Nick Horton

Partner/Head of Department

Specialisms and expertise

  • Professional negligence disputes, particularly those arising from real estate transactions.
  • Regulatory disputes in the fields of planning, compulsory purchase, environmental, health and safety and competition law.
  • Planning work comprises planning and enforcement appeals, judicial reviews and handling investigations/prosecutions for breaches of planning/listed building legislation.
  • Environmental work involves representing clients facing investigations or prosecutions in areas ranging from waste and water pollution to packaging and contaminated land.
  • Health and safety - representing clients on investigations, interviews and prosecutions, particularly following serious incidents, and appealing Improvement/Prohibition Notices.

Past and present projects

  • Acting for The Royal British Legion in the Court of Appeal where important guidance was given on procedures and costs in judicial review cases: [2005] EWCA Civ 1583.
  • The defence of a high value professional negligence claim (settlement details confidential) arising from the purchase of residential property which was later found to have been built on the edge of a former landfill site; the land was severely contaminated and in need of an extensive remediation scheme.
  • A £0.6 million compulsory purchase compensation claim in the Lands Tribunal, relating to the compensation payable upon the acquisition of land, which included a former quarry, for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, in which ground breaking aspects of planning law were involved.
  • The defence of a number of health and safety prosecutions following fatalities suffered by employees/subcontractors at work.
  • A high value claim arising from a conditional contract for the sale of surplus land by an NHS Trust for development purposes.

Achievements and other appointments

Nick is acknowledged in leading independent guide to UK law firms, Chambers UK, as a leader in his field, with clients commending his “crystal clear analysis of the law”. He is praised in the 2011 edition for his ability to “communicate in layman’s language” and for “his appreciation of commercial business drivers”.

In 2008 Nick became the Head of the Dispute Resolution team, whose lawyers are praised in Chambers UK 2009 for their “prompt, clear and effective responses”.

Nick hosts the firm's TSP+ discussion forums which focus on key issues for Thames Gateway businesses.