Nicole Jennings

Nicole has a busy and varied practice covering all of Chambers’ practice areas. She welcomes instructions for representation and paperwork across all aspects of family and civil law. Nicole also accepts instructions on a direct access basis.

She has a busy practice in both private and public children matters. Nicole has acted for parents, extended family members and the guardians. She is able to robustly represent clients in complex matters.

Nicole understands that legal proceedings can be daunting and prides herself on listening to the client and guiding them through the proceedings by explaining procedure and potential outcomes.

Nicole has successfully represented clients throughout the financial remedy process, including final hearings. She is able to digest large amounts of information and provide succinct and accessible advice. Nicole is eager to expand her financial remedy practice.

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Nicole has a busy and varied practice. She welcomes instructions for representation and paperwork across many aspects of family and civil law. Nicole also accepts instructions on a direct access basis.

Nicole understands that legal proceedings can be daunting and prides herself on listening to the client and guiding them through the proceedings by explaining procedure and potential outcomes. She is particularly conscious that, with some hearings now being remote, there is additional need to support her clients remotely and maintain open lines of communication.

She has a thriving practice in private children matters (including Schedule 1). Nicole has acted for parents, extended family members and guardians. She is able to robustly represent clients in complex matters.

Nicole has successfully represented clients throughout the financial remedy process, including pre-liminary issue and final hearings. She is able to digest large amounts of information and provide succinct and accessible advice. Nicole is eager to expand her financial remedy practice.

As part of her busy and growing civil practice, Nicole frequently represents both individuals and companies in small claims, fast track hearings and disposal hearings. Nicole has experience in contract disputes, trusts of land (TOLATA), property/land disputes, probate, and condemnation proceedings.

Nicole has experience in drafting legal documents at various stages of proceedings in both family and civil matters and is happy to undertake paperwork instructions on the same basis.

Prior to joining Becket Chambers, Nicole was part of an in-house legal team at one of the leading global media companies in London working on international contracts throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa. This enabled her to develop sharp negotiation skills and represent clients in difficult and confrontational scenarios.

Nicole has also worked as an integral part of a real estate legal team on a national project where she adeptly balanced her client’s commercial and legal needs when negotiating contracts with a variety of companies including local councils and NHS bodies.

Nicole is passionate about working with vulnerable clients. She has volunteered with many pro bono projects, including The Family Advice Scheme, The Norfolk Community Law Service (Domestic Abuse Team), and the BPP Pro Bono Unit. Nicole continues to volunteer at the Kent Law Clinic helping those with limited access to legal advice and with the Kent Alliance.

Children - Private Law (CAP)

Nicole regularly represents parents, other family members (including grandparents) and guardians at any stage of proceedings from the First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment through to final hearings, including fact-finding hearings.

Her experience includes complex cases, including multi-day hearings, and she works sensitively with vulnerable clients including people with learning difficulties and victims of domestic abuse. She is familiar with participation guidance (Part 3A and Practice Direction 3AA) and has successfully completed the FLBA ‘Advocacy and the Vulnerable’ training course.

Nicole prides herself on her sensitive approach with vulnerable witnesses and victims of abuse whilst remaining practical and pragmatic about potential outcomes.

She is highly aware of how difficult domestic situations can provoke irrational behaviour. She is gentle when needed, and is adept at guiding her clients through potential scenarios, giving them time to absorb information.

Nicole is highly competent at reviewing written evidence, audio and video files, and her case experience includes large bundles of over 5000 pages.

Nicole is up-to-date with new legal requirements for cross-examination of victims of domestic abuse and is among the first in the country to be a Qualified Legal Representative.

Nicole Jennings' Children - Private Law (CAP) Cases

Acting for father in multi day fact finding hearing

Nicole acted for the applicant father in a multi-day fact-finding hearing where cross-allegations had been made. Both parties were assisted by interpreters. The mother had alleged that the father had been physically, sexually, and financially abusive and had been controlling and coercive towards her. She also alleged that the father had physically abused the children. Continue reading

Articles by Nicole Jennings

An unusual case – private sperm donation, parental responsibility, and contact

MacDougall v SW & Ors (sperm donor: parental responsibility or contact) [2022] EWFC 50 is concerned with three linked cases where the children have the same biological father (“JM”). The judgment is concerned with the first two cases (SW and EG), the third case having been adjourned. The court had to consider: JM’s applications for Continue reading

Nicole Jennings' Testimonials for Children - Private Law (CAP)

“My client was very happy with the support and advice offered by Nicole hence he has booked her for the final hearing in August.

I have to say, I always appreciate how helpful Nicole is and how forthcoming she is with checking over documents and offering support throughout a matter, which is why I enjoy booking her as we can work better as a team this way.”

Miss M from solicitors instructing Nicole Jennings – February 23

“ Nicole who represented me was really brilliant within the hearings so thank you for having her involved and having her return to do the hearings with me.”

Client instructing Nicole Jennings through Solicitors – September 22

“Thank you again for your help – Mr W is happy with your representation and has described you as “brilliant and impressive”, which I totally agree with.”

Ms B from Solicitors Instructing Nicole Jennings – January 21

Divorce & Matrimonial Finance

Nicole is building a busy practice in financial remedies. She also has experience of proceedings where TOLATA interplays with financial remedy matters (for example where one party’s parents own a share of the matrimonial home). Her practical and pragmatic approach helps her to achieve her aim of finding a solution which benefits her client even in lower value cases.

She welcomes instructions throughout the process, from FDAs and FDRs to preliminary issue hearings and contested final hearings.

As well as managing her busy practice, Nicole is dedicated to keeping herself and others up-to-date with developments and guidance. She is the author of several articles and delivers CPD webinars on financial remedy proceedings to solicitors to help them familiarise themselves with changes.

 

Articles by Nicole Jennings

Nicole Jennings' Testimonials for Divorce & Matrimonial Finance

Thank you for your gargantuan efforts – having spent plenty of time on the telephone reassuring the client, I think you have done a sterling job. Have a good weekend

Solicitors Instructing Nicole Jennings for a Financial Dispute Resolution – March 2022

Property & Land Law

Nicole is regularly instructed by tenants and landlords on a variety of property disputes. She has particular expertise of possession proceedings and delivers webinars on this topic to help others keep up-to-date with developments.

Her experience includes matters involving disputes between neighbours, nuisance and/or trespass, disputes over possession of land.

She welcomes instructions from both claimants and defendants in relation to all property and land law disputes.

 

Nicole Jennings' Property & Land Law Cases

Opportunity to repay debt before Order of Sale granted

Nicole represented the Defendant in a case where, prior to her involvement, the Claimant had secured a final charging order in relation to her client’s property. The Claimant was now seeking to enforce the final charging order by applying for an order for sale of my client’s property. She first successfully applied for an adjournment Continue reading

Nicole Jennings' Testimonials for Property & Land Law

Thank you Nicole.  Great work – the client is very, very happy. 

Mrs E from Solicitors Instructing Nicole Jennings – June 2021

Civil Partnership & Cohabitation Dispute

Nicole is regularly instructed in matters involving TOLATA and is adept at managing and negotiating complex arguments whether parties wish to reach agreement about ownership of property or when robustly representing her client in legal proceedings.

She frequently accepts instruction in cases where TOLATA overlaps with family law and may involve partners who are cohabiting and also have children.

 

Probate & Inheritance

Nicole welcomes instructions for drafting and/or representation involving claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975, including disputes over the validity of Wills, the construction of Wills, Trusts and the beneficial ownership of property.

Articles by Nicole Jennings

Family Injunctions

Nicole welcomes instructions in cases involving applications for injunctions and represents local authorities and private individuals.

She has particular experience in disputes involving neighbours and where there have been general anti-social behaviour, harassing behaviours and / or threats made.  She has also acted in disputes involving matters of privacy (CCTV/video doorbells).

Nicole is experienced at drafting letters before action and applications and cross-examining examining witnesses.

Nicole Jennings' Family Injunctions Cases

Successfully negotiated a non-molestation order

Nicole represented the applicant wife. The respondent husband had engaged in a campaign of harassing and stalking behaviour and, as a result, the wife had to flee her home. Nicole successfully negotiated a non-molestation order by agreement which provided full protection for her client for an extended term.

Nicole Jennings' Testimonials for Family Injunctions

“….he could not speak too highly of you. Thank you for a stellar performance!”

Mr S from solicitors instructing Nicole Jennings – Oct 23