Nicholas Corsellis KC

A highly respected leading counsel specialising in serious crime, Nicholas Corsellis has the ideal approach to put the client at ease both with his manner and expertise. He is an exceptional advocate and appeals to the jury at every level, whether prosecuting or defending.

Overview

Nicholas undertakes work involving the gravest offences and the most high-profile cases both for the prosecution and defence. He has the complete repertoire in serious crime including murder, serious fraud, very high-value drugs conspiracies and sexual offences, including sexual abuse and rape (historic as well as current). He has experience at every level of the legal system from pre-charge through to appeal. Nicholas regularly represents professionals where they face criminal charges, often alongside regulatory proceedings; his calm and assured approach places him exceptionally well to deal with the most sensitive of charges at the most difficult of times.

Experience

Nicholas undertakes very high-profile cases and handles allegations of serious crime including murder, very high-value drugs conspiracies and sexual offences. His experience and ability means that he often leads where other parties are led by Queen’s Counsel, as with the murder trial of R v MR & Others (2014-5) and the Hatton Garden Jewellery Heist Trial (R v Wood and others), where he led for the first defendant. He has represented the defence in other high-profile cases such as the organiser of the £40m Graff Jewellery Robbery (R v Kassaye), the first defendant inR v O & Others (the Victoria Station Murder), the Latvian serial rapist and murderer (R v Dembovskis) and a 15-year-old contract killer (R v G).

He is one of the few specialist rape prosecutors but also defends in such cases on a privately instructed basis, where he is sought out for his knowledge, expertise and also his calm, measured and reassuring approach. Judges and juries love him; he has a phenomenal track record. At Grade 4, Nicholas prosecutes at the most senior level, often for the most specialised teams within the CPS. He is an exceptional team player and works well with all members of a prosecution team as well as with victims and the families of victims; he is always sensitive to their needs as well as that of the case at hand.

Notable Cases

R v P & Others (2015) Secured acquittal of man alleged to be involved in conspiracies to import vast quantities of cocaine into the UK.
R v Mamunoor Rahman & Others (2014) The only junior instructed as leading counsel for the central defendant in this multi-handed murder trial.
R v ZH & Others (2014) Counsel for the first defendant in a drugs conspiracy concerning the importation and wholesale supply of £50m of heroin to the UK.
R v RSP (2014) Case involving a graphic designer who punched a fellow passenger who tragically died due to catastrophic brain injury shortly afterwards.
R v B (2014) Secured the acquittal of a person charged with a £1m+ mortgage fraud.
R v MS (2014) Counsel for a defendant who raped and attempted to murder a stranger before seeking out and murdering his wife.

Overview

Nicholas Corsellis has developed a complex, high-value corporate crime practice across all areas of the field and through all tribunals both in type and tier. Frequently international in dimension, he is accomplished at dealing with vast amounts of complex material and in presenting the detail, gracefully and with ease before a Jury. Often called upon to represent at all stages of an investigation in both the regulatory and criminal forums, he provides a broad and exceptional service.

Experience

Nicholas acts in complex multimillion-pound fraud cases, often with an international dimension. Recent examples include: R v H(2016) which involved a £2m conspiracy to cheat the UK and German public revenue using a multitude of companies and mechanisms; R v KH & Others(2016), relating to a series of boiler room frauds using carbon credits and overseas banking aid as methods to attract unsuspecting investors; R v S & Others (2013), a £5m worldwide wine fraud; R v O & Others(2014) a £17m+ payroll fraud leading to a conspiracy to frustrate restraint proceedings; and R v B (2014), a £1.2m mortgage fraud.

Nicholas advises on Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Regulatory enquiries concerning alleged FSMA offences such as non-regulated businesses contravening financial promotion and the arrangement provisions, a topic of high interest given the changes to the public’s access to pensions.

Notable Cases

R v B (2014) Secured the acquittal of a person charged with a £1m+ mortgage fraud.
R v O & Others (2014) Defence counsel in a case involving the disposal of the proceeds of a £17m fraud.
R v S & Others (2014) Leading counsel for a key defendant in a £5m investment fraud.

Overview

In the field of Professional Discipline, Nicholas Corsellis has both presented for regulators and defended professionals in the tribunals adjudicating over their respective professions. He now primarily defends; his calm and assured manner and vast experience make him the ideal candidate to represent professional clients during the most challenging of times. He operates in the medical, legal, financial and sports industries. His vast experience of the criminal courts, regulatory tribunals and of inquests, place him extremely well to deal with whatever may arise during the course and execution of
an investigation and hearing process. He is familiar with all charges, types of hearing and at all levels of the tribunal system and its processes.

Experience

Sport

The foundations of Nicholas’ practice in professional discipline are in sports regulation. For a number of years he has acted for the International Tennis Federation (and other Governing Bodies) in arbitrations concerning professional tennis players either at first instance or before the Court of Arbitration of Sport in Lausanne. Recent examples are PTIOs v Jakupovic (2016) and PTIOs v Gadomski (2016). Nicholas often writes on topics relating to this field and provides comment to the media on issues arising from his work. Other sport regulators that Nicholas has worked for include presenting on behalf of the British Horse Racing Authority.

Healthcare

Nicholas began his practice in medical regulation by presenting for the General Dental Council. Over the years his experience has broadened and he has also appeared before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and the Nursing and Midwifery Council, predominantly defending allegations of misconduct. Nicholas often acts for professionals in criminal investigations that run alongside regulatory hearings. He also has experience of inquests, when regulatory matters involving a death progress to the Coroner’s Court.

Financial Services

As well as his experience of representing Individuals working in the medical regulatory field, he also has experience of representing professionals operating in the financial services sector and financial markets. He has recently advised on a number of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulatory enquiries concerning alleged FSMA offences such as non-regulated businesses contravening financial promotion and the arrangement provisions, a topic of much interest given the changes to the public’s access to pensions. Nicholas’ vast experience and recognised ability in this field means that he is often instructed in niche fields; he has advised and represented individuals in proceedings brought by the National Rifle Association.