Nicholas Maggs
- South Eastern Circuit
- The University of Nottingham, BA Hons History (First Class)
- The College of Law, GDL (Distinction)
- The College of Law, BVC (Outstanding)
- Major Inn Scholarship from Middle Temple
Instructing Nicholas Maggs
To instruct Nicholas or for any further information please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7440 8888 or clerks@2br.co.uk.
Nicholas is a specialist defence practitioner, with substantial experience in all forms of serious crime. He is regularly instructed in high profile, complex and lengthy trials as leading or led junior and as lone junior counsel.
Nicholas is experienced in defending in cases of:
- murder, attempted murder, firearms and serious violence.
- multi-million pound fraud, having successfully defended in a wide variety of tax, immigration and fraudulent trading cases, including complex money laundering investigations.
- large scale drug conspiracies and importations, involving Encrochat and encrypted phones, county lines and associated complex cell site and telephone evidence.
- serious driving offences resulting in death and serious injury.
- allegations of all forms of serious sexual offences, including historic cases, and the cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses in s.28 hearings.
Practice Areas
Nicholas is experienced at defending in complex Confiscation proceedings following criminal prosecution, including cases involving hidden assets, third-party interests and complicated issues arising from criminal benefit as it applies to co-conspirators.
Nicholas has also dealt with Restraint Orders, issues of Contempt arising from such Orders, and applications under s.22 to revisit POCA orders.
Notable confiscation cases:
R v NH – Complex confiscation arising from the money laundering of substantial sums allegedly on behalf of organised criminals, through numerous different bank accounts. The case was complicated further by issues of unfitness that arose during confiscation which hadn’t been apparent during the underlying criminal proceedings.
R v ML – Defending in substantial confiscation following money laundering offences, including contested hidden assets, and millions of pounds alleged to have been taken out of the jurisdiction.
R v BS – Confiscation following numerous offences of fraudulent trading, VAT fraud, and the defrauding of creditors. Complex issues contesting the appropriate available amount and subsequently a s.23/24 application to vary the Order.
Nicholas has substantial experience in defending across the full spectrum of criminal offending. He is frequently instructed to defend in heavyweight drug importation and supply cases, involving encrypted phones and complex cell site and telephone evidence. Nicholas also defends cases concerning all forms of serious violence, including Attempted Murder, s.18 GBH, Violent Disorder, Kidnap and Blackmail.
Notable criminal defence cases:
Violence
R v BC – Acquitted of s.18 GBH in case concerning widespread Violent Disorder in high profile Central London department store, involving a knife fight between multiple parties. Complex case involving significant tactical considerations as cut-throat defence in which all 6 other defendants implicated Nicholas’ client.
R v WF – Unanimous acquittal defending in an unusual case prosecuted by a KC and senior junior and heard by a High Court Judge, that alleged the unlawful obtaining of abortion medication said to have been administered to a pregnant woman, without her consent, who then suffered a miscarriage, contrary to s.58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
R v QH – Acquittal of all charges in s.18 GBH stabbing case in the face of eye-witness evidence implicating the defendant.
R v SC – Acquittal in multi-handed serious firearms case alleging possession of shotguns. Case concerned numerous expert reports concerning complex mental health issues.
R v AN – In a case capturing national media attention, represented a Defendant facing allegations of s.18 GBH for biting part of another man’s ear off. Acquitted of all charges.
R v MW – Defending alone in case concerning Attempted Murder and Kidnap, successfully negotiated a plea to s.18 GBH on the eve of trial, the allegation of Attempted Murder being dropped.
R v MR – Possession of firearms and ammunition, a case concerning complex issues of expert testimony concerning the firearm itself, DNA evidence and telephone analysis.
R v TE – Successful defence of all counts alleging Blackmail and Kidnap in complex case resting on cross-examination of key eye-witnesses.
R v BK – Defence in case alleging a knife attack against 2 complainants. Acquitted of s.18 and all possession of knife related counts, convicted of s.20 GBH that alleged only a single punch.
Drugs
R v KJ – Acquitted in case alleging a substantial county lines drugs Conspiracy – Operation Warship. Case involved 14 Defendants.
R v RC – Defending in 3 month trial, concerning multi-kilo supply of cocaine on nationwide basis. Case involved complex issues of encrypted phones and Encrochat, cell site analysis and substantial quantities of phone evidence.
R v LE – Led junior defending allegations of massive nationwide supply of cocaine alleged to involve more than 1 tonne of cocaine. Case concerned complex evidence involving encrypted phones, cell site analysis and surveillance. Acquitted of nationwide supply, negotiated plea to local supply of a far smaller quantity of Class A.
R v NF – Represented first Defendant in a 7-handed Conspiracy to import and supply class A drugs. The case involved substantial quantities of telephone evidence and transcripts of coded telephone conversations. Involved cross-examination of phone, forensic, DNA and NCA drug experts.
R v MR – Defending alone in case concerning the supply of more than 5kg of cocaine, a case concerning complex other issues of DNA evidence, firearms evidence and phone analysis.
R v PS – Led junior in a 5 handed Conspiracy (Operation Rampage), representing the second Defendant facing allegations of involvement in the supply of £25 million of cannabis smuggled into the UK.
R v JK – Representing the first Defendant in one of the largest importation cases prosecuted in the UK, alleged to have involved more than £1billion worth of cocaine imported over many years.
Nicholas has significant experience in defending a wide variety of fraud prosecutions, as leading, led and lone junior counsel.
Nicholas is well used to managing the vast quantities of evidence generated in multi-million pound fraud cases and the complex areas of expert evidence that are often involved. He has particular experience in complex money laundering investigations.
Notable fraud cases:
R v ES – Leading junior in £3million Gift Aid fraud on HMRC. Defendant acquitted of all charges following month long trial.
R v EK – Led junior, representing the second Defendant in Operation Bygone / Berg Meeker, a substantial case concerning an immigration applications fraud, the trial lasted 8 months, one of the lengthiest cases ever tried at Southwark Crown Court.
R v LC – acquitted of all counts in Operation Perth, a case alleging a professionally organised duty fraud on HMRC carried out by hauliers.
R v GP – Led junior representing the first Defendant in Operation Aldgate, involving multiple allegations of Fraud and fraudulent “phoenix trading” at Southwark Crown Court.
R V LM – The only Defendant acquitted in an 11 handed Conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a fraud. Prosecution case built on substantial quantities of telephone evidence.
R v MN – Successful defence at trial of allegations of organised employee theft over many years, leading to a conviction of possession of criminal property alone. Further successful arguments at sentence reduced the loss suffered from £½ million to £50k leading to the imposition of a suspended sentence.
R v LM – Acquitted in Operation Entail, allegations of duty evasion.
R v BS – Instructed to represent the first Defendant facing numerous allegations of money laundering and fraud against HMRC and other creditors.
Nicholas has acted on behalf of companies and company directors defending in a variety of Health and Safety prosecutions.
His previous experience includes defending the breach of Working at Height Regulations following an individual suffering a number of serious injuries after an accident at work, numerous cases relating to Food Safety regulations, including an alleged rodent infestation across a number of well-known supermarkets, and breaches of Fire Safety regulations in a number of restaurants.
Nicholas is experienced in defending in homicide cases, and the complex expert evidence associated with such prosecution, including toxicology, blood spatter, DNA, telephone and cell site analysis evidence.
Notable murder & manslaughter cases
R v BK – Led by Tracy Ayling KC defending in murder case, involving complex evidence re: blood pattern analysis and DNA.
R v L – Defending in case concerning death by dangerous driving, complex expert evidence regarding the use of drugs and consequent effect on the defendant’s standard of driving.
R v PD – Led junior in missing body murder case, concerning complex cell site and telephone analysis evidence.
R v LR – Death by dangerous driving case involving two victims of a vehicle collision and complex expert evidence as to the standard of driving in the lead up to the fatal incident. The case involved further complexity after one of the victims who initially suffered serious injuries, died after the conclusion of the sentencing process.
Nicholas has been instructed by those facing prosecution for driving matters throughout his career, representing a number of high-profile individuals, including recently defending a well-known former Premier League footballer. He has substantial experience being instructed by those facing a driving disqualification and strategising the best approach to the case to avoid or to minimise the potential driving ban.
Substantial experience in defending in all forms of serious sexual offences, including historic cases. Frequently involved in s.28 cases and those concerning vulnerable witnesses whether due to age or matters relating to mental health.
Notable serious sexual offences cases
R v AK – Historic allegations dating back over 40 years, and multiple complainants, defendant acquitted all counts.
R v AL – Acquittal of multiple counts of rape and sexual offences allegedly committed by an older male against a teenager.
R v BA – Historic allegations of sexual offending with multiple different complainants. Acquitted of 2 of the 4 counts faced.
R v AI – Multiple allegations of rape within a marriage, acquitted of all counts.
R v AA – Representing the first Defendant in a case involving a sexual attack on an elderly, mentally vulnerable, individual. Acquitted of multiple counts of sexual assault.
R v RA – Acquitted of multiple counts of rape despite the case proceeding in the Defendant’s absence.
