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Nichola Higgins

2005

Nichola is a criminal practitioner appearing at all levels in the criminal courts, from the Crown Court to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Nichola has a particular expertise in fraud and corruption. She lectures on the Bribery Act 2010 and is a published author on the subject (Archbold News June 2010 edition and July 2011).

As a ‘C' panel advocate for the Serious Fraud Office, Nichola is approved to prosecute the most serious and complex frauds in the country. She was instructed by the Serious Fraud Office in R. v. M, a high profile, complex fraud, which was one of the first prosecutions for international corruption.

Nichola also has experience of extradition, benefit frauds and appearing before the Pension Appeals Tribunal.

Nichola is currently Chairman of the Young Barristers' Committee of the Bar Council.

Forthcoming Cases

• R v MB Defending an allegation of conspiracy to corrupt, attempted murder and money laundering. St. Alban's Crown Court, 2011
• R v S & S SFO prosecution of the perpetrators of a €20 million bank fraud, Southwark Crown Court, 2011

Recent Cases

• R v M Instructed as disclosure counsel on behalf of the SFO in a high profile case of international corruption in the reinsurance industry. Southwark Crown Court, 2010
• R v T Defended mother charged with neglect in connection with shaking her baby daughter leading to long term brain damage St. Alban's Crown Court, 2010
• R v R Defended British athlete charged with violence, Thames MC 2010
• R v B Defended in arson with intent to endanger life Luton Crown Court, 2009
• R v R Defended the administrator of a nursing home charged with false accounting Inner London Crown Court, 2009
• R v K Defended in multi-handed conspiracy to burgle involving professional raid of some 70 commercial premises, Maidstone Crown Court, 2009

News

• David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins achieve hat trick for the SFO in €22 million (euro) fraud
  David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins successfully prosecuted Kevin Steele for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, conspiracy to use false instruments and fraud by abuse of position.
  7 December 2011
• Nichola Higgins named by Legal Week as one of the up and coming young barristers
  In a recent survey of solicitors and barristers, Nichola Higgins was named by Legal Week as one of the bar's up and coming young barristers.
  18 November 2011
• Ruth Zentler-Munro and Nichola Higgins interviewed by the Times
  13 November 2011
• David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins prosecute former Mishcon de Reya partner in £18 million fraud
  10 November 2011
• Acquittal in Facebook 'grass' attempted murder
  Nichola Higgins, junior counsel for the first defendant, secured the acquittal of MB, accused of attempting to murder a man whose details had been posted on Facebook falsely identifying him as a police informant.
  19 October 2011
• All hail the Bribery Act - the toothless wonder!
  Having previously examined in detail the clauses of the Bribery Act 2010, David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins turn their attention to The Bribery Act 2010 Guidance which is intended to assist companies and come to some interesting conclusions.
  27 July 2011
• Nichola Higgins is new Chairman of the Young Barristers' Committee
  10 January 2011
• Poetic Justice
  Judge uses poetry to sentence defendant who had taken up verse while on remand
  16 November 2010
• Nichola Higgins was interviewed by the Times Online
  4 November 2010
• Insurance Broker jailed for overseas corruption
  1 November 2010

Articles

• All hail the Bribery Act - the toothless wonder!
  Having previously examined in detail the clauses of the Bribery Act 2010, David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins turn their attention to The Bribery Act 2010 Guidance which is intended to assist companies and come to some interesting conclusions.
  2011
• The Bribery Act 2010: All Bark and No Bite?
  David Aaronberg QC and Nichola Higgins combine their expertise in fraud and corruption to analyse the Bribery Act 2010, particularly the definition of 'adequate procedures' and the regulatory impact on businesses and their compliance procedures.
  2010
• Taking a case to the Court of Human Rights: An overview
  Nichola Higgins provides an overview of what is involved in taking a case to Court of Human Rights looking first at the tools and then the steps needed.
  2006