs and Vice Squad); counsel for the Crown in all cases arising from the May Day 2001, 2002 and 2003 disorder in Central London, including acting as junior in substantial case involving the lawfulness of police operational decisions in 2001, Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court. Junior counsel for defence in R v P (J) involving historical allegations of systematic child abuse by family friend, Isleworth Crown Court; junior counsel for defendant in case involving fatal police shooting.

Career

Called 1998.

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association; South Eastern Circuit; Middle Temple.

Leisure

Horseracing (Racehorse Owners Association), food, wine, opera, foreign travel.