Nick Robinson
Year of Call: 2006
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 292 102
Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Stuart Pringle
- Clerk Telephone: 0330 332 2633
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Financial Crime incl Fraud POCA
Nick has defended individuals and organisations in multi-million-pound mortgage fraud, conspiracy to defraud, rogue trader prosecutions, and regulatory investigations brought by government departments. He has a proven record of exposing disclosure failures and prosecutorial misconduct — including cases where officers in charge have misled prosecution counsel and concealed unused material, resulting in entire multi-defendant prosecutions collapsing. His pre-charge work in fraud investigations has prevented prosecution entirely. He accepts Direct Access instructions in fraud cases and can advise from the earliest stage of an investigation.
Selected Cases
R v AP (Operation Ringwood) — Pre-charge (2019–2022) Pension liberation fraud investigation by Dorset Police. Direct access. Nick represented the client throughout, including advising in relation to Restraint proceedings. Following three years of investigation, the Crown took no further action in October 2022. A clear example of specialist pre-charge advice preventing prosecution entirely.
R v A & Others — (2021) Defence of company and individual defendants charged with criminal offences arising from alleged breaches of planning enforcement notices. Nick negotiated an out of court settlement, and the prosecution offered no evidence on all charges.
R v JW and Others — (2019) Seven-defendant rogue trader conspiracy targeting a vulnerable, partially sighted victim in Bournemouth. The group repeatedly attended the victim's home, posing as tradesmen and officials, and defrauded him over a sustained period. Nick's client was the only defendant acquitted; all six co-defendants were convicted and sentenced to between 21 months and three years and four months' imprisonment. Reported: BH Living, Bournemouth One.
R v AP and others — Winchester Crown Court (2015) Multi-defendant fraud prosecution (75 charges; five defendants) brought by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The officer in charge had misled prosecution counsel and concealed disclosure, and the officer in charge and disclosure officer were the same person contrary to the Attorney General's Code of Practice. Fresh review uncovered further suppressed material. Both trials collapsed. All defendants including Nick’s client AP were formally acquitted of all charges. High-profile case involving Richard Carr. Reported: Daily Echo.
R v JH and others — (2015) Eleven-defendant £4 million mortgage fraud — fabricated occupations and incomes used to obtain mortgages on multiple properties. Nick's client acquitted on two of three counts; 12-month sentence suspended for two years on the third. Co-defendants sentenced to between two and a half and four years' imprisonment. Reported: Daily Echo.
R v SM — (2015) Handling stolen goods — proceeds of an insider fraud against a multinational company. Following disclosure applications, it emerged that the employer's investigator had coerced, pressured, and intimidated the defendant — a young woman of good character — into confessing, having promised there would be no police involvement if she admitted the offences. The employer broke that promise and the Crown prosecuted. Nick's abuse of process application succeeded after contested findings of fact (the investigator denied making the promises); the Crown offered no evidence.
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Recommendations Court of Appeal
In an appeal against sentence R v Sherriff [2012] EWCA Crim 2381, Lord Justice Aikens said:
"Mr Robinson presented the arguments very concisely, clearly and persuasively."
In an appeal against sentence R v Kluver [2010] EWCA Crim 3237, Lord Justice Moses said:
"There is ample authority for the proposition that counsel for the defence has so skilfully identified both in his written grounds and in his oral submissions, and we are indebted to Mr Robinson for them."
In an appeal against sentence R v Bennett [2010] EWCA Crim 1032, Mr Justice Davis said:
"Mr Robinson, on behalf of the Appellant, has put the case very well."
In an appeal against sentence R v Woodcock [2011] EWCA Crim 1347, Mr Justice Blair said:
"Mr Robinson has argued the case well for the applicant."
In an appeal against conviction R v Knight [2013] EWCA Crim 2486, Mr Justice Fulford said the written submissions were:
"Detailed and able."
In an appeal against sentence R v Simpson [2022] EWCA Crim 201, His Honour Judge Griffiths-Jones QC commended Nick's:
"good judgment."
In an appeal against sentence R v DH [2024] EWCA Crim 1003, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith said:
"The Court is grateful to Mr Robinson for the high quality of his written submissions."
Chambers & Partners — Western Bar (Crime)
Chambers UK 2026 / Crime — Western Bar > “Nicholas is a dynamic barrister. He is calm, sympathetic and gives a huge amount of effort to every case. He is a strong and persuasive advocate with an eye for persuasive arguments.”Chambers UK 2025 / Crime — Western Bar > “He has a great practice.” > “He is a smooth advocate who has a great way of speaking to the jury.”
Chambers UK 2024 / Crime — Western Bar > “He is highly effective and highly skilled in all aspects of criminal defence work.” > “Clients love Nicholas. He’s a very good lawyer and a persuasive advocate.” > “Nicholas handled the cross-examination deftly but devastatingly. His ability to juggle disclosure requests, client management and legal arguments is remarkable.”
Chambers UK 2023 / Crime — Western Bar > “He has a very client-centred approach.” > “His advocacy skills are impressive.” > “Nick is an industrious individual.”
Chambers UK 2022 / Crime — Western Bar > “Has a very positive attitude and his written work is excellent.” > “He has an approach and flair which juries like.”
Chambers UK 2021 / Crime — Western Bar > “He has a very good reputation and his written work is of the highest quality.”
Chambers UK 2020 / Crime — Western Bar > “He is both responsive and proactive, and his advocacy skills are fantastic.”
Chambers UK 2019 / Crime — Western Bar > “He is both responsive and proactive, and his advocacy skills are fantastic.”
Legal 500 — Western Circuit (Crime)
Legal 500 2026 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Nick is a good barrister. He is always well-prepared and will fight his corner as required.”Legal 500 2025 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Nick is a committed, highly competent and effective criminal barrister. He is an effective trial advocate who gets good results, and his pleas in mitigation are always carefully constructed with great preparation.”
Legal 500 2024 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Nick is diligent and always enthusiastic about his work. His written work is of the highest quality. He is also a very persuasive and effective advocate.”
Legal 500 2023 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Nick is a top level operator. A first-class and fearless advocate with a very robust and incisive approach to criminal litigation. An exceptional strategist.”
Legal 500 2022 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Nick’s strengths are his intelligence, his ability to fully engage with a jury and his thorough preparation.”
Legal 500 2020–21 / Crime — Western Circuit > “A criminal defence specialist.”
Legal 500 2018–19 / Crime — Western Circuit — Tier 1 > “An expert in defending in serious crime cases.”
Legal 500 2017 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Self-assured and dedicated.”
Legal 500 2016 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Extremely diligent in his approach to cases.”
Legal 500 2015 / Crime — Western Circuit > “Known for his defence work in the Crown Court, and his practice has an emphasis on serious crime.”
Legal 500 2014 / Crime — Western Circuit > “He specialises in sexual offence cases, particularly those involving children and historical allegations of misconduct.”
Legal 500 2013 / Crime — Western Circuit > “A very confident and knowledgeable advocate.”
Nick was also recommended by the Legal 500 for 2011 and 2012.
Related News
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3PB Barristers’ specialist criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson has secured the acquittal of a vulnerable young defendant. The prosecution’s case was that vulnerable defendant, then aged 18, had raped a 15-year-old girl at a residential address in November 2021. The defendant had a full-scale IQ of 64 (first percentile), the language skills of a child aged between six and nine, markedly impaired memory and pronounced suggestibility under pressure. The complainant was also a vulnerable witness,...
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Leading criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson of 3PB Barristers successfully defended JB in a two-week attempted murder trial at Winchester Crown Court before HHJ Morris The Recorder of Winchester. Mr B was charged with attempted murder following a knife attack in Weymouth in June 2025. Nick’s client stabbed two males in an unprovoked assault. He was charged with attempting to kill one of the males. The prosecution alleged a premeditated attack, relying heavily on compelling...
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Three of 3PB's crime and regulatory crime team (pictured left to right) - Kate Lumsdon KC, leading Thomas Evans, and Nick Robinson (led by Zafar Ali KC of 23ES) - have secured the acquittal of their respective clients following a six-week trial at Winchester Crown Court. Four defendants stood trial arising from two linked incidents involving e-bikes being deliberately rammed by vehicles as part of an ongoing feud. Both clients, who were youths, were alleged...
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3PB Barristers is delighted to confirm another strong set of results for its Crime and Regulatory Crime team in Chambers and Partners’ 2026 edition published today. While the team retains its Band 1 ranking for Crime in the Western Circuit, with 9 of its practitioners ranked in this area of law; and maintains its 3 individual rankings for Health and Safety in the same Circuit, it welcomes a new ranking for Financial Crime in the...
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