Nikolas Clarke
UK Bar Guide 2025
Band 4 : Inquests & Public Inquiries
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
020 7405 6114Share profile
Band 4
About
Provided by Nikolas Clarke
Practice Areas
Nikolas is an experienced inquest barrister (called in 2000). He is instructed by the full range of interested persons in inquests.
He often acts for local authorities, usually Social Services or the Approved Mental Health Professional, in Article 2 ECHR and jury inquests which raise concerns about them or their agents failing to protect the deceased. His Article 2 inquest expertise means he is well-placed to act in related judicial review and civil claims.
He frequently appears in inquests involving the death of young people. Many cases have a mental health aspect.
His practice also covers personal injury, employment law and general civil law cases.
Career
Nikolas sat part-time as a fee-paid judge in the Mental Health Tribunal. He sits as a Deputy District Judge.
• In 2023 he represented the local authority in an Article 2 jury inquest into the death by suicide of a 17-year-old. The young man had been accommodated by the local authority at the time.
• Nikolas acted for the local authority in an Article 2 inquest into the suicide of an unaccompanied Eritrean asylum-seeker who died while a Looked After Child in the local authority's care.
• In 2018, led by John McLinden QC, Nikolas represented a local authority in an inquest concerning a cyclist’s death. The inquest involved the local authority’s planning and development, environmental control and street cleansing departments and Highways Authority as the road’s condition was a potential contributory factor.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Nikolas Clarke of Field Court Chambers offers comprehensive expertise in inquests involving vulnerable individuals in care. He is frequently instructed by a number of local authorities in such matters.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Nikolas is very good on the law. He is very persuasive in front of a coroner."
"Nikolas is calm, clear and confident in his work on inquests."
"Nikolas is always approachable and supportive. He provides regular updates when instructed."
"Nikolas is very good on the law. He is very persuasive in front of a coroner."
"Nikolas is calm, clear and confident in his work on inquests."
"Nikolas is always approachable and supportive. He provides regular updates when instructed."
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