Nikolas Clarke

Practice Areas

Nikolas is an experienced inquest barrister. He is instructed by the full range of interested persons in inquests.

He often acts for local authorities (social services/Approved Mental Health Professional) in Article 2 ECHR and jury inquests raising concerns about them or their agents failing to protect the deceased. His Article 2 inquest expertise means he is well-placed to act in related judicial review and civil claims.

Career

Nikolas sat part-time as a fee-paid judge in the Mental Health Tribunal. He sits as a Deputy District Judge.

2025

acted for local authority at inquest into death of a 17-year-old ‘looked after child’ at a music festival - inquest considered extent of the local authority’s responsibility.

acted for a 6th form college in 4-day inquest into death by suicide of a 17-year-old student -coroner made no causative findings against the school and found Article 2 was not engaged.

2024

represented local authority in inquest into the suicide of 16-year-old ‘looked after child’ at specialist children’s home where they lived.

acted for local authority’s social services department in 2-week inquest into the death by hanging of a 17-year-old who had been in the local authority’s care since 2015.

2023:

represented local authority in Article 2 jury inquest into death by suicide of a 17-year-old who had been accommodated by the local authority at the time.

acted for local authority in Article 2 inquest into suicide of an unaccompanied Eritrean asylum-seeker who died while a looked after child in the local authority's care.