Barrister Profile

Profile

Practises in the areas of employment, sport and pensions.

Nicholas is one of the few barristers who is acknowledged in the legal directories as a leader at the Bar in three separate fields, namely employment, sports law and pensions. He has been consistently recognised in the highest bracket for employment law and he was named "Employment Junior of the Year" at the Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2007.

Recommendations

Nicholas Randall is '...recognised as a heavyweight in the employment arena on account of his "excellent judgment and fine cross examination skills"...' 

Employment, Chambers UK

'Commended for “cutting to the chase” and as an “all round excellent lawyer”…'

Employment, Legal 500

'...perceived as having a great feel for the area...'

Sport, Chambers UK

'...a pugnacious advocate...'

Sport, Legal 500

"is the preferred choice of several city firms and has also represented the Pensions Ombudsman"

Pensions, Legal 500

Areas of Practice

Employment

Practises in all areas of employment law including restrictive covenants and breach of confidence, share schemes, wrongful and unfair dismissal, TUPE and trade union related issues.  His clients include blue chip companies, City institutions, trade unions and a number of high profile individuals including Kevin Keegan, Roy Keane, Sir Bobby Robson, David O'Leary, George Graham, Sir Alex Ferguson and Marcus Wareing. 

Significant cases include:

• Kevin Keegan v. Newcastle United FC - [2010] IRLR 94
• New Star Asset Management v. Evershed - [2010] EWCA Civ 870
• R (on the application of the Public & Commercial Services Union) v. Minister for the Civil Service - [2010] ICR 1198
• Stephen Dunn & Ian Davison v. AAH Ltd [2010] IRLR 709
• Wilson v. St Helens MBC - [1998] ICR 1141 (HL)
• Mallone v. BPP - [2003] BCC 113 (CA)
• Newham LBC v. Skingle - [2003] ICR 1008 (CA)
• Dorling v. Sheffield CC - [2003] ICR 424 (Ch Div)
• ADI Ltd v. Willer - [2001] IRLR 542 (CA)
• Credit Suisse First Boston v. Lister - [1998] IRLR 700 (CA)
• TSC (Europe) Ltd v. Massey - [1999] IRLR 22 (Ch Div)
• British Airways Plc v. Starmer - [2005] IRLR 862 (EAT)
• Edwards v. Derby City Council - [1999] ICR 114 (EAT)
• Knowles v. Fire Brigades Union - [1997] ICR 595 (CA)
• Bass Taverns Ltd v. Burgess - [1995] IRLR 596 (CA) 
• Baynton v. Saurus General Engineers - [2000] ICR 375 (EAT)
• Drage v. Governing Body of Greenford School - [2000] ICR 899 (CA)
• Glennie v. Independent Magazines (UK) Ltd - [1999] IRLR 719 (CA)
• Takacs v. Barclays Services Jersey Ltd [2006] IRLR 877 (QBD)
• British Airways Plc v. Starmer [2005] IRLR 863 (EAT)
• EB v. BA [2006] IRLR 471 (CA)

Sport

Has acted in several high profile football related disputes including:

• Kevin Keegan v. Newcastle United FC
• Sir Bobby Robson v. Newcastle United FC
• David O'Leary v. Leeds United AFC
• George Graham v. Spurs
• David Pleat v. Spurs
• Colin Todd v. Derby County FC
• John Gregory v. Derby County FC
• Keith Curle v. Mansfield Town FC
• Gary Megson v. WBA FC
• David Platt v. Nottingham Forest FC

Nicholas is a member of the FA Disciplinary Tribunal Panel and the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel. He is also regularly appointed to sit as an arbitrator in FA related disputes. He was a member of the FA Premier League appeal panel in the Carlos Tevez case.

As well as representing high profile individuals Nicholas also has a wealth of experience in representing football agents in disputes regarding other agents and clients. He is instructed in the high profile dispute between the Formation Group and its former director Paul Stretford.

He has also acted for the Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club in its dispute with the Bradford Bulls and Iestyn Harris.

Pensions

Acts for members, trustees and trade unions in a broad range of pensions disputes.

Has acted for the Pensions Ombudsman on numerous occasions. Also has experience of insurance issues relating to pensions misselling and associated disciplinary and regulatory matters.

Significant cases include:

• R (on the application of the Public & Commercial Services Union) v. Minister for the Civil Service - [2010] ICR 1198
• Roger Bunney v. Burns Anderson & Others- [2007] 4 ALLER 246
• Duffield v. Pensions Ombudsman - [1996] OPLR 149 (Ch Div)
• Wild v. Pensions Ombudsman - [1996] OPLR 129 (Ch Div)
• NHS Pensions Agency v. Pensions Ombudsman (Re Beechinor) - [1997] OPLR 99 (Ch Div)
• Kilvert v. Flackett - [1998] 2 FLR 806 (Ch Div)
• Metropolitan Police Service v. Hoar - [2000] OPLR 267 (Ch Div)
• Save & Prosper Group Ltd v. Loot Ltd - [2001] OPLR 273 (Ch Div)
• Wirral BC v. Pensions Ombudsman - [2001] OPLR 73 (Ch Div)
• NUS Officials Superannuation Scheme v. Pensions Ombudsman - [2002] PLR 93 (Ch Div)
• Ford Motor Company Ltd v. Carr - [2002] OPLR 315 (EAT)
• Barking and Dagenham MBC v. Watts - [2004] BLGR 48; [2003] ICR 1059 (Ch Div)
• Chapman v. South Holland DC [2006] B.L.G.R. 437 (Ch Div)
• Ward v. South Yorkshire Pensions Authority [2006] PLR 29 (Ch Div)

Publications

Contributing Editor to Harvey on Industrial Relations and Employment Law [1994 to 2009]

Author of Halsbury's Laws Volume on Pensions (Vol 44(2))

Co-Author of Butterworths Employment Law Guide

Co-Author of the Butterworths Guide to the Employment Relations Act 1999

Co-Author of Contract Actions in Modern Employment Law

New Edition of "Smith & Randall on Contract Actions in Modern Employment Law" due for publication shortly

Academic

Part Time lecturer in Labour Law at the London School of Economics 1991-1994

Education

London School of Economics
LLB (Hons)

Additional Information

Interests include QPR, Football, Classic Rock, Jazz and the music of John Lydon