Introduction
Introduction
Nichola is an accomplished and impressive defence specialist with over 25 years experience. She is approachable, committed and fearless. Her preparation and case management are meticulous. She is a natural team leader.
Nichola is in demand as a leading junior and has headed defences involving allegations of homicide, serious and organised crime, financial & technical crime including “Encro” cases often with an international element. She is also known for her sensitive handling of cases involving sexual offences and is regularly instructed on a ‘private’ basis in such matters. Her client care is second to none. She is a natural jury advocate with an impressive courtroom presence. Lay and professional clients value her track record of success, calm manner and sound judgement.
‘Nichola is extremely affable and a natural jury advocate. She deals beautifully with extremely difficult clients and is on top of the law.’ Legal 500 2025 (Leading Junior)
‘Nichola is an exceptionally talented barrister who should be in silk. She has a warm and compassionate manner with defendants. She has a phenomenal eye for detail and discovers where evidence is missing or withheld with great skill. She is also a confident and highly capable advocate who argues with great persuasion.’ Legal 500 2024 (Leading Junior)
‘Nichola is a brave advocate with total integrity. She is always well-prepared and organised and this is reflected in her approach to cross-examination, which is not only very effective but also easy to follow’. Legal 500 2023 (Leading Junior)
‘Nichola is an extremely strong barrister. She is tenacious, persuasive, and advises her clients in a measured and sensible manner. In court she is a charming and effective advocate, who wins over judges and juries alike.’ Legal 500 2022 (Leading Junior)
See ‘notable cases’ for examples of Nichola current and past instructions.
Murder & Manslaughter
Murder & Manslaughter
2025
R v A. Case leader. Cambridge Crown Court Murder. Neuro divergent D. Complex pathology evidence regarding causation. Strangulation and heart disease. Issues included the availability of automatism as a defence.
2024
R v M. Alone. Isleworth Crown Court. Attempted murder. Machete attack within family home and subsequent public order offences. Multiple victims. Contested issues regarding drug induced psychosis. Complex psychiatric evidence. Not guilty by reason of insanity
R v E and others. Case leader. Central Criminal Court. Attempted murder. Gang shooting. D was 14 years old at the time. Complex argument regarding bad character and gang evidence. Intermediary for defence case.
R v I and Others. Alone. Central Criminal Court. Conspiracy to murder & conspiracies to possess a
firearm/ammunition with intent to endanger life. Gang related drive by shooting. Teenage D. Cell site, ANPR, CCTV and forensic evidence. Successful submission of no case to answer. Not guilty
2023
R v Hasan. Alone. Murder. Central Criminal Court. Stabbing of wife by husband in the family home. Two children under the age of 10 years present. History of domestic violence. D had psychiatric issues which did not provide a defence in law. Issues loss of control and lack of intent.
R v M. Case leader. Snaresbrook Crown Court. Attempted murder and serious assault offences. Five unrelated knifeattacks. D had significant mental health issues. Detained under s. 48 Mental Health Act. Background of complex expert evidence in relation to his state of mind. Mixed verdicts
R v A. Alone. Manchester Crown Court. Victimless attempted murder & supplying class A drugs. Day time machete attack. Intermediary for duration of trial. Prosecution case founded on four strands: expert imagery analysis, recognition by police officers, CCTV and cell site. Extensive legal argument to exclude recognition evidence, & both cell site & telephone evidence. Not guilty
2022
R v G and Others: Gang related murder. Birmingham Crown Court led by Kings Counsel.
R v S and Others- Gang related murder. Leicester Crown Court led by Kings Counsel.
R v K and Others- revenge attack Murder. Birmingham Crown Court, led by Kings Counsel
R v L and Others. Led by K.C. Murder and attempted murder. Two separate shootings. Gang
related. Teenage defendant. Factually and legally complex issues regarding facial mapping and voice
analysis.
Pre 2022- Nichola has been instructed in numerous Homicide cases over the years including:
R v NC: Murder, led by Queens Counsel; issues relating to fitness to plead and insanity.
R v HP and Others: Leading Junior in case involving conspiracy to commit arson with intertnt to endanger life.
R v B and Others. Defence alone. Attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.
R v DF: Defence alone. Attempted murder resulting in the victim sustaining permanent brain damage.
Sexual Offences
Sexual Offences
Nichola has a strong track record defending in cases concerning allegations of serious sexual assault involving vulnerable witnesses, multiple complainants and cases involving allegations of historical sexual abuse.
Recent examples include
R v G. Historic allegations of serious sexual assault made by a man against his foster
father. Contemporaneous rape allegations had been made by another student which had resulted the
D's employment as a teacher being terminated. The Crown sought to rely on his complaints under the bad character provisions. The evidence was excluded. Extensive social services material. Not guilty.
R v N. Acting for a professional man who had pleaded guilty to offences including inciting child sex offences, possession of indecent images A-C and sexual communications with a child. Suspended sentence.
R v M & Others. Case leader. Conspiracy to control prostitution, modern slavery & fraud
offences. Causing females to enter the UK and obliging them to be sex workers. One complainant had
become a ‘whistle blower’ & was giving evidence in a series of trials. Another gave evidence over a live link from outside the jurisdiction. Extensive unused material. Detailed cross examination of vulnerable complainants. Complex application to ask questions about the complainants’ sexual history.
Financial Crime & Fraud
Financial Crime & Fraud
Current instructions:
Case leader in multi million pound cross border fraud. VHCC case.
Case leader in SFO prosecution. £10 million alleged mortgage fraud.
2024-2025
R v Y and others. Case leader. VHCC case. A sophisticated multi million pound ‘cash for crash’ motor insurance fraud involving multiple corporate identities. The indictment spanned six years including offences of Conspiracy to cheat the revenue and Conspiracy to defraud. Extensive legal arguments including multiple submissions regarding disclosure which resulted in the Crown offering no evidence. Not guilty verdicts.
Pre 2023- some previous instructions include:
Operation Stormgrad: Global pharmaceutical fraud involving international sale of counterfeit Pzifer products; prosecuted by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Operation Echowood: Evasion of over £5 million of revenue; defendants were extradited from Italy to the United Kingdom; cross-jurisdictional fraud involved the diversion of excise goods.
Operation Valgus: Multi-million pound subprime mortgage fraud.
Operation Metacarpal: Defending first defendant in international construction/plant fraud.
Notable Cases
Notable Cases
Homicide and associated offences:
2024
R v I and Others, defence alone. Conspiracy to murder. Gang related shooting. Central Criminal Court.
R v E and Others, Leading junior. Gang related shooting. Attempted murder. Central Criminal Court.
R v M, defence alone. Attempted murder. Isleworth Crown Court.
2023
R v H- defence alone. Murder. Central Criminal Court
R v I and Others- Leading junior. Conspiracy to Murder. Central Criminal Court
R v M- Leading Junior. Attempted murder.
2022
R v G and Otrs: Gang related murder. Birmingham Crown Court led by Queens Counsel.
R v S and Others- Gang related murder. Leicester Crown Court led by Kings Counsel.
R v K and Others- revenge attack Murder. Birmingham Crown Court, led by Queens Counsel
Pre 2022- Nichola has been instructed in numerous Homicide cases over the years including:
R v NC: Murder, led by Queens Counsel; issues relating to fitness to plead and insanity.
R v HP and Others: Leading Junior in case involving conspiracy to commit arson with intertnt to endanger life.
R v B and Others. Defence alone. Attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.
R v DF: Defence alone. Attempted murder resulting in the victim sustaining permanent brain damage.
Financial/Regulatory Crime:
Current instructions:
Leading Junior in multi million pound cross boarder fraud. VHCC case.
Pre 2022- some previous instructions include:
Operation Stormgrad: Global pharmaceutical fraud involving international sale of counterfeit Pzifer products; prosecuted by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Operation Echowood: Evasion of over £5 million of revenue; defendants were extradited from Italy to the United Kingdom; cross-jurisdictional fraud involved the diversion of excise goods.
Operation Valgus: Multi-million pound subprime mortgage fraud.
Operation Metacarpal: Defending first defendant in international construction/plant fraud.
Serious and Organised Crime:
2022/2023
R v H and Others. Conspiracy to sell wholesale quantities of drugs. Conspiracy to sell firearms.
R v S and Others. Nationwide Conspiracy to sell class A drugs
R v R and Others. Conspiracy to Supply and Cultivate wholesale quantities of class B drugs.
Pre 2022- examples of previous instructions:
R v R and Otrs: Leading Junior, allegations of human trafficking, controlling prostitution and organising sham marriages.
R v M and Otrs: Defence of large-scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering.
Operation Hudson: Leading Junior acting for the head of international organised crime group facing allegations of human trafficking and rape.
Operation Gottzinger: Defence of first defendant in case involving allegations human trafficking, controlling prostitution and rape.
Serious Sexual Offences:
2021 onwards:
R v D: Professional man allegations of making indecent images / voyeurism.
R v G: Professional man in historic sexual abuse case.
R v B: Professional man in multiple-complainant historic sexual abuse case.
R v G: Professional man in multiple-complainant historic sexual abuse case.
Pre 2021: Nichola has defended in cases involving allegations of historic sexual abuse and serious sexual offences for over 20 years.
Bribery and Corruption:
R v H and Others (Operation Elveden - the News International case): Conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
Qualifications
Qualifications
LLB(Hons),University of Warwick
Inns of Court School of Law
Middle Temple Diplock Scholar
University of Roehampton law advisory board.
Head of Chambers Crime Team
Memberships
Memberships
South Eastern Circuit
Midland & Oxford Circuit
Criminal Bar Association
Testimonials
Testimonials
‘Nichola is an exceptionally talented barrister who should be in silk. She has a warm and compassionate manner with defendants. She has a phenomenal eye for detail and discovers where evidence is missing or withheld with great skill. She is also a confident and highly capable advocate who argues with great persuasion.’ Legal 500 2024
‘Nichola is a brave advocate with total integrity. She is always well-prepared and organised and this is reflected in her approach to cross-examination, which is not only very effective but also easy to follow. [Leading Junior] ’ Legal 500 2023
‘ Nichola is an extremely strong barrister. She is tenacious, persuasive, and advises her clients in a measured and sensible manner. In court she is a charming and effective advocate, who wins over judges and juries alike.’ Legal 500 - 2022 (Leading Junior)
"As a firm we have been briefing and instructing Nicky for many years, very happily. She is extremely committed to her clients, and focuses upon successfully achieving the very best outcomes for them. She is an excellent lawyer, very bright, diligent and very approachable - clients love her kind and reassuring manner. A great team player and a delight to work with!” - Lewis Nedas Solicitors
“We have instructed Miss Cafferkey for many years. Nichola consistently delivers warm, measured advice that is always well informed and up to date. She is thorough, hard working and approachable. Her attention to detail is second to none. She has sound judgement and an impressive court room presence. She is sensitive to the impact that criminal proceedings have upon clients and their families. An absolute pleasure to work with." - Lawrence Hamblin Solicitors
‘A highly sought after Barrister. Meticulous in her preperation with an excellent rapport with clients.' and 'Fantastic advocate...’ - Talia Coles - Edwards Duthie Solicitors
Direct Access
Direct Access
Nichola is accredited to accept work under Direct Access, also known as Public Access. In order to instruct Nichola on a Direct Access basis, contact the clerks on +44 (0) 20 7242 6476 or at clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk.
Crime
Crime
Current instructions:
R v S and others. Case leader. Importation wholesale quantities of prohibited drugs.
R v C. Manufacture of firearms.
2024/2023
R v P and Others. Case leader. Conspiracy to supply multi kilo amounts of class A & B
drugs. Voluminous telephone, cell site & drug expert evidence.
R v H and others. Alone. Wholesale supply of semi automatic weapons and over 750 kilos of cocaine. Vast amount of evidence to consider: encrypted [‘encro’] messages, cell site and ANPR.
2022
R v HP and Others: Case leader. Conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
R v S and Others. Alone. Nationwide Conspiracy to sell class A drugs
R v R and Others. Alone. Conspiracy to Supply and Cultivate wholesale quantities of class B drugs