Nichola Higgins

Nichola is known for her meticulous preparation and ability to assimilate large quantities of information and distilling the important issues. In recent years, she has developed significant experience in overseas corruption and complex fraud and is frequently instructed to advise on issues of disclosure.

• SFO v. D & H, Southwark Crown Court, 2012 Currently instructed as junior counsel in an international conspiracy to corrupt spanning ten years and involving the payment of $30 million of alleged bribes.
• SFO v H & Others (Bradford Crown Court, 2012) Currently instructed as disclosure counsel in an international investment fund fraud.
• R. v. MB, Luton Crown Court 2012 Currently instructed to defend multiple allegations of mortgage fraud and cheating the revenue.
• R. v. MB, St Alban's Crown Court 2012 Instructed as junior counsel to defend a serious allegation of conspiracy to commit an act of misconduct in public office involving the corruption of a civilian detention officer employed by Bedfordshire police ('The Facebook Grass' case).
• SFO v. KS & MS, Southwark Crown Court 2011 Instructed as junior counsel in a complex and serious fraud to cheat a private Swiss bank of €22 million. KS, a solicitor, conspired with a client, MS, to produce false letters as security for the multi-million Euro loan. KS was also charged with abusing his position as an equity partner in the law firm, Mishcon de Reya, as a result of taking £1.8 million from the client account in one of the first SFO prosecutions for fraud by abuse of position.
• SFO v. M, Southwark Crown Court 2010 Instructed as junior counsel in one of the SFO's first prosecutions for overseas corruption. The case was the culmination of a four year investigation and involved the payment of bribes by a London reinsurance company to high ranking government officials in Costa Rica. During the course of this case, Nichola was able to employ her language skills by analysing evidence in Spanish and liaising with the judicial authority in Costa Rica. She also had a principal role in negotiating one of the first successful plea agreements conducted by the SFO.
• R v R, Inner London Crown Court, 2009 Instructed to defend the administrator of a nursing home charged with multiple counts of false accounting having been accused of stealing from deceased residents.

Nichola is instructed both alone and as a led junior in cases involving serious violence.

• R. v. B & others, St Alban's Crown Court 2011 Instructed as junior counsel to represent B who was charged with attempted murder of a rival drug dealer and conspiracy to corrupt a civilian working for the police (Operation Shelton). The case turned on complex and lengthy legal argument concerning the admissibility and reliability of anonymous hearsay evidence.
• R. v. U & 8 others, Blackfriars Crown Court 2010 Instructed alone on behalf of the principal defendant in this nine-handed football related affray arising out of a large incident which took place at King's Cross in April 2010. The trial lasted four weeks.
• R. v. GB, Luton Crown Court 2009 Arson with intent to endanger life. Instructed to defend a young girl accused of burning down the house of her best friend in an act of revenge while the friend was inside the property. The principal count on the indictment was stayed following a successful abuse of process argument.
• R v T, Luton Crown Court, 2009 Defended a former police officer charged with domestic violence and perverting the course of justice. The case was terminated following successful legal argument on abuse of process and autrefois acquit.

Nichola has extensive experience of representing young people and vulnerable clients with mental health difficulties charged with serious criminal offences.

• R v L, St Alban’s Crown Court, 2013 instructed on behalf of a man accused of sexually assaulting a five year old girl.The case required sensitive and careful cross-examination of a five year old as well as raising several legal issues such as competency and the admissibility of the video-recording of the complainant’s evidence
• R v T, St Alban's Crown Court 2012 Instructed to defend a woman accused of violent sexual assault on two teenage boys.
• R. v. NT, St. Alban's Crown Court, 2010. Instructed to defend a young mother accused of child neglect following a baby shaking incident. The case involved detailed, forensic analysis of complex expert medical evidence.
• R. v. MD, Northampton Crown Court and Ipswich Crown Court, 2007 Defended youth accused of multiple conspiracies to supply Class A.
• R. v. LD, Hove Crown Court, 2007 Defended a grandmother accused of possession with intent to supply Class A and possession of a prohibited weapon.​ 
• R v R & 11 others, St. Alban's Crown Court, 2007 Operation Crystal, Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs to an undercover police officer.
• R. v. A, Northampton Crown Court, 2007 Junior counsel for man accused of downloading indecent images. Case involved forensic analysis of large quantities of computer material.
• R. v. B, Chelmsford Crown Court, 2007 Conducted trial of issue on behalf of an elderly man who was found unfit to plead and who was accused of sexual assault on a mentally ill complainant who was unable to give evidence.

Nichola has developed a reputation for drafting and arguing novel and complex issues of law. She is instructed in criminal appeals and challenges by way of judicial review. Recent cases include:

• R. (On the application of C) v St Alban's Magistrates' Court [2012] Currently instructed to judicially review a decision made by Magistrates to commit a case to the Crown Court.
• R. v. AT, Court of Appeal, 2009 Instructed to advise on appeal out of time on behalf of a man with mental health difficulties accused of historic sexual assault on minors. The imposition of a sentence of imprisonment for public protection was successfully appealed following legal argument resulting in his immediate release.

Nichola advises and appears for requested persons facing extradition at both first instance and on appeal to the High Court. Significant cases include:

• Islam v. Cyprus [2009] EWHC 2786 (Admin) Represented a person wanted for extradition by Cyprus. The case required legal argument on the construction and specificity of the European Arrest Warrant.