Background

Nicholas Lumley KC

Joint Head of Chambers

Year of call 1992 / 2012

“An incredibly skilled and talented advocate. He commands the attention of the courtroom.”


Legal 500 2025 [Crime]

Nicholas Lumley KC is a specialist criminal and regulatory law advocate. His expertise covers cases involving homicide, serious fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking and exploitation, tax evasion and money laundering, professional misconduct and judicial review. Rape and serious sexual offences. He is often instructed on a private basis. Medico-legal cases and ‘Baby-shaking’ cases are also his forte.

Those whom he leads, is instructed by and represents commend his meticulous preparation, his ‘eye for detail’ and ‘reading of the case, client and witness, not just the case papers.’ He is regarded as a ‘hands-on silk that goes the extra mile researching the foreign, unusual and bizarre to get to the understanding of his client’s case’. He ‘instils immediate confidence’ and is a ‘remarkable leader’. He has an incredibly persuasive advocacy style which readily ‘engages the jury, turning the complex into common sense and the novel into normal.’ He is described as an ‘elegant and charming performer’ who unfalteringly remains ‘calm, composed and reassuring’ in what often present as the most trying of circumstances.

Nick regularly accepts instructions on a private fee basis. Recent cases have involved the successful private defence of professional rugby player (England and Newcastle Falcons) charged with rape having met via Tinder; the defence of a business man charged with historic sexual abuse; the defence of a publican charged with multiple rapes of partners; the defence of a businessman facing trial at The Central Criminal Court on charges of VAT fraud; the defence of a company director charged with assault.

Expertise

Successful private defence of professional rugby player (England and Newcastle Falcons) charged with rape having met via Tinder. Issues of consent, reasonable belief in consent, admissibility of sexual history of complainant.

Successful private defence of businessman charged with cultivating cannabis, defence of medical necessity.

Private defence of internet child grooming, issues of entrapment by vigilante group.

Multi-defendant immigration fraud.

Murder, issue of causation of complex head injury.

Defence of Relate counsellor and sex-therapist, charged with multiple rapes.

Court of Appeal (LCJ) concerning the issue of consent in extreme sexual encounters. Question of law, of public importance, certified for the Supreme Court.

Private defence (Guilty plea and mitigation) of businessman, a qualified solicitor and keen amateur sportsman, who had broken eye-socket of spectator at football match.

Prosecution of defendant charged with murder against background of prolonged domestic violence and abuse.

Defendant charged with single punch manslaughter. The victim did not die immediately and sustained further accidental head-injuries. The case involved complex neuro-surgical and pathological evidence as to causation.

Nick has appeared on behalf of the General Medical Council before the High Court in numerous applications to extended interim restrictions on Doctors’ practices.

Appeal against the conclusions of the interim orders panel of the MPTS.

Permission hearing and full Judicial Review hearing concerning the interpretation of regulations governing Dr’s fitness to practice.

Nick regularly appears before the fitness to practice panel of the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service.

Nick also has recent experience of representing sports professionals and bookmakers, before the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal.

Fitness to practice, fraudulent research in pancreatic cancer, to obtain grants from pharmaceutical companies and for publication in leading medical journals.

Fitness to practice, deception and fraudulent prescribing.

Appeal by Dr suffering from long-standing delusional and schizophrenic conditions.

Extent of powers of interim orders panel to suspend a Dr of otherwise exemplary character facing criminal allegations of blackmail.

Specialist A&E Dr who perpetrated sustained and sophisticated prescription fraud.

Consultant gynaecologist with NHS and extensive private practice charged with sexual assaults of three female patients.

Consultant psychiatrist whose conduct grossly compromised patient safety.

Consultant gastroenterologist falsifying data and research reports for publication in leading clinical journal.

Consultant thoracic anaesthetist charged with misrepresentation and misconduct.

Nick has recently represented the likes of Tesco PLC in liquor licensing applications and has recent experience of firearms appeals.

Nick has experience of representing companies, insurance companies and individuals at inquests.

Additional Information

  • Joint Head of Chambers (2022)
  • Head of Criminal Team, New Park Court Chambers (2022)
  • Recorder – Class 2 (2013)
  • Recorder – Crown Court (2008)

  • CBA
  • RASSO
  • North Eastern Circuit

“Nicholas Lumley KC is a fantastic advocate. He has an understated yet extremely effective approach in the courtroom. "Nicholas is a very fine criminal advocate who gives 100% to every case.”


“Nicholas is an excellent counsel.”


“He commands respect in the courtroom. He prepares thoroughly and is able to convey the most complex of points in a jury-friendly manner.”


“He has a focus and delivery that makes him impressive as an advocate.”


“Frequently handles serious criminal cases, including those concerning homicide, rape and drugs. He is particularly experienced in medico-legal matters.”


“He is a very polished advocate. His cross-examination skills are excellent and a joy to watch. He has a very good court presence.”


“He is a good operator and has a very sensible and down-to-earth manner. "Very strong and calm in court." "His cross-examination of witnesses is perfect.”


“He has a very good manner with the jury. His legal analysis is very good and his written work is superb." "His legal analysis is very good and his written work is superb.”


“He is meticulous in his preparation, effective in his delivery and unflappable.”


“A devastating cross-examiner.”


“Unflappable, charming, and always has the ear of the court.”


“An ability to think on his feet with an astute tactical brain.”


“Recommended for 'prosecuting and defending in cases involving drug trafficking, money laundering and homicide'.”


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