Year of Call
2016“She is an exceptional barrister whose persuasive approach both orally and written at court has resulted in favourable results for our clients. ”
Biography
Nancy is a tenacious advocate who meticulously prepares her cases. She provides robust and pragmatic advice and persuasive advocacy. Nancy is personable and very good at building and maintaining effective working relationships. Solicitors say "Her ability to work effectively with clients from a variety of ethnic backgrounds distinguishes her from the rest" and "Neither my clients nor I can speak highly enough of her. Nancy is rigorous in her preparation, methodical, strong in court, and is superb at making clients feel at ease; by talking the client clearly through every step of their case and providing reassurance during the court process which for most is an anxious and emotional time".
Nancy specialises in family and Court of Protection work, and accepts instructions in relation to all cases relating to children. She is experienced at all types of children law, and is building her practice in Court of Protection cases particularly where these overlap with children law.
Nancy is the Vice Chair of Schools Outreach for Gray’s Inn and regularly takes part in outreach work including "Pathways in to Law - Diverse Perspectives" during Black History Month 2022. She was a social mobility advocate for the Bar Council’s #Iamthebar 2020 – 2021 campaign. Nancy has also been appointed to the FA Safeguarding Review Panel for a 3 year term.
Nancy has recently worked with the UK Sierra Leone Pro Bono Network to draft the Sentencing Guidelines for the Anti-Corruption Division of the Sierra Leonean High Court. She visited Sierra Leone in March 2022, provided training on legal drafting to anti-corruption prosecutors and investigators; discussed the consultation drafts of the Sentencing Guidelines and the Practice Directions with judges; and met with the anti-corruption commission. The Sentencing Guidelines and Practice Direction for the Anti-Corruption Court were published in October 2022.
Prior to joining the bar, Nancy worked at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris in the common law team, the United Nations Development Programme, Access to Justice Programme in Sierra Leone, Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law and in the international and group claims department of the leading human rights law firm Leigh Day where she was involved in several large group actions.
Children law (public)
Nancy accepts instructions in public children proceedings and has appeared at all stages of cases through to final hearings, including fact-finding hearings. She regularly receives instructions on behalf of parents, local authorities and guardians.
Nancy has been instructed to appear in complex cases where she has made applications to dispense with the notification of care proceedings to parents with and without parental responsibility and non–disclosure to a party in proceedings which have raised human rights issues.
Nancy has also dealt with a wide range of other matters such as:
- Forced marriage protection orders;
- Honour based violence;
- Relinquished baby cases with international elements;
- Discharge of care orders.
Nancy has also represented vulnerable clients who have necessitated the intervention of the Official Solicitor. She has a developing Court of Protection practice arising out of her care practice where she deals with issues which overlap the two jurisdictions.
Court of Protection
Nancy has a growing Court of Protection practice which overlaps with her care practice, and is experienced at dealing with DoLs applications. She is instructed by both local authorities and NHS trusts.
Nancy is actively seeking instructions in this area of work.
Nancy also has experience in Forced Marriage Protection Orders and accepts instructions in these cases.
Children law (private)
Nancy represents clients who are involved in private children proceedings and is instructed for all types of hearing, including FHDRAs, DRAs, directions hearings, fact-finding hearings and final hearings.
She has experience dealing with a breadth of issues including allegations of sexual abuse and serious physical abuse, parental alienation, intractable contact and internal and international relocation. Her background in criminal law means she is very good at cross-examining witnesses and dealing with serious allegations of harm.
Domestic abuse / injunctions
Nancy represents clients who are involved in Family Law Act 1996 proceedings, including proceedings involving allegations of serious domestic abuse. She has experience of proceedings in respect of non-molestation orders, occupation orders, forced marriage protection orders and committal for breach of undertakings and the different types of hearing, including without notice hearings, return dates, directions hearings and final hearings.
Nancy has previously volunteered at a women’s only advice centre where she advised and supported victims of domestic abuse. As a result, she has an empathetic and a reassuring manner which quickly puts vulnerable clients at ease.
Civil litigation
Nancy is instructed by both Claimants and Defendant insurance companies in personal injury claims. She is experienced at representing clients at all stages of the claim, from interlocutory applications to trials in both the small claims and fast track. She is able to advise on allegations of fundamental dishonesty, and to deal with them effectively in court.
Nancy also has experience in advising on credit hire claims, contractual disputes and other small claims matters as well as possession proceedings.
Regulatory and public law
Nancy is a member of the Attorney General’s Junior Junior panel and has received instructions from the Foreign Office to assist in the preparation of a judicial review claim as part of a team of barristers. She has recently succeeded in striking out claims against the CPS/DPP for malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, negligence and breach of human rights following a judicial review decision of the High Court to quash an unlawful conviction for harassment. Nancy successfully argued that some elements of the claim should be struck out on the grounds that they did not disclose any reasonable grounds for bringing a claim, and summary judgment should be awarded in others.
Nancy has a keen interest in public law and is looking to develop her practice in this area.
Nancy's background in criminal law makes her ideal to manage regulatory cases, and she receives instructions to prosecute private statutory nuisance matters in the Magistrates Court.
Publications
Nancy commented on Nigeria's SARS for Littlelaw.co.uk in January 2021.
Matthews and N. Williams, Post Brexit crystal ball gazing: What the future holds for Phase I Clinical Trials in the UK, Clinical Risk, 2016, Vol. 2 (5-6) 97-104. This paper was subsequently presented to the Medico-Legal Society on 11th January 2018. The presentation was published in the Medico-Legal Journal, 2018, Vol. 86 (2) 63-71.
Instruct
To instruct Nancy in family or Court of Protection cases, please contact Jay Dorton or Stephen Bush.
To instruct Nancy in civil matters, please contact Greg Piner.
Education
- LL.B.(Hons) University of Nottingham
- LL.M. University of Nottingham
Memberships
- Personal Injury Bar Association
- Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association
- Justice
Prizes
- Sir Dingle Foot Award, Gray's Inn
- Award from the Vocalize programme, Gray's Inn
Languages
- Spanish
- French
Notable Cases
Re KT [Barnet F.C] [2020]: Nancy represented a parent who had the residency of the child transferred to her because of parental alienation by the other parent.
Re K [CFC] [2019]: Represented the Local Authority in care proceedings. A special guardianship order was made. The mother made a successful application for the father to not receive notification of the proceedings.
R v RW: Appeal against conviction for racially aggravated assault and racially aggravated criminal damage. Racially aggravated elements were dismissed by the court.