At New Park Court Chambers, we do things a little differently. With 70 junior barristers and 16 King’s Counsel, our reach and influence stretches far beyond the bounds of our Circuit.
As a Tier 1 Set based in Leeds and Newcastle we are home to a number of high profile and nationally and internationally reputable Counsel.
Nick Murphy prosecutes and defends in serious and complex crime. The core of his practice is fraud, money laundering and financial offending, but he is instructed across the full range of Crown Court work: organised crime, drugs, firearms, modern slavery, attempted murder and serious violence.
Nick acted for the first defendant in R v Baldauf [2023] EWCA Crim 282, an Operation Venetic prosecution concerning the exportation of 500kg of MDMA, which required detailed analysis of multiple EncroChat handles and became, on appeal, a leading authority on the admissibility of EncroChat evidence. His other defence work has included murder at the Central Criminal Court and the prosecution arising from the £245m HBOS fraud, in both cases as led junior.
As a Grade 3 CPS Advocate Panel member, Nick is regularly instructed to prosecute serious and organised crime, fraud and offences involving domestic abuse. He has substantial experience of confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, acting for both prosecution and defence, as well as applications for compensation and the disqualification of directors.
Much of Nick’s white-collar work involves allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, often for individuals and company directors in cases built on substantial documentary evidence. His preparation is thorough. He is comfortable with very large volumes of material and is good at finding the point on which a case turns.
In the Court of Appeal, Nick has appeared in cases giving guidance on the identification of suspects by police officers using CCTV (R v Hassan [2020] EWCA Crim 1314) and on findings of dangerousness (R v Fryer [2022] EWCA Crim 1837).
Nick is a qualified advocacy trainer at Lincoln’s Inn.
Represented a man accused of the exportation of 500kg of MDMA from the United Kingdom to Australia. Prosecuted under the umbrella of Operation Venetic, the case required detailed analysis of a number of Encrochat handles. On appeal, the case became a leading authority on the admissibility of Encrochat evidence. Led junior. (Kingston Crown Court).
Acted post-conviction in an appeal against a finding of dangerousness. The Court of Appeal quashed the sentencing judge’s finding and re-sentenced the defendant to a determinate sentence.
Instructed as led junior at both trial and on appeal against sentence for a teenager accused of shooting a former close friend in the face at close range.
Led junior. Attempted murder and multiple violent disorders across Leicester city centre. Successfully defeated an application for an Attorney General’s Reference and acted for the defendant on appeal during which the Court of Appeal gave important guidance on identification of suspects by police officers using CCTV. (Leicester Crown Court)
Secured the acquittal of a man charged with the point-blank murder of a drug-dealing associate. The case required extensive analysis of cell site material in order to prove the deceased’s links to firearms and high-level drug dealing. Led by James Scobie KC. (Central Criminal Court).
Successful defence of a college lecturer charged with laundering the proceeds of a £1 million fraud on life-insurance companies. The prosecution alleged that she had received over £500,000 in her accounts, of which £300,000 was withdrawn in cash. Led junior. (Southwark Crown Court)
Instructed to defend a man charged by Essex Trading Standards accused of supplying central heating equipment which was alleged either to be unnecessary or else which did not work in the way contented by the defendants. The case was voluminous and spanned many years. The prosecution offered no evidence after a successful section 8 application required them to undertake a wholesale re-evaluation of their case. Led junior. (Southwark Crown Court)
Defended a church warden accused of taking money from church collections and failing to bank them. He was also accused of a separate fraud in respect of a charity of which he was a trustee. Persuaded the prosecution to offer no evidence following the service of defence evidence which fatally undermined the prosecution case. (Oxford Crown Court)
Represented an independent financial advisor accused of claiming inflated commission by repeatedly moving his clients’ pension investments between funds. The case required detailed consideration of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Led junior. (Leeds Crown Court)
Led junior. Represented a solicitor who was accused of laundering the proceeds of the HBOS fraud estimated to have cost the bank £245m. Acquitted. (Southwark Crown Court)
Assisted with case preparation while on secondment to a specialist White Collar firm. (Southwark Crown Court)
Instructed to defend a man accused of a series of modern slavery defences. The case has required extensive analysis of CCTV. Ongoing. Led junior.
Represented a young man accused of being a driver in a courier fraud. Extensive analysis of cell site and ANPR material was required. (Teesside Crown Court)
Awards
We are pleased to share this recording of Nick Murphy, giving a…
Discover moreGiacomo Nikolov, Jela Jovanoic and Charlie Jovanovic, along with Valentino Nikolov, travelled to…
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