Nikita McNeill is a skilled and confident advocate who is known for meticulous attention to detail. She is particularly adept at managing cases involving large volumes of material and complex expert evidence.
Nikita is a leading practitioner in the field of Inquests and Public Inquiries. She is a sought after junior, who has acted in many of the largest and most high-profile inquests and public inquiries.
She combines this with a diverse and challenging practice that also encompasses crime, professional discipline and licensing law. She is a member of the Attorney General’s Civil B Panel.
Nikita was recently shortlisted for Public Law Junior of the Year in The Legal 500 UK Bar Awards 2024.
Nikita accepts Direct Access instructions.
Nikita is skilled at representing both individuals and businesses in complex and high-value fraud matters, as well as other white collar work. She has particular experience in prosecutions by, or on behalf of, HMRC.
Before she came to the Bar, Nikita worked as a credit analyst for a worldwide blue chip company and was an adjudicator for the Financial Ombudsman Service, investigating and deciding upon complaints made against financial institutions. She has utilised this unique experience to advise upon the application of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to proposed business structures.
HMRC v Divyesh Karsan & Ors
Nikita was a led junior in a lengthy and complex MTIC fraud. The prosecution followed a large scale HMRC investigation, including covert surveillance and concealed cameras installed within the organisation’s offices. HMRC estimated that over £85 million in profits was laundered within the UK and transferred abroad, and that the total loss to the revenue as over £34 million. Nikita, led by Mark Graffius, defended the director of Golden Harvest, a wholesale alcohol supplier who was alleged to have acted as a “buffer company”.
HMRC v Italian Wine Company (Central Criminal Court)
Nikita appeared as a led Junior in the defence of the Financial Controller of IWC. A joint investigation by the British and Italian authorities culminated in a 2 month trial at the Central Criminal Court. Over a 5 year period from 2008-2013 the company manipulated the Excise Movement and Control to smuggle wine from Italy. The total value of the evaded VAT, Excise Duty and Corporation Tax was estimated as over £46.5 million.
Nikita has been consistently ranked as a leading individual in the Inquests and Public Inquiries section of both Chambers & Partners UK and Legal 500 since 2018.
Nikita is a sought after junior for complex and high profile inquests and public inquiries. She is regularly instructed on behalf of a wide range of interested persons and core participants.
Nikita has experience of the lengthy and complex procedures required for applications to the Attorney General for a fiat to overturn the findings of an inquest and has both advised upon and acted in judicial review proceedings arising from inquests.
Independent Inquiry into Afghanistan
Nikita is currently instructed by the Government Legal Department to represent the Ministry of Defence in the Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan, which was established to investigate matters arising from the deployment of British Special Forces to Afghanistan between mid-2010 and mid-2013.
Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry
Nikita is currently instructed on behalf of the Post Office in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry established to gather a clear account of the implementation and failings of the Horizon IT system at the Post Office over its lifetime.
Inquest touching upon the death of Andrew Clarke
Nikita was instructed by a private mental health facility in an Article 2 jury inquest following the death of a detained patient from diabetic ketoacidosis as a result of failings identified in the facility’s management of his diabetes.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry
Nikita currently acts for the Welsh Government in their role as Core Participants to the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK. Nikita is taking responsibility for the Inquiry’s Module 3 which will examine the impact of the pandemic on healthcare systems in the 4 nations of the UK.
Inquest touching upon the death of Olivia Perks
Nikita was instructed by the Government Legal Department to represent the Ministry of Defence in an inquest touching upon the suicide of an Officer Cadet at Sandhurst which considered the systems and support in place for vulnerable officer cadets.
Inquest touching upon the death of Corrie McKeague
Nikita was instructed by the Government Legal Department on behalf of the Ministry of Defence in an inquest touching upon the death of an RAF Airman who went missing but whose body was never found.
R (Morahan) v HM Assistant Coroner for West London
Nikita successfully represented HMAC for West London before the High Court in relation to the, now leading, case considering the application of Article 2 for cases involving the treatment of mental health in the community.
Inquest into the death of Alexander Tostevin
Nikita was junior counsel for the Ministry of Defence in an inquest into the death of a member of special military unit, in which there were complex arguments about the anonymity of the unit and its members.
Jermaine Baker Public Inquiry
Nikita was instructed as first junior counsel to the Jermaine Baker Inquiry – an independent public inquiry into the shooting of Jermaine Baker during a Metropolitan Police Service operation.
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Nikita is instructed to represent a core participant involved in the renovation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry following a fire which resulted in the death of 71 people.
Rushbrooke v HM Coroner for West London
Nikita acted on behalf of the Coroner in an application to the Divisional Court to quash the inquest into the death of Sylvia Rushbrooke who was, at the time of her death, subject to a DOLS order and resident in a care home. The application was based upon procedural irregularities in the first inquest as well as insufficiency of inquiry.
R.e. Peter John Fasoli
Nikita acted on behalf of the Senior Coroner for West London in an application to the Divisional Court to quash the inquest into the death of Peter Fasoli. Mr Fasoli’s death was originally found to be accidental, following a fire at his home. Video footage subsequently discovered showed that Mr Fasoli was murdered before the fire was intentionally set.
Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse
Nikita is currently instructed as junior counsel in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which was established to examine how the country’s institutions responded to their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse.
Cummings v HM Coroner for West London
Nikita acted for the Senior Coroner for West London in an application to quash the inquest into the death of an elderly lady who died when her home caught on fire, following receipt of a new investigation by the London Fire Brigade into the possible causes of that fire.
Hillsborough Stadium Disaster
Nikita was instructed by Sir John Goldring as junior counsel to the inquest into the death of 96 football fans at the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster. Nikita was particularly involved in the consideration of the extensive and complex pathological evidence.
Nikita is highly experienced in advising and representing clients on all licensing matters under the Licensing Act 2003. She is particularly experienced in the areas of alcohol licensing. Nikita has advised and represented clients on the transfer of existing licences, licensing reviews and licensing appeals. In addition to her work representing individuals and companies facing Road Traffic and Tacograph Offences, Nikita is very knowledgeable about the Licensing and Regulation of Heavy Goods Vehicles by the Traffic Commissioners. She is able to advise upon both Operator Licences and Operating Centres, and to provide representation before the Traffic Commissioners.
Re. Chipstead Golf Club
Nikita represented the licensee who, having had a club premises certificate, wished to apply for a premises licence in order to make greater use of the Club’s leisure facilities for weddings and events. There was a large and concerted campaign of opposition by local residents to both the change in licence and the proposed licensing hours. Nikita persuaded the panel that the residents’ concerns about noise and nuisance were not supported and to grant the licence applied for.
Metropolitan Police Service v Bar Taps
Nikita represented the licensee who was subject to a summary licence review under the Section 53A procedure of the Licensing Act 2003 where the Metropolitan Police submitted that they were a premises associated with serious crime and disorder. Nikita made written representations against the very restrictive interim steps imposed, which were subsequently varied. During the substantive hearing Nikita cross-examined both the Metropolitan Police Officer and the Licensing Officer. Having made extensive written and oral submissions, Nikita persuaded the panel that the Metropolitan Police were wrong and this was not in fact a bar associated with serious crime or disorder. The panel agreed that the extremely serious conditions requested were not necessary and would serve only to shut down the premises.
Southwark Council v Jacks Bar
Nikita represented the licensee at a combined hearing to consider long-standing complaints by residents against a number of bars in the Southwark Area. Nikita negotiated with the licensing officer in advance of the hearing to agree a number of sensible conditions which the licensee could comply with and which would address many of the residents’ complaints. On the outstanding issues, Nikita addressed the panel at length and dissuaded them from limiting the operating hours or capacity of the venue.
Re. The Straight & Narrow
Nikita acted for a residents association in appealing to the Magistrates’ Court against the grant of a licence for a wine bar in a residential area.
Re. RS (Before the Traffic Commissioners)
Nikita acted for a large distribution company in a two-day public inquiry into its operating centre. A substantial local residents campaign had formed and objected to the continuing use of the centre following serious and repeated complaints about the safety and environmental effects of the site. Nikita questioned expert witnesses on noise, site safety and road safety. Ultimately, the Traffic Commissioner renewed the licence for use of the site without imposing any further restrictions on the operator.
Nikita advises and represents both athletes and their regulators. She has appeared before a number of different sports associations in relation to conduct and disciplinary proceedings.
Her experience in the fields of crime and professional discipline, as well as her very extensive knowledge of safeguarding provisions, make her ideally to suited to the very broad range of cases which may arise within the field of Sports Law.
British Gymnastics Association v A
Nikita acted for the British Gymnastics Association in disciplinary proceedings against a gymnastic club and its coaches relating to its treatment of young elite gymnasts.
FA v X
Nikita appeared on behalf of the FA to present the case against a player who failed an out of competition drugs test.
FA v M
Nikita appeared on behalf of the FA to present the case against a player who used discriminatory language towards opposing players.
Chambers is delighted to announce that Nikita McNeill has been appointed to the Attorney General’s…
Chambers is delighted to have been shortlisted in 12 categories at the Legal 500 Bar…
Welcome to the latest edition of the Professional Discipline Newsletter. Ben Rich Editor Foreword Hello…
