Nicholas was appointed Silk in March 2019.
Nicholas is an employment specialist whose practice takes in all facets of employment litigation in the High Court and the statutory tribunals. He also enjoys a significant sports law related practice appearing before the ordinary courts and the relevant disciplinary/adjudicatory tribunals.
Particular areas of expertise are:
- Restrictive Covenants and Confidential Information
- Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Litigation
- Whistleblowing, particularly in the Financial Services Sector
- TUPE
- Equal Pay
- National Minimum Wage compliance
Nicholas has been continuously listed as a leading practitioner in employment in the legal directories since 2007. He is in addition listed for his Sports Law Practice in the Legal 500. Examples of recent comments are as follows:
Nicholas is a highly skilled silk who is widely praised for his client service. He regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal and the High Court on behalf of claimants and respondents, handling both discrimination and commercial employment claims. “Nick oozes intellect and controlled aggression combined with superb client handling.”“His preparation and attention to detail is excellent. He always goes the extra mile to make the difference in the cases he takes on.” Chambers & Partners 2023
“He is on the ball, he is phenomenally intelligent, clients get on well with him and he is a safe pair of hands.”“He is one of my go-to people if I need a big hitter; I particularly like him for discrimination, TUPE cases and really technical matters. He is a very strong advocate and he is a very likeable person.” “He is forensic and considered, which allows him to conduct careful analysis for clients.”
and
Nicholas Siddall QC has notable experience with TUPE, along with high-value discrimination claims and public interest disclosure cases. He is predominantly instructed on behalf of respondents but also works with trade unions and high net worth claimants. He is recognised for his expertise in defending applications for injunctive relief.
Strengths: “Nick is intensely intelligent and has a photographic memory for case law. His written advice is well structured and reasoned. He has a confident ability when dealing with clients.” “He is technically very good; a powerful, commanding advocate and an impressive all-round character.” Chambers UK 2022
“Extremely intelligent and focused on delivering the client’s commercial objectives. Nicholas is an excellent advocate, and he will roll his sleeves up and muck in when the pressure is on.” Legal 500 2023
“Technically excellent, with the ability to digest complex facts of the case and apply to the relevant law in a user-friendly way. Always willing to take a call and very client friendly.” Legal 500 2022
“He is wonderful – an employment law obsessive. He takes a scholarly approach to the law, and is genuinely interested.” “Great focus and attention to detail. Client witnesses invariably say they that they are pleased that he is on their side rather than the opponent’s.” Chambers UK 2021
“Superb – his warmth and personality are great assets for this type of work. He is decisive, does not sugarcoat, and is not afraid to tell a client how it is. He is also unflappable and very good on his feet.” Legal 500 2021
“A consummate professional, who grasps the intricate details of a case and distils into a clear, manageable legal analysis” Legal 500 2017
In the 2017 and 2018 Thomson Reuters Reports entitled “What do clients want from the Bar?” Nicholas was listed in the section “What barristers were respondents most impressed with?” as follows: ‘Very good on his feet in tribunal, good with clients, and works as a team with instructing solicitors’
Instructions over the last 12 months include:
- Advising various care employers (including a prominent mental health charity) as to the legal implications of the 2021 Regulations requiring the vaccination of all care home staff including whether dismissals for that reason triggered an employer’s obligation of collective consultation. He is currently instructed in a test case on behalf of one provider to assess the lawfulness of the employee’s dismissal on the basis of her non-vaccinated status;
- Acting on behalf of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in an 8-day discrimination hearing involving issues of Diplomatic Immunity and the effect of such a plea on the Employment Tribunal’s ability to determine a claim against the Embassy under the Equality Act;
- Appearing on behalf of an international automotive group in securing an injunction to restrain the employment of its senior technical officer by a competitor;
- Appearing in defence of a 10 day claim of whistleblowing brought against a Lloyd’s insurance syndicate in which the Claimant sought a career long loss of £2.6 million
- Advising a Magic Circle firm as to the correct manner to amend its internal policies to address holiday pay in the context of Permanent Health Insurance;
- Acting on behalf of a former desk head of an international financial institution in his claim of whistleblowing and disability discrimination. The Claimant seeks a career long loss of in excess of £13 million;
- Appearing in defence of an 8 day claim for whistleblowing dismissal on behalf of an international financial institution. The Claimant sought damages of £2.3 million reflecting a career long loss. The decision of the Employment Tribunal was successfully defended on appeal where the EAT clarified the scope of the Jhuti principle. A further appeal was successfully defended before the Court of Appeal on the issue of separability and Protect have been permitted to intervene. The Claimant is now seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court;
- Appearing for Multi-Academy Trust in defence of an 11 day claim of whistleblowing detriment/dismissal where the Claimant sought damages in excess of £500,000;
- Appearing in an appeal to the EAT addressing the deductions provisions of Regulation 12 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 in the context of the provision of credit to its staff by a Championship Football Club as regards the purchase of season tickets.
He was formerly in practice at Kings Chambers, where he had been a member since pupillage. He was educated at Scalby School and Cambridge University. He was called in 1997 and joined Littleton Chambers in 2013.
