Nicola Thompson > Chambers of Sir Geoffrey Cox KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Nicola Thompson

Position

Nicola is developing a mixed common law practice and welcomes instructions in all of Chambers’ practice areas.
Nicola completed her pupillage with Chambers in November 2022. Prior to coming to the Bar, Nicola practised as a solicitor at Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, specialising in commercial litigation and international arbitration.

Civil / commercial
From her time as a commercial solicitor, Nicola has significant experience of High Court litigation in both the Commercial and Technology and Construction Courts, as well as international arbitrations under the ICC and LCIA Rules. She acted for and against clients in the construction, housing, energy and infrastructure sectors.

Her last case before coming to the Bar was the recent landmark ruling in Martlet Homes Ltd v Mulalley & Co. Ltd [2022] EWHC 1813 (TCC), the first successful claim in the High Court for defective cladding following the tragic Grenfell fire (see The Financial Times, 15 July 2022 ‘Landmark English court ruling finds contractor liable for cost of removing unsafe cladding’.

Nicola has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Junior Juniors Panel.

Crime

Nicola regularly defends in the Crown, Youth and Magistrates’ Courts.

During pupillage, she gained experience of a range of Crown Court trials under the supervision of Tara McCarthy. She assisted in a number of trials involving serious crime, including allegations of double murder, high-value cross-border fraud, serious sexual offences, robbery, GBH and ABH.

Current instructions include matters involving allegations of fraud, assault, handling stolen goods and robberies.

Recent cases include:

• racially aggravated assault, in which she secured an acquittal (Inner London Crown Court – R v A);
• successful resolution of allegations of domestic burglary (Ipswich Crown Court – R v M);
• successful resolution of allegations of robbery (Southend Crown Court – R v A); and
• handling stolen goods (Ipswich Crown Court – R v L).

Family
Nicola is regularly instructed in child arrangement order proceedings.

Education

• Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (The Australian National University)
• Master of Laws (The University of Sydney)
• Bar Transfer Test (BPP, London)