Professional Practice

Nicholas specialises in high value matrimonial finance work. He is well known for his eye for detail, his knowledge of the law, and for his client care skills. He is Joint Head of Chambers (with Alexis Campbell KC).

Nicholas was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2018. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge assigned to the Family Division in October 2021 and is also a nominated Judge of the Court of Protection. He was previously appointed a Recorder of the Family Court in 2016. He was elected a Bencher of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2021.

Nicholas is highly ranked in both the Chambers UK and Legal 500 directories. He has been ‘Band 1’ ranked in the ADR table in Chambers UK since it was first published in October 2023.

Nicholas is a qualified arbitrator (Finance) through the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme. He was described as an “expert” in family arbitration by Peel J in G v G [2023] 2 FLR 491). He has to date been appointed as arbitrator in 34 cases and has written 27 awards (five having settled and two are ongoing). This is a significant proportion of the c. 600 arbitrations which have been registered since the inception of the financial scheme. He was also retained on a further six cases which settled or where arbitration was not pursued before his appointment was formalised. He has also conducted more than 80 private FDRs as evaluator.

Nicholas is a regular lecturer including to full-time and part-time judges at the Judicial College.

Nicholas is a contributing editor of The Family Court Practice - ‘the Red Book’ – (LexisNexis). He is the editor of the family law chapters of Foskett on Compromise (Sweet & Maxwell), the 10th edition of which was published in September 2024. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Financial Remedies Journal (Class Legal) and contributes regularly thereto. He has had several articles published in Family Law (LexisNexis). He is the co-author of the Practice Note on contempt proceedings under FPR 2010 Part 37 for Practical Law (Thomson Reuters).

Nicholas is a member of the FPRC Early Resolution Sub-Group which revised the FPR 2010 pre-application finance and children protocols. He was appointed by Mostyn J and Peel J to be a member of the committee revising the Family Court’s Standard Financial Orders which were published in 2023.

Nicholas co-authored the FLBA’s ‘Good Practice’ guidance for FDR Appointments much of which was later included in similar guidance published both by Resolution and the Family Justice Council. He has recently co-authored (with Rhys Taylor of 36 Family and Andrew Day of St. Ives Chambers) Guidance for the Bar on Neutral Evaluation which will be published on the ADR section of the Bar Council website.  He also contributed to Resolution’s Guide to Good Practice for Family Lawyers on Working with the Bar in Family Cases (2018 revision).

Nicholas is a member of the Family Solutions Group which is preparing a follow up to its first report  (‘What about me’ published in November 2020) focusing on what the modern family law professional should look like. He was a member of the JUSTICE Working Party, Improving Access to Justice for Separating Families, chaired by Professor Gillian Douglas, which published its report in 2022.

Nicholas is a trained collaborative lawyer and has been instructed on a joint basis in several such cases. He is a member of the Collaborative Family Law Group West Midlands.

Nicholas is Co-Chair of the Bar Council’s Services Appointments Panel and a member of the Bar Representation Committee. He is a former member of the Bar Standards Board’s Conduct Committee and Resolution’s Dispute Resolution Committee.

Nicholas is a door tenant at St. Ives Chambers in Birmingham.

Nicholas is the Chair of the UK Association of LGBTQ+ Judges. He sits on Middle Temple’s LGBTQ+ Committee. He was a trustee of FreeBar from 2017 - 2022 and is a former Co-Chair of BLAGG, the Bar Lesbian and Gay Group.

Nicholas is also a qualified Attorney & Counsellor at Law, New York (admitted 1998).

• Recommendations

  "Strengths: ‘Nick is truly outstanding. His advocacy appears effortless, yet it is built upon the fact that he knows every detail in his papers.’ ‘He's always got his eye on enabling his clients to reach a pragmatic, sensible and child-focused outcome.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2025

  "Strengths: ‘He is a very able arbitrator, who brings his experience as a deputy High Court judge to the table. Clients value him a lot.’ ‘If you want someone who is going to give clients the real confidence that he has listened to them, and both read and understood the issues, he's right up there with the best of them.’ ‘He's really human in the way he deals with people - just very compassionate. You know he has read absolutely everything and that he's given everything his absolute attention.’ ‘Nick is a very reliable arbitrator, who takes a pragmatic approach to cases. Clients draw great confidence from his decisions.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2025 (ADR)

  “Strengths: ‘He is particularly good at making the clients feel heard and at giving them a clear explanation of his conclusions. They don’t just accept his indications, but actually understand and agree with them by the time he's finished. I really do think he is one of the very best in that regard.’ ‘He sees cases from both parties' perspective and gives a balanced, sensible view.’ ‘He is very detailed, very measured and someone who puts everything into a case.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2024 (ADR)

  “Strengths: ‘Nicholas's attention to detail is second to none and he instils immediate confidence in even the most anxious or challenging client. His written and oral advocacy are persuasive, considered and compelling. Judges rate him and clients always feel supported by him.’ ‘Nicholas is a highly technical, detail-oriented barrister, who doesn't miss a trick. His client care skills are excellent and in court he is able to read the room and adjust his approach as needed.’ ‘He has a refined, confident manner, which instantly commands respect of the court. Possessed of a very easy and accessible manner with clients, he breaks everything down into simple terms and inspires confidence.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2024

  “Strengths: ‘Nicholas Allen is very good and hard-working. He reads every single letter in a case and is very personable. Judges like listening to him and he's very sensible in his approach.’ ‘Possessed of a first-rate intellect, he can tackle the most complex of cases. He's sympathetic to the lay client, whilst also being accessible and supportive to the instructing solicitor.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2023

  “Strengths: ‘He pays attention to the detail of complex cases.’ ‘He can translate the law into layman's terms and instils confidence from the minute he walks into the room.’ ‘A thorough, hard-working details man.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2022

  “Strengths: ‘Handles cases with meticulous detail and has a wonderful bedside manner with clients which puts them at great ease.’ ‘He is incredibly thorough, all over the detail, and someone who engenders trust and confidence.’ ‘While intellectual in his approach, he is able to explain and involve clients in his thought process and decision-making.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2021

  “Strengths: ‘Clients have a lot of confidence in him because he's meticulous and knows all the detail.' 'He's intelligent and has gravitas. People tend to listen to what he's saying because his delivery is so calm and sensible.’”

  Chambers and Partners 2020

  "Nicholas is superb. His advocacy is effortless, belying his diligence and exactitude, and he has a lovely manner with clients."

  Legal 500 2025

  “Nicholas is well known for his attention to detail, careful and impressive manner with clients, and ability to provide advice and guidance in a way that is easily digestible and well respected by the parties”

  Legal 500 2025 (ADR)

  “Nicholas is multi-faceted and multi-talented. He is extremely well-versed in the law and incredibly thorough” … “the technically brilliant advocate Nicholas Allen KC” …

  Legal 500 2024

  “Nicholas is extremely knowledgeable, clear and fair as a PFDR judge. He provides helpful indications with good reasoning that invariably unlocks the case. He is a go-to on complex cases.”

  Legal 500 2024 (ADR)

  “Nicholas prepares every case, whatever size, with the same thoroughness, thoughtfulness and calmness and presents his views straightforwardly and persuasively. He is utterly reassuring both to clients and instructing solicitors. And his instinct is right on the money, assisted by his extensive experience as a judge and arbitrator.”

  Legal 500 2023

  “assimilates every fact and nuance of a case, and provides clients with clear, helpful advice. He inspires confidence in his instructing solicitors”

  Legal 500 2022

  “always knows the detail of the case - even where the papers are voluminous he has read them all at least once”

  Legal 500 2021

  "is fantastic and knows his papers inside and out on every case"

  Legal 500 2020

• Notable Cases

  • Taiga v Ogbedo
    [2020] EWHC 3578 (Fam)
    
  • MT v OT (No.2)
    [2018] EWHC 2003 (Fam)
    
  • MT v OT (Schedule 1 Order)
    [2019] 1 FLR 93, FD
    
  • Sharland v Sharland
    [2015] 2 FLR 1367, SC
    
  • M v W (Application after New Zealand Financial Agreement)
    [2015] 1 FLR 465, FD
    
  • Sharland v Sharland
    [2014] 2 FLR 89, CA
    
  • SK v TK
    [2013] EWHC 834 (Fam)
    
  • S v S (Non-Disclosure)
    [2013] 2 FLR 1598, FD
    
  • Marinos v Marinos
    [2007] 2 FLR 1018, FD
    
  • R v R (Divorce: Jurisdiction: Domicile)
    [2006] 1 FLR 389, FD
    
  • A v B (Financial Relief: Agreements)
    [2005] 2 FLR 730, FD
    
  • Currey v Currey
    [2005] 1 FLR 952, CA
    
  • C v C (Costs: Ancillary Relief)
    [2004] 2 FLR 291, FD
    

• Publications and Lecturing

  • Author of 'Wells sharing: commonplace or a matter of last resort?' FRJ Blog 8 November 2024 

  • Co-author of ‘No Special Favours: Litigants in Person and the Financial Remedies Court’ FRJ Blog 23 October 2024

  • Co-author of ‘Ma v Roux: Can You Strike Out a Set Aside Application?’ FRJ Blog 25 September 2024

  • Co-author of ‘A v M (No. 2) – Construing a court order after the unforeseen occurs’ FRJ Blog 12 September 2024

  • Co-author of ‘NCDR Redux: The Impact of October’s CPR Amendments’ FRJ Blog 16 August 2024

  • Co-author of ‘HJB v WPB: Beware the Preliminary Issue’ FRJ Blog 16 August 2024

  • Author of ‘What is a “predicament of real need”?’ FRJ Blog 17 July 2024

  • Co-author of ‘Impact of Conduct on Needs’ 2024 FRJ 128

  • Author of ‘AT v BT: The Return of Compensation’ FRJ Blog 20 June 2024

  • Co-author of ‘‘Known Unknowns and Unknown Unknowns’ – Can a Change in the Law be a Barder Event?’ FRJ Blog 4 June 2024

  • Author of ‘Standish – the narrowing of ‘Matrimonialisation’’ FRJ Blog 28 May 2024

  • Author of ‘The Having of Children ‘Changes Everything’ – But in What Way?’ FRJ Blog 7 May 2024

  • Co-author of ‘D(R) Day: today’s changes to FPR Parts 3 and 28’ – FRJ Blog 29 April 2024

  • Author of ‘Quantifying periodical payments by reference to the needs principle: surveying the wood not the trees’ FRJ Blog 28 March 2024

  • Co-author of ‘Financial Dispute Revolution? The Family Procedure (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2023’ [2024] FRJ 24

  • Co-author of ‘What is the true extent of FDR privilege?’ FRJ Blog 19 February 2024

  • Co-author of ‘The unopposable application for a Penal Notice’ FRJ Blog 18 January 2024 

  • Co-author of ‘Fresh carrot, bigger stick: Forthcoming rule changes and “the encouragement” of NCDR’ FRJ Blog 3 January 2024

  • Co-author of ‘The Thwaite jurisdiction – a stay of execution?’ [2023] FRJ 203

  • Co-author of ‘Dickson v Rennie: Right or Wrong?’ FRJ Blog 4 December 2023

  • Author of ‘AS v CS : what are the consequences if the court has not mandated a Private FDR?’ [2023] FRJ 234

  • Co-author of ‘The jurisdiction of the Family Court to determine property disputes in favour of third parties’ [2023] FRJ 192

  • Author of ‘To Deduct or Not to Deduct: That Remains the Question After Collardeau-Fuchs’ FRJ Blog 5 September 2023

  • Co-author of ‘Excluding s25(2)(g) ‘Conduct’ at an Interim Stage – Strike-Out or Summary Judgment by Another Name?’ FRJ Blog 11 August 2023

  • Author of ‘Orders under the Senior Courts Act 1981 s39 – Can the Court Act in Anticipation of Default?’ FRJ Blog 2 August 2023

  • Author of ‘Post-Separation Accrual in CG v DL – Are We Back to an Arbitrary Approach?’ FRJ Blog 18 July 2023

  • Author of 'Unilateral Assets and Short Marriages after E v L: Another White Leopard?' [2023] FRJ 124

  • Author of ‘The Revised Standard Family Court Orders: In With The New’ [2023] FRJ 101

  • Co-author of Practical Law’s ‘Contempt of court: proceedings under Part 37 of the Family Procedure Rules 2010’ (Thomson Reuters, 2023)

  • Author of ‘Omissions, Ambiguities, and Deficiencies – Seeking Clarification of a Judge's Reasoning’ [2023] FRJ 2

  • Author of ‘Myerson No. 1 and FPR 9.17(2): What Can the FDR Judge Actually Do?’ FRJ Blog 9 January 2023

  • Author of ‘For Reasons Which Are Not Fanciful – Daniels v Walker Applications in Financial Remedy Cases’ [2022] FRJ 175

  • Author of ‘A Matter of Clarification – Written Questions to Experts’ FRJ Blog 19 May 2002

  • Author of ‘Non-Matrimonial Property – Valuing the Family Business’ [2022] FRJ 6

  • Author of ‘Arbitration After Haley – If Not Now, When?’ [2021] Fam Law 811 

  • Author of ‘Some Are More Equal Than Others: Special Contribution After XW v XH’ [2020] Fam Law 1485

  • Acknowledged contributor to ‘Private FDRs’ [2020] Fam Law 815 by Simon Bruce (of Farrer & Co).

  • Editor of the family law chapters of “Foskett on Compromise” (Ninth Edition, Sweet & Maxwell, 2019).

  • Author of ‘Lying Around the Kitchen - Imerman Nine Years On' [2019] Fam Law 1131

  • Co-author of ‘Till death or re-marriage do our finances part: L v L’ [2012] Fam Law 665

  • Co-author of ‘The Law and Financial Provision on the Dissolution of Civil Partnerships’ [2009] Fam Law 836

  • Acknowledged contributor to Ancillary Relief after Miller and McFarlane by Nicholas Francis QC and David Salter (Lime Legal, 2006) 

  • Acknowledged in Cohabitation and Trusts of Land by Darlington, Heaton and Wagstaffe (Thomson/Sweet & Maxwell, 2006) 

  • Nicholas is a regular lecturer to the Judicial College, national and regional Resolution, regional Law Societies and also in-house to solicitors’ firms.

• Personal Information

  Nicholas was Chairman of the Emmanuel Society, the alumni organisation of Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 2013-2023. He is a former recipient of the Herchel Smith Scholarship from Emmanuel to Harvard University where he spent a year as Visiting Scholar at the university’s Law Faculty.