Nick Murphy

Barrister

Nick is a highly regarded junior practising in all areas of criminal law.

Nick has experience in matters far exceeding his year of call and is well liked by professional and lay clients alike. He is particularly adept at dealing with legally and factually difficult cases, and in cases involving the analysis of complex documentation.

He has particular expertise in allegations of white-collar crime and fraud but acts in cases across the criminal spectrum. Nick has experience in all areas of financial offending, including applications for confiscation, compensation and the disqualification of directors.

Nick is a qualified advocacy trainer for Lincoln’s Inn.

Education

LLB (Hons) – City, University of London (2014)
MA (Hons) – University of St Andrews (2012)

Awards

2016 Kalisher Trust Essay Prize
2014 Lord Denning Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn
2013 Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn
2013 Lord Bowen Scholar, Lincoln’s Inn

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association
Young Fraud Lawyers Association

Reported Cases

R v Baldauf [2023] EWCA Crim 282: Represented a man accused of the exportation of 500kg of MDMA from the United Kingdom to Australia. Prosecuted under the umbrella of Operation Venetic, the case required detailed analysis of a number of Encrochat handles. On appeal, the case became a leading authority on the admissibility of Encrochat evidence. Led junior. (Kingston Crown Court).
R v Fryer [2022] EWCA Crim 1837: Acted post-conviction in an appeal against a finding of dangerousness. The Court of Appeal quashed the sentencing judge’s finding and re-sentenced the defendant to a determinate sentence.
R v Talbot-Lummis [2022] EWCA Crim 400: Instructed as led junior at both trial and on appeal against sentence for a teenager accused of shooting a former close friend in the face at close range.
R v Hassan [2020] EWCA Crim 1314: Led junior. Attempted murder and multiple violent disorders across Leicester city centre. Successfully defeated an application for an Attorney General’s Reference and acted for the defendant on appeal during which the Court of Appeal gave important guidance on identification of suspects by police officers using CCTV. (Leicester Crown Court).

Murder

R v M (Central Criminal Court): Secured the acquittal of a man charged with the point-blank murder of a drug-dealing associate. The case required extensive analysis of cell site material in order to prove the deceased’s links to firearms and high-level drug dealing. Led by James Scobie KC.

Money Laundering

R v VL (Southwark Crown Court): Successful defence of a college lecturer charged with laundering the proceeds of a £1 million fraud on life-insurance companies. The prosecution alleged that she had received over £500,000 in her accounts, of which £300,000 was withdrawn in cash. Led junior.

R v MB and Others (Southwark Crown Court): Instructed to defend a man charged by Essex Trading Standards accused of supplying central heating equipment which was alleged either to be unnecessary or else which did not work in the way contented by the defendants. The case was voluminous and spanned many years. The prosecution offered no evidence after a successful section 8 application required them to undertake a wholesale re-evaluation of their case. Led junior.
R v HG (Oxford Crown Court): Defended a church warden accused of taking money from church collections and failing to bank them. He was also accused of a separate fraud in respect of a charity of which he was a trustee. Persuaded the prosecution to offer no evidence following the service of defence evidence which fatally undermined the prosecution case.
R v AD (Leeds Crown Court): Represented an independent financial advisor accused of claiming inflated commission by repeatedly moving his clients’ pension investments between funds. The case required detailed consideration of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Led junior.
R v RH (Southwark Crown Court): Led junior. Represented a solicitor who was accused of laundering the proceeds of the HBOS fraud estimated to have cost the bank £245m. Acquitted.
Unaoil: Assisted with case preparation while on secondment to a specialist White Collar firm. (Southwark Crown Court)
R v AA: Instructed to defend a man accused of a series of modern slavery defences. The case has required extensive analysis of CCTV. Ongoing. Led junior.
R v HD (Teesside Crown Court): Represented a young man accused of being a driver in a courier fraud. Extensive analysis of cell site and ANPR material was required.