Nicholas Sproull

Recent cases

• G v G (January 2022) – this was a long-running case in which Nick represented the wife throughout. The assets comprised shares in a private company, valued at about £3.4m, together with various properties in the UK and abroad. Following a contested final hearing, the court ordered the husband to transfer to the wife all the realisable assets and to pay her a series of lump sums, together with joint lives periodical payments. The husband subsequently applied to set aside the order on the basis that the pandemic was a Barder event. When that failed he appealed both that decision and the substantive order. The appeals came before HHJ Rogers and were refused. When the husband failed to pay the first lump sum the wife applied successfully for the appointment of a receiver (Simon Rowe of Milsted Langdon).
• C v C (December 2021) – this case concerned a lottery win. Nick represented a wife who had won the Set for Life game (£10,000 pm for 30 years). The ticket was bought with money from a joint account, but was bought at the end of a short and unhappy relationship. The issue in the case was whether or not the win was matrimonial and the court’s likely approach to the guidance given by Mostyn J in the case of S v AG [2011] EWHC 2637. The case settled at a Private FDR before Andrew Day on the basis of a transfer of the family home and a lump sum payment.
• W v W (December 2021) – this was a tragic case in which one of the parties’ children had committed suicide. Nick represented the wife who very much wished to retain the family home for the sake of the surviving children. The home comprised the greater proportion of the non-pension assets, however, and so the court had to be persuaded to perform an offsetting calculation against the husband’s pension. The husband objected and sought a 50/50 division of all assets. The court acceded to the wife’s submission and then embarked upon a calculation of the appropriate offset, in light of the SJE evidence and the PAG report.
• C v C (July 2021) – Nick represented the husband who is a successful local businessman and who had been already wealthy by the time of this (second) marriage. The wife disagreed with the conclusions of the SJE and obtained her own expert evidence. The issues included the court’s likely approach to the expert evidence, including the extent of the marital acquest, the tax treatment of a large outstanding director’s loan account and which expert’s evidence was likely to be more persuasive. The case was listed for a Private FDR before Christopher Sharp KC, but was eventually resolved by agreement without an indication.
• S v S (April 2021) – Nick represented the wife in a case involving two wealthy individuals (about £20m each) who had entered into a pre-nup in Scotland. They subsequently bought a family home subject to a further agreement which failed to reference the pre-nup. The issue in the case was how to interpret the two agreements separately and together. Expert evidence was obtained from a KC in Scotland. A Private FDR which took place before Robert Peel KC (as he then was) failed, but the case settled at the final hearing.

Recommendations

“Nicholas is a very reassuring person to have on your team; his advocacy is standout. He is a very calm and a very effective advocate.”

“Nick Sproull reads cases very well in terms of the outcome.”

Chambers and Partners 2024 

‘Nicholas is a brilliant judge of a case who will fight in a very persuasive style if required but will always seek a fair settlement if it can be found. He is a go-to barrister in Bristol and the South West.’

Legal 500 2024

“Nicholas is amazing with clients; nothing is too much trouble.”

“Nicholas has huge amounts of gravitas in court advocacy and conduct before the court and clients alike.”

“Nick is my go-to counsel for complex cases. He is a commanding presence with strong presentational skills and a deft touch with clients.”

Chambers and Partners 2023

“A methodical junior and a smooth operator. He remains calm under pressure and provides measured advice. A silk in the making.”

Legal 500 2023 

“Nick is an excellent advocate with a real presence and gravitas in court. Clients appreciate his down-to-earth and measured approach. He is quick to grasp the fundamental issues of a case which always puts him in good stead when in front of clients.”  “He is intelligent and has a gentle nature but extremely effective in court and in talking to clients.”
Chambers and Partners 2022

“An imperturbable barrister who has the court’s ear. With him you get silk quality representation without the silk price tag attached” “‘simply outstanding and provides enormous value to any case'”
Legal 500 2022

“Head of the matrimonial finance team, Nicholas Sproull is highly experienced acting for high net worth individuals in financial remedy matters. He offers considerable expertise in cases with a cross-border component. He is especially experienced on cases involving issues of non-disclosure and liquidity of assets.” “He has a wonderful way with clients and can get straight to the heart of the case quickly. He stays calm and collected under pressure and has a wonderful reputation.” “You know the preparation will be outstanding and his judgement spot-on.”
Chambers and Partners 2021

“Nick is very experienced and always calm, even in the most stressful of cases. He has the ability to cut through the detail and simplify a complex case, tailoring his approach to the Judge in front of you. Clients trust him and we work well as a team, he always asks my opinion and we hammer things out together which is good.”
Legal 500 2021

“Head of the matrimonial finance team, Nicholas Sproull is highly experienced in acting for high net worth individuals in financial remedy matters. He offers considerable expertise in cases with a cross-border component. He also assists with prenuptial agreements.” “He’s an effective advocate with a calm and confident manner, and grasps technical financial matters with ease. He also has a supportive manner with clients.” “He’s a very composed and persuasive advocate.”
Chambers and Partners 2020

“His attention to detail is incredible and his advocacy is absolutely first class. You have complete confidence that he has prepared thoroughly.” “A fantastic advocate who is really good with clients.”
Chambers and Partners 2019

“Practical and robust, with assiduous attention to detail.”
Legal 500 2019

“He offers considerable expertise in cases with a cross-country component.” “He is a highly regarded money specialist.” “He gives very considered advice and he is very eloquent in court.”
Chambers and Partners 2018

“A specialist in financial remedy matters.”
Legal 500 2017

“Highly experienced in acting for high net worth individuals on financial remedy matters.” “Amazing advocate, incredibly approachable for clients.” “Excellent with clients and a joy to watch in court. His attention to detail is second to none and he never fails to impress.”
Chambers and Partners 2017

Education

Professional memberships