Nicholas Rhodes KC
Nicholas is a highly respected figure in both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, where he is recognised as a leading silk.
He specialises in business and regulatory crime, focusing on areas such as commercial fraud, bribery and corruption, and financial crime. Nicholas also has significant experience in handling serious criminal cases.
In relation to business and regulatory crime, he regularly advises and represents corporates, individuals, and government agencies, including the Financial Conduct Authority. His expertise covers a wide range of issues, from corporate governance and regulatory compliance to financial services regulations and corporate criminal liability. Nicholas often assists clients from the earliest stages of pre-litigation through investigations and appearances before courts and tribunals.
His work with professional regulators includes dealing with the SRA and FCA, particularly under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Conduct of Business Rules in UK Financial Services. He advises on criminal and regulatory issues tied to company governance, including bribery, corruption, money laundering regulations, asset forfeiture, and corporate manslaughter. Nicholas is also well-versed in ‘blue bag’ disclosure, handling legally privileged documents in inquests and investigations.
In addition to his regulatory work, Nicholas has a wealth of experience in serious criminal cases, including homicides, organized crime, and sexual offences. He has represented clients in high-profile trials, including those in the Grand Cayman Islands.
Nicholas is also dedicated to judicial training and legal reform. He works with the Horizon Institute (SL) and the Department for International Development (UK), providing advisory services to the Chief Justice, Minister of Justice, and Government of the Republic of Somaliland, helping to improve the country’s justice system and facilities.
Appointed as a Recorder in 2002, Nicholas is authorised to handle serious sexual offence cases.
Testimonials
Ranked In
Cases
Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation
R v. Fields, Sanghani, Sagoo and Rajput (Court of Appeal) 2014 – Review of the authorities on confiscation and determining the proper approach to calculating the amount of a confiscation order and apportionment.
Bribery & Corruption
R v. K (Southwark) – Politician accused of Fraud, Bribery and Corruption in construction and planning
R v. H & Others (Nottingham) – SFO prosecution of senior city solicitor in magic circle firm for conspiracy to defraud, pervert the course of public justice and perjury in relation to the conduct of commercial litigation.
Criminal Defence
R v. Akram (Sheffield) – Murder by deaf defendant w/in the Leicester deaf community. The entire trial conducted in sign language with the assistance of intermediaries.
R v. Anderson and Anderson (Reading) – Gangland/revenge knife-point murder in Newbury.
R v. Anstice (St Albans) – Murder of ex-wife. Trial issues included issues of mental health.
R v. Connors (Sheffield) – Revenge/murder after uninvited attendance at a house party.
R v. Cross and Others (Chelmsford) – Murder following false imprisonment, torture, beating and abandonment of a body.
R v. Dale (Oxford) – Murder, torture and mutilation of a woman lured to a caravan park. The trial included issues of mental health.
R v. Felisi (St Albans) – Murder and mutilation of a work colleague.
R v. G (Sheffield) – Murder in the course of homophobic attack.
R v. Hinkler (Sheffield) – ‘One punch’ murder by amateur boxer in gang fight outside nightclub.
R v. I (Birmingham) – Murder of woman in a frenzied knife attack.
R v. L (Sheffield) – Manslaughter of husband from single blow
R v. Mehmood (Sheffield) – Murder following the ritualised killing of a work colleague at Halal Abattoir.
R v. M and others (Sheffield) – Gangland murder within the Somali community by 13-year-old youth using sawn-off shotgun and others variously armed.
R v. Nelson (Birmingham) – Murder following torture of victim by beating, stabbing, asphyxiating and finally burning to death.
R v. O (Central Criminal Court)– Allegations of murder and unlawful act manslaughter in London street.
R v. Siddique (Central Criminal Court) – Unprovoked murder with a knife in street of a stranger.
R v. Taylor (Birmingham) – Gangland murder following ambush outside a nightclub in Birmingham City Centre
R v. Vincent & others (Luton) – OCG commissioned murder of major gangland figure by ‘underworld enforcer’ using an AK47.
R v. W and others (Central Criminal Court) – Conspiracy to murder arising from falling out within international drug smuggling OCG.
R v. Wainwright (Teeside) – Unprovoked murder of work colleague.
R v. W and others (Sheffield) – OCG ambush and murder of criminal opponent using a firearm.
R v. Ebanks and others (Grand Cayman)– Murder of security guard in the course of robbery of the National Bank.
R v. Robinson (Grand Cayman) – Gangland revenge murder in Grand Cayman
OCG Abduction, Kidnapping and Serious Drug Offences Cases
R v. Chrouch (Maidstone) – Gangland Kidnapping and torture with firearms
R v. Pewter (Wood Green) – Child abduction for sexual purposes
R v. Young and others (Blackfriars) – Gangland kidnapping and firearms.
R v. Hukum Dad (Southwark) – Northern Cyprus heroin smuggling ring
R v. O’Neill (Leicester) – National OCG drugs importation and distribution ring
R v Yusuf and ors (Sheffield) – OCG Kidnap torture and murder and attempted murders.
R v Brown and ors – OCG Gangland drugs, shootings and murder and attempted murders
Serious Sexual Offences Cases
R v. A (Snaresbrook) – Campaign of rape and sexu al attacks upon 6 women on different occasions.
R v. M (Kingston) – Historic sexual abuse of boy and girl
R v. W (Liverpool) – Historic sexual abuse and grooming of numerous girls
R v. H (Guildford) – Rape of victim suffering severe learning difficulties by professional carer.
R v W (Northampton) – Historic sexual abuse and Rapes of child suffering from cerebral palsy.
Fraud & Financial Crime
R v. T & Others (Norwich) – TS/FCA/ BIS prosecution of serious fraud and regulatory offences relating to operation of telemarketing and insurance companies in UK and abroad.
R v. Daly & Others (Southwark) – SFO prosecution of identity frauds and boiler room operations in Spain and Far-East.
R v. Brown (Leeds) – Private Investment and Personal Pensions Scheme fraud.
R v. G & Others (Sheffield) – Recycling, landfill and waste disposal fraud.
R v. Iqbal & Others (Leicester) – Serious fraud relating to the operation of HMG Individual learner Account Scheme and Higher Education funding.
R v. G & Others (Southwark) – Operation Callaghan Identity fraud and MNO Gateway fraud, involving the use of stolen identity and credit details applied to SIMM cards adapted for use to obtain airtime in MNO Gateway devices.
R v. T & Others (Croydon) Op Octopod – Land-banking and Collective Investment Scheme fraud.
IPR Capital – Alleged fraudulent operation of investment scheme involving International Mining.
R v L and ors Operation Manfield (Sheffield) – Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of Crime valued in excess of £100m internationally inc Dubai.
Regulatory Law
FCA v RIS – unregulated financial investments and activity involving SIPPs, transferring pension funds and assets to unregulated investments namely overseas property via SIPPs. – Warning Notice
FCA v ARB – unregulated financial investments and activity involving SIPPs, transferring pension funds and assets to unregulated investments overseas property via SIPPs. – Warning Notice
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Public Access Bar Association
- CyberCrime Practitioners Association
Awards, Qualifications & Other
- KC (2008)
- LL.B (Hons)
- Recorder (Crown Court)
Direct Access
Nicholas Rhodes KC is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come directly to him. In addition, he welcomes instructions from solicitors, in-house law departments, qualified foreign lawyers, and clients licensed by the Bar Council to give instructions directly to barristers under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme. For more information please visit our Direct Access page here.