I qualified as a lawyer in 2002 and joined Buckles in 2010.
I advise on a broad range of disputes concerning Wills, Trusts and Estates as well as high value commercial disputes, including contract disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence matters and the enforcement of restrictive covenants in employment contracts.
I have particular expertise in seeking and defending injunction proceedings, and regularly act for clients in urgent proceedings in the High Court.
I have a wealth of experience in alternative dispute resolution, and at all stages provide commercial and pragmatic advice to clients on the best way to resolve their dispute; although sometimes it is the only option, issuing proceedings at court should always be seen as a last resort. I prefer to try to obtain tailored solutions for my clients which work in the real world, rather than resorting to the often binary “win-lose” dynamic of litigation.
I recently led the case of the Executors of L Elborne v HMRC through to the Court of Appeal, acting for the executors and trustees in a landmark dispute over a Home Loan Scheme, or Double Trust Scheme, used as part of Mrs Elborne’s inheritance tax planning. HMRC argued that the scheme should not reduce the value of the estate for tax purposes, but the Court of Appeal ruled decisively in favour of the estate, rejecting HMRC’s arguments and confirming that the arrangement worked as intended. It was the first time the Court of Appeal has ruled on a scheme of this kind, and the decision could have implications for the many thousands of families who put similar arrangements in place in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Away from work, I am a long-suffering Ipswich Town fan. I also enjoy running slowly, and have plodded around a number of half marathons and the London Marathon too.
Nick is a ranked Lawyer in Chambers and Partners.
