Henderson Chambers | Nicole Robertson

Nicole graduated from Oxford University with a first class degree in Philosophy and German before being awarded a Distinction for her law conversion at City University. While completing the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, Nicole taught contract law on the LLB course at City University. Since joining Henderson Chambers in 2009 she has developed a broad civil and commercial practice in line with Chambers’ profile.

Nicole advises in both contentious and non-contentious matters. She has appeared in the High Court in interim applications as well as before the bankruptcy and insolvency Registrars. She is regularly instructed to appear in the County Court, and has represented clients before the Employment Tribunal and the First-tier Tribunal in social security cases.
She was appointed to the Court of Appeal as the Judicial Assistant to Sedley LJ in 2009/2010. While there she gained extensive experience of the appellate process, as well being involved in and exposed to a broad range of civil litigation.

Property and Housing

Nicole’s property and housing practice is divided between advisory and advocacy work. Most recently she has advised on the construction of the grant of an easement, the impact of the reverter of sites legislation on a proposed transfer of land, the construction of a repair covenant in a commercial lease, and the effect of housing legislation in relation to property let by a Primary Care Trust to student nurses. Nicole regularly appears in the County Court in possession proceedings on behalf of both landlords and tenants. Her court work has also included injunction applications, claims under the Housing Act 2004 in respect of tenancy deposit schemes, and dilapidations disputes.

Finance and Consumer Credit

Nicole’s practice in this area includes both advisory and advocacy work. She has been instructed by lenders to plead against claims concerning the mis-selling of PPI, unfair relationships, and the enforceability of regulated agreements, as well as attending court on applications for summary judgment and strike out in claims under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 and various aspects of the Consumer Credit legislation. She has acted for banks as lenders, but also in their capacity as mortgagee under regulated agreements, with all the complications that can bring to the standard mortgagor-mortgagee relationship.

Employment

While at the Court of Appeal Nicole assisted with a number of appeals and applications for permission to appeal from the Employment Appeals Tribunal, including Buckland v Bournemouth University [2010] EWCA Civ 121, [2010] ICR 908 and Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police v Caston [2009] EWCA Civ 1298, [2010] IRLR 327. She represents both claimants and respondents before the Employment Tribunal.

Company and Commercial

Nicole accepts instructions in all aspects of both corporate and individual insolvency. She appears regularly in the High Court in bankruptcy proceedings and commercial applications, as well as in the County Court for commercial clients in the lead up to and at trial.

Common Law and Personal Injury

Nicole gained significant experience in the field of personal injury while a Judicial Assistant, tackling difficult questions of causation and remoteness (Spencer v Wincanton Holdings [2009] EWCA Civ 1404, 154 Sol Jo (No 1) 29, [2009] All ER (D) 194 (Dec) and Smith v Youth Justice Board [2010] EWCA Civ 99, [2010] All ER (D) 176 (Feb)), assessing evidence in asbestos cases (Willmore v Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council [20009] EWCA Civ 1211, [2010]ELR 227) and considering the application of the workplace health and safety legislation (Taylor v Wincanton [2009] EWCA Civ 1581). She settles pleadings and advises in all aspects of common law litigation, and has represented her clients at trial in the County Court. She provides advisory assistance to the Treasury Solicitors Department in respect of claims brought against the Ministry of Justice.