Nicholas Hill
Practice summary
Nick has a growing practice in Financial Services law and regulation, Pensions law and Employment law.
In 2011 Nick was seconded to the Retail Markets department in the General Counsel’s Division at the Financial Services Authority. He advised on a broad range of matters, including use of the SSR and BIP under the Banking Act 2009 (Southsea Mortgage and Investment Company (the first case in which the Government did not step in to compensate depositors outside the scope of the FSCS), a wide range of issues surrounding Traded Life Policy Investments and “phoenix” companies. Nick is a member of the Financial Services Lawyers Association.
In Pensions law Nick gained valuable experience as a pupil under the supervision of David Grant. He assisted on MCP v Aon Pension Trustees ltd (on s27 of the Trustee Act 1925) and on a Pensions/Employment crossover work regarding the Firemen’s Pension Scheme. Nick regularly advises on discrete issues, particularly under the Local Government Pension Scheme (recent cases have focussed on the Rule of 85 and ill-health retirement). Nick gained further Pensions experience at the FSA while drafting Handbook amendments (to take account of the automatic enrolment regulations) and advising on numerous pension “unlocking” cases.
Nick regularly appears for Claimants and Respondents in all employment and discrimination related cases. He regularly appears in the Employment Tribunal and County Court. Nick is standing Counsel to the British Association of Journalists and a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
With a strong interest and growing experience in European Law Nick is well placed to act in cases containing a European element. He was instructed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to assist with implementation of the Services Directive and is currently Secretary to Aikens LJ’s European Committee reporting on significant developments in civil law for the Master of the Rolls.
In Public Law Nick was instructed by the Government in its defence of claims brought by a number of former Guantanamo Bay detainees. He continues to work (with a team of Counsel) assisting with preparation for the Gibson Inquiry. Nick is security cleared (Developed Vetted) and a member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association.
Nick has first class degrees in Politics (BA Hons) and Law (LLB Hons). He was first in the order of merit as an undergraduate and at Bar School. He held the Princess Royal and Sir Stephen Chapman Scholarships from Inner Temple.
