Nicholas Wilkinson
- Call
- 2006
An “excellent” senior junior dealing with a broad family practice concerning financial remedy disputes and private law children proceedings, including for a high-profile clientele. Described as “a serious heavyweight”, “a brilliant advocate”, “a star performer…so polished and confident”. "He is exceptionally detailed in his preparation and completely in control when in court. He is adored by clients.". “He is an intelligent thinker and highly persuasive. He engenders sympathy for his client and puts their case across in a compelling way". “Compassionate, calm, concise and a man with an incisive mind". “He has a commanding court presence which belies his years”. “a charming and intelligent barrister, brilliant at cross-examination, and is great with both the details and the bigger picture.” "Nicholas is fantastic, a great advocate and a wise advisor. He is polished yet pragmatic, tenacious but also empathetic. He is a first class lawyer"
Chambers and Partners 2022 and Legal 500 2023
Practice
At the Family Law Awards 2022, Nicholas received the award of Highly Commended Family Law Junior Barrister of the year.
Nicholas is highly respected as one of the go-to senior juniors at the Band 1 rated 1 Hare Court, repeatedly instructed in the biggest financial remedy cases in the Family Division. He continues to impress as a skilled and popular senior junior operating at the highest level, and receives repeat instructions from top partners at the leading firms.
Not only is he regularly led by the highest ranked silks in the biggest cases, but he is frequently instructed to appear alone against QCs and continues to secure impressive results that far-exceed what might be expected for his year of call.
He has a good rapport with his opponents and judges, leading to a high number of favourable settlements for his clients, yet is a spirited and persuasive advocate who is always on top of the detail and goes the extra mile to achieve stellar results for his clients.
His practice includes substantial, complex and international litigation (involving forensic accounting, networks of companies and offshore trusts), along with media, privilege and immunity issues.
He represented Princess Haya of Jordan, following the breakdown of her marriage to the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, in what has been said to be the most far-reaching litigation ever seen by the Family Division.
Nicholas specialises in:
- matrimonial finance;
- drafting and advising on nuptial agreements;
- private law children cases (particularly Schedule 1 claims);
- jurisdiction disputes;
- Part III MFPA’84 claims after a foreign divorce;
- the Family Law Act 1996 (Non-Molestation and Occupation orders);
- the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.
Private Family Law.
Y v X [2024] EWFC 4
FT v JT [2023] EWFC 250
Galbraith-Marten v De Renee [2023] EWFC 253
Augousti v Matharu [2023] EWHC 1900 (Fam)
CD v JG [2022] EWFC 118
HRH Haya Bint Al Hussein v HH Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum [2021] EWFC 94
Re Al M (Immunities) [2021] EWHC 660 (Fam)
Re Al M [2021] EWHC 303 (Fam)
AS v CS [2021] EWFC 34
O'Dwyer v O'Dwyer [2019] EWHC 1838 (Fam)
Joy v Joy [2019] EWHC 2152 (Fam)
Re L (a child) [2019] EWHC 867 (Fam)
Juffali v Juffali (Rev 1) [2016] EWHC 1684 (Fam)
Al-Juffali v Estrada [2016] EWCA Civ 176
Estrada v Al-Juffali [2016] EWHC 213 (Fam)
Kolah v Kolah [2015] EWHC 3877 (Fam)
Joy v Joy-Morancho and others (No 3) [2015] EWHC 2507 (Fam)
Joy v Joy [2014] EWCA Civ 520
Joy v Joy-Morancho [2014] EWHC 3769 (Fam)
Baldwin v Baldwin [2014] EWHC 4857 (Fam)
C v C (APPEAL: HADKINSON ORDER) [2010] EWHC 1656 (Fam)
V v V (Financial Relief) [2009] EWHC 2901 (Fam)
Nicholas is sought after to lecture on all aspects of family law. He is a contributor to uk.practicallaw.com and Rayden and Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters (the leading family law practitioners’ textbook).
Nicholas was called to the Bar in 2006 (Middle Temple – Exhibition), undertook his pupillage at 1 Hare Court (2006-2007), became a resolution trained mediator in 2012, a pupil supervisor in 2016 and is available to conduct Private FDRs. Nicholas is also the Equality and Diversity Officer at 1 Hare Court.
Chambers and Partners
Nicholas is a ranked leading junior in Chambers & Partners and described as follows:
"Nicholas is a polished advocate whose attention to detail is excellent. He has a commanding court presence which belies his years."
"Does a great job of making the seemingly unarguable a tempting proposition, and is always prepared to go toe to toe with the opposition."
"He's a punchy and pragmatic negotiator, who doesn't take a backwards step from instructions."
"Compassionate, calm, concise and a man with an incisive mind." "He is helpful and accessible." "A solid operator who puts in the work..."
"He is exceptionally detailed in his preparation and completely in control when in court. He is adored by clients."
"He grasps the details of complex situations, works in a constructive, focused way…”
“He’s very good at cross-examination and good at demolishing witnesses.”
“…excellent client care skills, he’s well able to deal with complex issues quickly and give good pragmatic advice.”
“An excellent junior barrister dealing with a broad family practice concerning financial remedy disputes and private law children proceedings.”
Legal 500
Ranked as a Leading Junior in Legal 500, described as ‘a charming and intelligent barrister, brilliant at cross-examination, and is great with both the details and the bigger picture.’
'Nicholas is fantastic, a great advocate and a wise advisor. He is polished yet pragmatic, tenacious but also empathetic. He is a first class lawyer"