Nicholas Starks

Call 1989

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Overview

Nicholas is ‘senior junior’ counsel with over 30 years’ experience, specialising in family financial provision, principally upon divorce but also under ToLATA, IPFDA, Schedule 1 Children Act and civil partnership proceedings. He is the Head of the Family Finance Team.

Nicholas frequently deals with high net worth claims, involving business, farming and overseas assets.

Nicholas was recently voted ‘Barrister of the Year, 2019’ by the Worcestershire Law Society.

Specialist Profiles

Nicholas is a senior junior counsel of over 30 years’ experience, specialising in family financial provision principally upon:

  • Divorce

but also under:

  • ToLATA
  • IPFDA
  • Sch 1 CA 1989
  • Civil partnership proceedings

Nicholas frequently deals with high net worth claims, involving:

  • Business
  • Farming
  • Overseas assets

He was commended by the Court of Appeal for his “lucid argument” in Kaur v Matharu [2010] EWCA Civ 930 and recently appeared in the nationally publicised case of Colborne v Colborne [2014] EWCA Civ 1488. He is a keen contributor to legal publications and as a CPD speaker on circuit.

Notable cases 

Kaur v Matharu [2010] EWCA Civ 930

Colborne v Colborne [2014] EWCA Civ 1488

Nicholas is a senior junior counsel with over 30 years’ experience specialising in family financial provision, principally upon divorce but also under ToLATA.

IPFDA, Sch 1 CA 1989 and civil partnership proceedings. Nicholas frequently deals with high net worth claims involving businesses, farms, overseas assets and trusts. He was commended by the Court of Appeal for his “lucid argument” in Kaur v Matharu [2010] EWCA Civ 930 and appeared in the nationally publicised case of Colborne v Colborne [2014] EWCA Civ 1488.

Qualifications
Memberships

LLB (Hons)

Family Law Bar Association

14 Recommendations

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Quotes

Chambers and Partners 2026

"Nicholas Starks is an excellent advocate, with a fantastic manner and consistently achieves excellent results. Nick is detail-driven and manages complex cases with ease and style."
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Chambers and Partners 2025

"His capacity to absorb detail is superb and his advocacy skills are amazing."
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Chambers and Partners 2025

"Nick is an outstanding advocate. He is clear, concise and highly articulate."
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Chambers and Partners 2025

"Nicholas is quite simply outstanding. He is a leader in his field. He is a superb advocate, impeccably prepared and strategic in his thinking."
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Legal 500 2025

"Nick is a diligent, knowledgeable and robust barrister. He is a go-to for private finance work. His preparation is superb and his client care is excellent. He handles the most complex work with precision and care. He is able to draw on his many years of experience to go toe-to-toe with silks across the country. He is first-class."
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Chambers and Partners 2024

"Nick has great attention to detail, and has huge experience in handling HNW and complex cases. He has excellent client care." "He is superb on his feet and great with clients. He gives real confidence that he has their best interests at heart and is a battler in court." "Nick is excellent and second to none. He is extremely well prepared, clear with his advocacy and he doesn't miss a trick."
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Legal 500 2024

"Nicholas builds a very good relationship with the clients and is very good at clearly explaining the law. He is a confident and articulate advocate."
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Chambers and Partners 2023

"Nicholas is an excellent technical barrister with an eye for detail." "He is my preferred barrister for complex international financial disputes. Nicholas is very quick to respond, is a brilliant advocate and extremely meticulous." "Nicholas is a top-rated family barrister able to deal with the most complex cases. Also, he is able to explain complex issues clearly and simply in a client-focused and friendly manner, creating reassurance and clarity for clients."
Quotes

Legal 500 2023

"Nicholas is a superb barrister. He has a keen eye for detail, and encyclopedic knowledge of his papers. He instantly puts clients at ease and gives them confidence in their case, whilst giving honest advice as to what is realistic and achievable. He is formidable in cross-examination and extremely skilled in drawing the court's attention to the best parts of his case."
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Chambers & Partners 2022

"His attention to detail and knowledge are second to none." "He is able to distil complex matters and present them in a straightforward way for the benefit of the court and client." "He's very personable, sharp, forensic, quick and really reassuring before, during and after court."
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Legal 500 2022

"Extremely knowledgeable, able to assimilate complex facts, with a very down to earth manner which clients find reassuring. Nick is able to explain complex legal arguments clearly and simply without talking down to clients."
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Chambers and Partners 2021

"He handles difficult cases with enthusiasm and determination. He takes a well-informed and balanced approach to negotiations." "He is an excellent advocate and negotiator. Nicholas has razor-sharp attention to detail."
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Legal 500 2021

"Thoroughly prepared, robust in pursuit of a client’s interests, and collaborates well with solicitors."
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Chambers & Partners 2020

"Nicholas Starks is a superb barrister. He has a lovely manner with clients and is always extremely well prepared. He's also a robust advocate and skilled negotiator." "He's an excellent and approachable tactician with thorough preparation and grasp of his brief, and an impressive advocate who puts clients at ease and inspires confidence."

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Nicholas Starks