Nathanael Harding

Nathanael joined Chambers in 2022 following the successful completion of his pupillage, and is currently undertaking work in all Chambers’ areas of practice. He brings significant experience in business and teaching, as well as having worked as a County Court Advocate before undertaking pupillage. This experience helps him both in understanding his clients’ needs, and in ensuring that he is able to fully explain their legal situation and possible solutions.

He has been instructed on many Small Claims hearings, from matters arising from road traffic accidents to compensation for flight delay. He has particular experience in landlord and tenant matters and has been instructed on numerous applications relating to contractual disputes.

Nathanael graduated from St. Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge, in 2009 with a degree in Modern and Medieval Languages.

During a placement year in France with a multinational reinsurance company, he honed his client services skills and used his fluent French to assist communication between offices worldwide.

After graduating, he taught Modern Languages and Classics for four years at a leading independent school.

In 2013, seeking a more challenging career, Nathanael decided to study Law, feeling strongly that he could put his skills and his natural ability for dealing with complex information, to better use in supporting clients. He passed the Bar exam in 2015.

Between 2015 and joining Becket Chambers as a pupil in 2021, Nathanael worked as a self-employed County Court Advocate, taking instructions from several firms of solicitors and undertaking a range of civil hearings on the South Eastern Circuit. He also assisted in the training of new advocates, helping prepare them for the courtroom environment.

While maintaining close working relationships with professional and lay clients as a County Court Advocate, Nathanael also worked in Business Development for a global high-end security start-up, where he further honed his client support skills. This experience also gave him in-depth understanding of the business needs and priorities of his clients when undertaking civil work.

Nathanael welcomes instructions in all aspects of Private Children law, including fact-finding, final hearings and non-molestation orders.

In his previous experience as a teacher, he was often consulted by young people wanting to discuss sensitive issues, and his natural ability to develop rapport with people of all ages means that he is able to put his clients at ease in situations where they might be feeling nervous or uncomfortable.

He is experienced in working with clients who have experienced domestic abuse and his exemplary client care helps to provide reassurance and a sense of safety. Nathanael’s experience also makes him adept at using appropriate approaches to cross-examining minors of all ages.

He has empathy for the long-lasting impact that disputes involving children can have, and deals sensitively with ensuring the best outcome for the child(ren), whichever parent he is representing.

Nathanael is fluent in French, and has worked extensively with interpreters.

Nathanael is instructed in a wide range of disputes involving aspects of Property and Land Law, primarily in relation to landlords and tenants, and disputes between lenders and borrowers in mortgage proceedings.

As a solicitor’s agent, he gained six years’ experience of these matters, in particular in hearings related to mortgage proceedings, and has extensive, targeted knowledge of the mechanisms involved in these hearings.

Acting on behalf of landlords, he is well-versed in the tactics often employed by tenants to delay matters, and how to avoid these pitfalls.

Nathanael’s personal injury practice covers a wide range of areas, and he acts in all cases from small claims to fast-track proceedings.

His attention to detail and exemplary client support reassures clients and helps them to build confidence before court appearances. He supports his clients to ensure that all the necessary papers are correctly prepared and presented and is a strong advocate in court.

Nathanael is a member of the Becket Chambers Criminal Team and has considerable experience of representing the Home Office in Cash Forfeiture cases and condemnation cases involving tobacco and/or alcohol following interception at Dover or the Channel Tunnel.

He is experienced in working with clients where an interpreter is required, and is fluent in French.