Professional Discipline, Regulatory and Licensing

Our team is uniquely positioned to provide seamless representation given our expertise in both civil and criminal law. This dual capability ensures that we can handle cases that span multiple legal areas, such as civil claims, Coroner’s Inquests, and subsequent complaints to professional bodies or criminal proceedings. Our comprehensive experience sets us apart from other chambers’ that either focus solely on disciplinary/regulatory work or pair it with crime. We can support individuals, bodies, and companies throughout the entire lifecycle of their case.

Professional Discipline, Regulatory and Licensing Team

We have extensive experience advising and appearing before various panels and councils acting for individuals and regulators, including:

• Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service

• Social Work England

• University disciplinary panels

• Nursing and Midwifery Council

• General Medical Council

• General Dental Council

• General Osteopathic Council

• General Optical Council

• General Chiropractic Council

• The British Chiropractic Council

• Health and Care Professions Council

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

• Bar Disciplinary Tribunal

• Financial Conduct Authority

• The Teaching Regulation Agency

• Health Professions Council

• Institute of Chartered Accountants

• Professional Conduct Committee of the General Council of the Bar

• Regulatory Decisions Committee of the Financial Services Authority

• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

We offer representation during all stages of the disciplinary process, particularly specialising in:

• Fitness to Practice Panel Hearings

• Interim Orders Panel Hearings

• Registration Appeal Panel Hearings

• Review Hearings

• Investigative Hearings

Our members have been instructed by major indemnity organisations to provide early tactical advice and robust representation before all major statutory regulators. The exceptional skills of our advocates ensure that we offer strong representation for our clients in proceedings that could have serious ramifications for their professional reputations and careers. Our extensive experience in criminal, civil, regulatory, and public law allows us to provide continuity of representation in related criminal proceedings, inquests, inquiries, or judicial review claims. Some of our members have also spent time seconded to regulatory bodies.

Our team is experienced in advising care and nursing home providers in the UK. We can assist with responses to Enforcement Notices and Notices of Proposal to Cancel Registration.

We also advise on investigations by the HSE and NHS Counter Fraud investigators and appear in registration appeals and proceedings brought by the CQC, representing both individuals and corporate bodies.

Our members receive instructions from both regulators and regulated entities, firms, and individuals. We are frequently instructed to act for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians, social workers, therapists, paramedics, osteopaths, and chiropractors.

We have expertise in representing healthcare professionals facing dual disciplinary and criminal investigations, covering a full range of criminal charges such as fraud, sexual assault, and medical manslaughter. We also have longstanding experience in representing healthcare professionals facing Health and Safety criminal charges in the Crown Court.egulatory

Health and Safety

Our team excels in providing comprehensive support to companies, directors, and individuals facing criminal proceedings arising from alleged health and safety violations. With our extensive experience in civil and criminal law, we adeptly manage complex cases involving workplace fatalities, severe injuries, and breaches of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Our members have successfully handled high-profile corporate manslaughter cases, prosecutions of individual directors for gross negligence manslaughter, and appeals against severe penalties such as improvement and prohibition notices. We are committed to defending against serious breaches of permits and exemptions, ensuring our clients receive the best possible representation and advice to protect their interests.

Members can provide support to clients at the outset by drafting persuasive written representations to regulatory authorities and delivering strong representation during Inquests which proceed civil action, ensuring that our clients' interests are thoroughly protected from the outset.

The Environment Agency

Members of chambers have successfully defended cases brought by the Environment Agency, advising on the full range of Environmental law—including investigations and prosecutions for alleged environmental and waste management offences.

Local Authority and Trading Standards

We defend against regulatory enforcement actions brought by Local Authorities and Trading Standards.

Disclosure and Barring Service Appeals

Our members can provide robust advice and representation in relation to DBS appeals.

Our team covers all aspects of coronial law, advising and representing bereaved families, individuals, and corporate entities. The Inquests team includes expertise and experience in military, prison, police conduct, and health and safety-related deaths. It is not uncommon for civil claims and Coroner’s Inquests to lead to complaints to professional bodies, particularly since the introduction of the requirement to self-refer to the GMC in the event of criticism. Chambers’ particular experience in inquests, combined with our expertise in health & safety and professional discipline, means that members of chambers are well-placed to advise and represent interested persons in the criminal and regulatory matters that may follow after the inquest.

Members of Chambers are regularly instructed to provide comprehensive support to professionals and large organisations.

 Our barrister team delivers unparalleled advisory and advocacy services, backed by extensive expertise in a vast array of licensing regimes, including:

• Alcohol & Entertainment (including events licences)

• Taxis

• Gambling

• Street Trading

• Scrap Metal

• Firearms

• Premises Security

• Animals

• Aesthetics & Special Treatments

• Road haulage licensing

Our Licensing barristers have substantial experience and expertise in licensing hearings, appeals to magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court, tribunal proceedings and appeals, appeals by way of case stated, judicial review claims and mediation.

• Olympic Selection Appeals

• Sports National Governing Body Funding and Selection Appeals

• British Athletics Disciplinary Hearings

• British Triathlon Selection Appeals

• British Archery Selection Appeals and Disciplinary Hearings

• RFU Disciplinary Hearings

• RFL Disciplinary Hearings

• FA Disciplinary Hearings

• UKAD Disciplinary Hearings

• Sport Resolutions Independent Disciplinary and Safeguarding Hearings