Year of call: 2013
Nicholas Truelove is a specialist clinical negligence and serious injury barrister who practices across England and Wales.
Acting predominantly for claimants, Nicholas is highly regarded for his pragmatic and detailed approach to cases and is sought after for his ability to connect with diverse and often vulnerable clients. Nicholas is regularly instructed in high profile and complex cases and has considerable experience with cases involving brain injury, spinal cord injury, fertility difficulties, and significant psychiatric reactions.
Clients have said about him in Chambers and Partners:
“Nicholas provides careful and considered advice, leaving no stone unturned in getting to the heart of the issues. He is approachable and caring and instantly puts clients at ease. He is someone with whom you feel your case is in safe hands.”
“Nicholas is very empathetic with clients, including vulnerable clients and children. He is thorough and has great attention to detail.”
“He is very approachable and extremely hard-working – clients and judges love him.” “He is personable, detailed and brilliant with clients.”
Nicholas represented the families of two individuals who died following administration of the Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccination. More recently he has been instructed in the litigation concerning multiple instances of poor outcome from brain surgery aimed at treating Alzheimer’s patients. Both cases have received national and international media attention.
Nicholas was shortlisted for the Junior Barrister of the Year in the field of Clinical Negligence in the 2023-2024 Legal 500 awards.
Nicholas is a pupil supervisor and is also direct access qualified.
Nicholas deals with all aspects of clinical negligence and is particularly adept at dealing with complex causation issues.
Paediatric Medicine
Nicholas has successfully pursued claims for injuries sustained during delivery, as well as for claims concerning delay in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as ADHD. His practice within paediatric medicine litigation is diverse, and he is comfortable dealing with sensitive issues that concern older children, putting them at ease, as well as dealing with the concerns of parents and guardians.
Gynaecology
Nicholas has significant experience in dealing with still birth cases. Well-aware of the sensitivities involves in such claims, he is able to assist clients going through the most devastating of losses.
Nicholas has worked with clients who have experienced (or, in cases of children, have been predicted to experience) fertility difficulties as a result of negligence. He is able to tackle the psychological consequences flowing from the same as well as advising on fertility assistance treatments and surrogacy issues.
Haematology
Nicholas has been instructed in a number of cases concerning obscure haematological conditions.
Aside from the haematological evidence dealt with in the covid-19 vaccination cases in which he has been instructed, Nicholas has dealt with cases involved in issues such as Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (‘TTP’).
C.A. v Bolton NHS Trust and Others: Nicholas successfully pursued a very complex case concerning the delay in diagnosis of a patient’s Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (‘TTP’) condition which led to her avoidable passing. It was not known the patient had TTP when initially hospitalised and there were delays in the diagnosis and making a transfer to a tertiary treatment centre for specialist treatment which resulted in the patient’s death, leaving behind a very young child.
Neurology
As well as dealing with birthing cases resulting in hypoxic brain injuries, Nicholas has experience in cases resulting in neurological and neuropsychological injury.
RB v LTH NHST (2023) A claim concerning a failure to diagnose and treat a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) resulting in an avoidable stroke which was successfully settled at court ahead of a trial against Leading Counsel
In DH v LNW UH NHST (2023) Nicholas successfully pursued a case that concerned the failure to assess a patient for a head injury, which resulted in the missed diagnosis of an extradural haematoma causing brain shift and permanent symptoms. The Claimant, who had a prior criminal record, was alleged to be fundamental dishonest. The claim concluded with the Defendant accepting a previous Claimant offer, out of time, shortly before trial.
Vascular
Nicholas has represented many claimants successfully following delays in treatment for vascular conditions as well as for delays in diagnosis of conditions leading to pulmonary emboli.
Nicholas recently negotiated a settlement in excess of £1.2m in such a case.
Oncology
Nicholas regularly represents patients and their families in cases concerning delayed diagnoses of cancer. He is astute at advising on the sensitive topic of the timing of settlements, and understands the frustration and concern patients are often going through as a result of the delays in treatment.
Orthopaedics
Nicholas has extensive experience in dealing with cases involving orthopaedic surgery (including elective surgeries that have gone wrong), spinal surgery, and spinal cord compression (cauda equina) cases. Nicholas has successfully dealt with cases involving permanent disablement and care needs arising from such injuries.
Psychiatric Medicine
Nicholas has dealt successfully with claims concerning addiction to opiates and illicit substances arising from failures to review patients and heed psychological drivers and red flags.
He is also regularly instructed to represent bereaved families following suicide.
Plastic Surgery
Nicholas deals with all aspects of plastic surgery, aesthetic treatments from unqualified treatment providers and hair transplant cases. His cases have ranged from instances involving adverse outcomes from elective procedures (nationally and internationally) to cases concerning the need for plastic surgery to remedy significant damage arising from other negligence.
L.P.S. (2023)
Nicholas represented the family of the deceased, a 29 year old mother, who died of a heart attack. The Deceased was attended upon by an ambulance crew who left without transferring her to hospital after misinterpreting an ECG. Following submissions, the Coroner made referrals to the Regulatory Body of the Ambulance crew members and a Prevention of Further Deaths Report. The Inquest was reported on nationally.
J.L. (2022)
Nicholas represented the family of the deceased in what was thought to be the first inquest touching on the death of a patient who died following the administration of a covid-19 vaccine. The Inquest made national and international headlines.
AS (2021)
Nicholas represented a family at an inquest concerning the passing of a family member due to delay in treatment being afforded. Following submissions, the coroner returned a verdict of neglect contributing to the death. Nicholas represented the family in subsequently successful civil litigation.
Nicholas has significant experience in representing claimants in high value and complex cases and is regularly relied upon by Leading Counsel to work on cases where both liability and quantum are disputed.
Catastrophic Injuries
Nicholas is regularly instructed in cases concerning brain injuries, spinal injuries, and amputations. His successes as an experienced trial advocate, and his meticulous preparation in expectation of trial, ensure he is best-placed to present cases on behalf of clients which have complex issues of liability, as well as quantum.
Pain Conditions
Nicholas has extensive experience in dealing with cases concerning significant and life-long pain conditions such as fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome arising from accidents and incidents of clinical negligence. He is also very regularly instructing in cases which require the management of chronic pain and has presented seminars in the development of new treatments.
Fatal Accident Claims
Nicholas has successfully represented the interests of families, including infant dependents and descendants of fatally injured persons who have profound and life-long care needs, in such claims. Nicholas is incredibly astute at information gathering to ensure there is a full account of all the ways fatally injured persons provided to their loved ones, enabling them to receive appropriate protection and care moving forwards.
Legal 500 2025
‘Nick is an excellent advocate and intuitive and voracious in cross-examination. His skills and legal knowledge in advising clients in conference are particularly impressive and he has a natural empathy with experts which allows them to feel comfortable in providing their evidence in a way which will most benefit the client and the judge.’
Chambers UK 2025
“Nick is a capable and emphatic counsel who is very approachable, with wide ranging expertise.”
“He is able to think quickly and outside of the box, and advance unusual arguments which tackle niche issues effectively.”
“Nick is a go-to counsel for complex claims.”
“He is a brilliant addition to any legal team.”
Legal 500 2024
‘Nicholas is a committed advocate and trusted advisor. He is empathetic and very relatable. He will take the time to build a rapport with the client and make sure they understand the advice.’
‘Nicholas is always very well-prepared and is extremely approachable. He is down to earth and puts clients at ease.’
Chambers UK 2024
“Nicholas is a very intuitive and formidable advocate with excellent client care skills.”
“He is an excellent junior who can deal with complex and challenging cases.”
Legal 500 2023
‘Nicholas is very good forensically and tactically astute.’
Chambers UK 2023
“Nicholas provides careful and considered advice, leaving no stone unturned in getting to the heart of the issues. He is approachable and caring and instantly puts clients at ease. He is someone with whom you feel your case is in safe hands.”
“Nicholas is very empathetic with clients, including vulnerable clients and children. He is thorough and has great attention to detail.”
“Nicholas is very empathetic with vulnerable clients.”
Chambers UK 2022
“He is very approachable and extremely hard-working – clients and judges love him.” “He is personable, detailed and brilliant with clients.”
Legal 500, 2021
“A knowledgeable, pragmatic and tactically astute barrister with an excellent bedside manner.”
“An excellent advocate who is very thorough, honing in on details that others might miss.”
Legal 500, 2020
“Passionate – he takes on cases others shy away from.”
