Nick De Freitas joined GT Stewart in 2025 as Head of Crime at our St Albans and Barnet offices. He qualified as a Solicitor in March 2008, beginning his legal career at Noble Solicitors, where he achieved Duty Solicitor status and obtained Higher Rights of Audience.

From 2011, Nick worked predominantly as a Crown Court Advocate, acting as Junior Counsel in murder trials and representing clients in a wide range of serious cases including drug offences, rape, fraud and violent crime.

In 2018, he became Director of Crime at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, leading a team handling complex matters, including work on the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster.

In 2023, Nick joined the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as part of the RASSO team, dealing exclusively with serious sexual offences.

Nick brings extensive experience as both a litigator and an advocate across a broad range of criminal matters. His background in both defence and prosecution stands him in good stead, allowing him to foresee potential issues in cases and provide strategic, informed advice to clients.

Education & Qualifications

• LPC – College of Law, London, 2005
• LLM (Hons) Criminal Litigation, City University (Inns of Court), 2004
• BA (Hons) Law with Economics (with a Year in Europe), Leicester University, 2003

Memberships & Accreditations

• Cross Examination of Vulnerable Witnesses Accreditation
• Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal Law)
• Duty Solicitor Accreditation
• Police Station Accreditation

Notable Experience or Interests outside of Law

• Sitting as a Senior Member of the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE)
• Former School Governor

Notable Cases

Grenfell Public Inquiry – Phase 1 – 2018/2019

R v S and others – Multi-handed Immigration Fraud

R v K [2017] – Murder

R v R [2012] – Murder