Area of Practice: Crime

Practice covers a wide range of criminal work with experience over 9 years on behalf of the defence. Prosecution work also undertaken. Cases include serious acts of violence and public order, serious sexual offences with a particular emphasis upon offences involving children, Arson with Intent, Class A drugs including importation and offences of dishonesty.

Sexual offences

• Acting for the defence in numerous child pornography cases including creating such material and representation of clients charged with extensive downloading and distribution of child pornography on the Internet.

• Unlawful Sexual Intercourse involving young people from a religious group. Case received national interest.

• Indecent assault and gross indecency including cases involving children, and adults charged with acts committed in the course of their profession.

Violence.

• Robbery with an emphasis upon representation of young offenders including representation of a youth charged with two counts of Robbery at knifepoint.

• Child cruelty cases including representation of a mother charged with serious cruelty over a 7 year period. Case included cross-examination of young children.

Other cases of note

• Cases involving motor fatalities for prosecution and defence, including representation of a mother charged with causing death by careless driving in which her child died. Case received wide media interest.

• Defending client charged with cultivation of cannabis involving legal argument on necessity before Mr Justice Hunt

• Also undertakes Local Authority prosecution work.

Areas of Practice: Family and Matrimonial Law

Experienced in all areas of family law public (for all parties), private and matrimonial proceedings, with wide experience in dealing with vulnerable and mentally incapacitated clients.

Private child proceedings

• Representation of parent with convictions for indecent assault against a family member in a Section 8 application for contact.

• Representation of father facing serious allegations of domestic violence against mother, including rape and acts of humiliation. All allegations were successfully rebutted.

Cases include removal of a child from the jurisdiction, child abduction, domestic violence and all Children Act applications.

Public proceedings

• Representation of the Official Solicitor on behalf of a mentally ill parent involved in serious neglect and abuse of teenage child.

• Representation of extended family member in a case involving wide cultural issues of abuse / chastisement.

• Representation in prolonged care proceedings where both parents had psychiatric issues, proceedings issued following the death of a child.

• Substantial case with over 6 years history involving non accidental injury, neglect and disparity in treatment between children

Ancillary Relief

Experience in representing parties within ancillary relief proceedings involving property interests in the United Kingdom and abroad, pension sharing, bankruptcy/IVA, and conduct issues.

Memberships:

Family Law Bar association

Northampton Family Court User Committee and Family Business Committee

Midland Circuit

Nicola Smith practices from 5 St Giles Terrace, Northampton. All enquiries and bookings should be directed to the London Clerks room on 020 7353 0003.

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