Nick Robinson BW scaled e1741277627459

Nick Robinson

Year of Call: 2006
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 292 102

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Clerk Details

  • Clerk Name: Stuart Pringle
  • Clerk Telephone: 0330 332 2633
  • Clerk Email: [email protected]

Motoring offences

Nick has appeared at every level from the Magistrates’ Court to the High Court (case stated) in the most serious road traffic cases: death by dangerous and careless driving, automatism, drink and drug driving, and novel questions of identification and regulatory compliance.

Selected Cases

R v PB — (2025) Causing serious injury by dangerous driving (three counts). Southern Vectis double-decker bus crash on the A3056, Isle of Wight — the defendant missed a turning, failed to negotiate a bend, and the bus left the road. Twelve passengers on board; three sustained broken backs. Unanimous not guilty on all three counts after 30 minutes of jury retirement. Defendant admitted careless driving - sentenced to a fine and penalty points. Reported: Isle of Wight County Press, Island Echo.

R v CC — Magistrates’ Court (2024) Drug driving. Direct access. Prosecution failed to provide the second blood sample and analytical data pack for the defence expert — 89 days after a court order. Prosecution offered no evidence. Acquitted.

R v JB — Magistrates’ Court (2021) Drink driving. Direct access. Laced drinks defence at trial supported by expert toxicology evidence. Acquitted.

R v IC — (2020) Causing death by careless driving — fatal pedestrian collision. It was not in dispute that the defendant had driven over the pedestrian whilst she lay prone in the carriageway. The Crown alleged his failure to take evasive action amounted to careless driving. The defence was that another vehicle may have caused the fatal injuries before the defendant's arrival and that, confronted with a sudden emergency, he made a wrong decision in the agony of the moment — the collision was explicable by external factors including road conditions, lighting, and weather. Expert evidence from two pathologists and two collision investigators. Bad character and hearsay evidence excluded. Unanimous not guilty after 90 minutes of deliberation in a six-day trial. A second driver pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court to careless driving. Reported: The Sun, Daily Mail, Metro, Daily Echo.

R v GB — Magistrates’ Court (2019) Failure to provide a specimen. Direct Access instruction. No statutory warning given; critical CCTV withheld despite a court order. Prosecution offered no evidence. Acquitted.

R v TM — (2019) Careless driving conviction appeal. Direct Access. Sole prosecution witness an off-duty police officer. Nick’s skeleton exposed that the officer had simultaneously acted as investigator, officer in charge, and disclosure officer; that the in-car camera was “non-functioning” without independent verification; that the schedule of unused material was missing; and that the prosecution’s own telematics expert had inadvertently corroborated the defence case. A former police officer instructed as defence expert. Crown offered no evidence at appeal; conviction quashed. Costs ordered.

R v DQ — (2018) Causing death by careless driving — fatal collision at a right-turn junction in Ferndown; motorcyclist aged 67 struck and killed. Expert witnesses for both prosecution and defence agreed that parts of the carriageway were obscured by shadows and bright sunlight. Nick successfully argued that a careful driver in the same conditions might have failed to see the motorcycle, and the defendant’s account that it was obscured from view was consistent with the expert evidence. Acquitted. Reported: Daily Echo.

R v JB — (2016) Causing danger to road users (s.23 RTA 1988). Defendant alleged to have grabbed the steering wheel of a moving vehicle at approximately 70mph on the A35 at 3am, causing it to roll. Three witnesses in the car alleged the defendant caused the vehicle to overturn, seriously injuring its occupants. Nick instructed an independent accident reconstruction expert who challenged the prosecution’s vehicle examiner on the significance of the absence of seat belt marks — establishing that in a rollover the absence of marks cannot indicate that belts were not worn. Unanimous not guilty verdict.

R v AM – (2016) Guilty plea to causing death by careless driving whilst unfit through drink. High-profile and tragic case. Defendant was sentenced to 4 years and 4 months imprisonment: Reported: BBC News.

R v AP — Magistrates’ Court (2013) Drink driving in a Ferrari. The defendant's drinks had been spiked without his knowledge. Successful special reasons argument supported by expert evidence, securing no disqualification despite an elevated minimum disqualification period arising from a prior drink driving conviction. Absolute discharge.

R v PH — (2011) Four-day trial. The defendant, a National Express coach driver, lost control of his vehicle in the New Forest late at night, drifting onto the hard shoulder and up an embankment before crossing three lanes of the motorway with 49 passengers on board. With expert evidence from a neurologist and a sleep specialist, Nick successfully argued that the defendant had not fallen asleep as alleged but had suffered an episode of automatism. The jury also accepted that his decision to continue the journey to Ringwood did not constitute dangerous or careless driving. Unanimously acquitted on all counts. Reported: Daily Echo and Daily Echo.

R v Fitch — High Court (2011) Case stated appeal — s.172 RTA 1988. Obligation to “give” information does not extend to ensuring its safe receipt. Conviction quashed.

R v MH — Magistrates’ Court (2008) Failure to provide a specimen of urine. Legal argument on the proper meaning of “failure to provide”; not guilty in the absence of medical evidence.

  • Recommendations

    • Chambers & Partners Rankings (2019–2026)
      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 Rankings (2011–2026)
      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.

    • Judicial Commendations
      Court of Appeal

      R v Hitchings [2024] EWCA Crim 1003 — Stuart-Smith LJ, Stacey J, HHJ Conrad KC: “The Court is grateful to Mr Robinson… for the high quality of his written submissions.”

      R v Sherriff [2012] EWCA Crim 2381 — Lord Justice Aikens: “Mr Robinson presented the arguments very concisely, clearly and persuasively.”

      R v Kluver [2010] EWCA Crim 3237 — Lord Justice Moses: “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.”

      R v Bennett [2010] EWCA Crim 1032 — Mr Justice Davis: “Mr Robinson, on behalf of the Appellant, has put the case very well.”

      R v Woodcock [2011] EWCA Crim 1347 — Mr Justice Blair: “It is submitted by Mr Robinson, who has argued this case well for the applicant, that this is excessive.”

      R v Knight [2013] EWCA Crim 2486 — Fulford J: > “detailed and able”

      Crown Court

      Mr Recorder Don Tait, following the acquittal of his client (R v RC — Crown Court, 2016), in open court: “Mr Robinson you did an excellent job defending this man. You very skillfully revealed all of the inadequacies in this investigation”.

    • Instructing Solicitor Testimonials
      “Truly grateful for your proactive case management, first class professionalism and dedication.”

      “This was a difficult case in one sense and your efforts and assistance went beyond the call of duty. I very much appreciate it.”

      “Please accept my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all your incredible and excellent hard work on this firm’s cases and for always doing over and above what is required in every matter that you deal with. Not only that, well done on all of your outstanding results and faultless client care!”

      “Thank you Nick, I am very grateful for your assistance. Your professionalism and support is unbelievable.”

      “Fine work. Very fine work indeed. That was mission impossible. I am genuinely very impressed with that result.”

    • Lay Client (defendant’s father)

      "I had the pleasure of watching Nick during the trial and cannot praise sufficiently the way he handled the case. He was the perfect professional and we all felt our case couldn't have been in better or more capable hands. As the day progressed it looked increasingly certain that a custodial sentence would follow, and the judge intimated as much. However, Nick's response was totally stunning. He spoke calmly, quietly, slowly but with an air of total credibility — and when the judge interjected, he gently responded with additional information. He retained sufficient material to respond to each of the judge's concerns. If it had been a dramatic performance there would have been applause at the end. He is a real credit to his profession."

      Lay Client

      "I write to you to express my sincere gratitude about a member of your Chambers Mr Robinson who defended me at trial … The case required complete concentration and an eye for detail. This worried me as being on legal aid I thought I might not receive the same service as a client paying privately. This wasn’t the case at all and in fact the complete opposite. Mr Robinson genuinely cared about his client and even spent time to reassure my co-defendant … During the trial Mr Robinson’s charisma was a breath of fresh air; he kept the Jury on their toes and concentrated throughout and also he was very calming during the breaks when tensions were high. Finally Mr Robinson’s closing speech was mesmerising and got across every possible point I could think of and more. I knew after his speech there was no way I would be convicted. I feel in debt to this man and feel that the literature in my email doesn’t allow me to explain my true gratitude."

      Lay Client

      “Just wanted to express my thanks, for the confident, reassuring and supportive way that Mr Robinson has handled my case. At short notice he has been able to defend me to his confident best.  His caring and clear way in which he dealt with me and my family and friends was top notch”.

      Lay Client (Direct Access)

      "Nick - I'm eternally indebted to you and will never be able to thank you enough for today's outcome … thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for me. You've given me my life back”.

      Lay client’s grandparent

      "I would also like to say a specific thank you for bringing Nicholas Robinson in as L's barrister. L felt very comfortable talking to Nick, and Nick, in turn, put L at ease. The relationship barristers have with their client, the trust and confidence in the barrister's ability is paramount, and we certainly had that with Nick. I think it also proved that a barristers relationship with his counterparts on the other side is also important and in our case this definitely proved to be significant”.

      Lay Client (defendant’s mother)

      “Your preparation was meticulous, your manner was calm under pressure, and your advocacy was outstanding… You also showed such patience and understanding with [our son]. He has a lot of difficulty, and you never let that become an obstacle. You took the time to explain things clearly to him and treated him with real respect, which meant the world to us as a family.”

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