Nicholas Cotter
Year of Call: 1999
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01962 868 884
Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Stuart Pringle
- Clerk Telephone: 01962 868 884
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Overview
Nicholas Cotter is a leading junior specialising in regulatory law, fraud and serious crime. He holds top-band rankings for crime, health and safety, and business and regulatory crime, is ranked Tier 1 by The Legal 500 for professional discipline, and has been listed consistently for many years by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500.
His regulatory practice covers health and safety (including corporate manslaughter), environmental, CQC, trading standards, maritime and sports regulation, with a particular strength in anti-doping. He both prosecutes and defends, and has acted for the CPS (including its Complex Casework Unit and RASSO teams), the MCA, UK Anti-Doping and a number of local authority regulators.
He is regularly instructed to represent companies, directors and other professionals from the earliest stage of an investigation and is often sought to provide regulatory compliance advice.
He brings a strategic, client-centred approach to his advice, and a forensic eye and calm, assured presence to his advocacy.
He is instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service (including its Complex Casework Unit and RASSO teams), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, UK Anti-Doping, the Health and Safety Executive, local authority regulators and Trading Standards, a number of insurance panels, and numerous national and international law firms acting for companies, directors, professionals and athletes.
Recent work
- Corporate manslaughter: Instructed in a number of pre-charge corporate manslaughter investigations, making submissions opposing prosecution, including a child’s fall from height at a hotel.
- Gross negligence manslaughter: Currently instructed in a gross negligence manslaughter case arising in a care home.
- Maritime fatality matters: Instructed by the MCA in a number of high-profile fatal incidents, both at investigation stage and post-charge.
- Appeals: Ongoing appeal against conviction in a non-recent child rape case.
- Serious crime: Currently prosecuting and defending in a range of serious cases involving rape, serious violence and gang crime.
- Fraud: Defence junior in a £70 million SFO fraud prosecution.
Inquests
Nicholas acts for the HSE, the MCA, local authorities, families, individuals and companies in inquests, including Article 2 and jury inquests. His experience of prosecuting and defending high-profile regulatory cases complements this work, and he advises extensively where an inquest carries a risk of later prosecution. His approach is pragmatic, sensitive and tactically astute.
Selected instructions
- Inquest – Complex jury inquest into the death of an emergency worker during a training exercise (representing the MCA).
- Inquest – Sensitive jury inquest in which the contention that negligence caused an employee’s death in a lift accident was successfully resisted (representing the business).
- Inquest – Inquest into the death of a care home resident where excess medication was in issue; a conclusion of natural causes was returned (representing the care home provider).
- Inquest – Instructed by the MCA in the forthcoming inquest into the sinking of a vessel in the Mediterranean with the loss of several lives, involving multiple interested persons and international interest.
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Recommendations 2027
'Nicholas is excellent, calm, strategic, and great to have on board. He is particularly great with clients.'
Chambers UK 2027 · Crime'He is an outstanding regulatory lawyer who is calm, focussed and extremely capable when in court. He thinks very strategically and is very skillful at identifying angles of attack.'
Chambers UK 2027 · Health and Safety‘Very client-friendly - hardworking, thoughtful, very bright. Charming and highly persuasive in court - judges find him very easy to listen to. One of the best H&S juniors in the country, and I've worked with plenty of them.’
Legal 500 2027 · Business and Regulatory Crime including health and safety‘Fully prepared and a class operator in front of a jury. Has a fantastic manner and approach with clients.’
Legal 500 2027 · Crime and fraud2026
'He’s an absolute star. He is a hugely talented and experienced regulatory lawyer whose calm demeanour and courtroom skill have helped many grateful clients over many years.'
Chambers UK 2026 · Health and Safety'Nick is a superb advocate. He is extremely knowledgeable and tenacious and can articulate complex legal arguments persuasively.'
Legal 500 2026 · Business and Regulatory Crime – noting his instruction by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in a case concerning the sinking of a trawler in the English Channel in which two men died.2025
'Nick is a calm and skilful advocate in court and commercially minded with clients. He is first choice for regulatory cases, having built an excellent practice over many years.'
Chambers UK 2025 · Professional Discipline'He is very smooth and suave and judges and juries love him. He knows exactly what to do and how to present his case.'
Chambers UK 2025 · Crime2024
'Nick is a real heavyweight junior; a hugely experienced lawyer with a keen sense for a sound strategy. His calm, responsive and pragmatic approach and his excellent manner with judge and jury alike in the heat of courtroom proceedings is very valuable.'
Legal 500 2024 · Professional Disciplinary Law'Nick is a consummate advocate who combines clarity and brevity in a very attractive style. It is only a matter of time before he attains silk status.'
Legal 500 2024 · Crime2023
'Very calm under pressure and conveys an air of authority which clients find very reassuring in circumstances when they are in crisis. He is extremely knowledgeable in matters of health and safety.'
Legal 500 2023 · Business and Regulatory Crime'A highly polished advocate with a first-class legal brain. He always inspires clients’ confidence.'
Legal 500 2023 · Crime