Blake Morgan LLP is a go-to firm for its representation of professional regulators in the healthcare, legal, education, accountancy and engineering sectors; in February 2022, the firm was appointed by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to assist with the investigation and presentation of hundreds of fitness to practise cases. Nick Leale is regulatory business group head, and Bradley Albuery leads the firm’s professional disciplinary team. Also integral to the practice are Clare Strickland, who recently rejoined from the NMC and leads the HCPC’s regulatory work; and Graham Miles, a client relationship partner for the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), Education Workforce Council (EWC) and Social Care Wales (SCW). The key legal directors are James Danks, who jointly led the successful tender for the HCPC contract during 2021; Delme Griffiths, who acts for and against professional regulators; and operations manager for the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), Antonia Dowgray.

Capsticks LLP‘s ‘market-leading regulatory team‘ routinely provides legal advice to statutory regulators. Mark Whiting acts in fitness to practise cases, James Penry-Davey is regulatory division head, Nimi Bruce routinely handles sexual misconduct cases, and Mark Rogers ‘handles SRA work and is extremely quick.’ Also highly regarded are Kate Steele, who acts in professional disciplinary cases; Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) specialists Ian Brook (a recently promoted partner) and legal directors John Tippett-Cooper and Rory Mulchrone; and principal associate Louisa Atkin, who acts for the TRA and Social Work England. In April 2022, Anna Holdsworth and Jenny Wood, who both represent the General Dental Council (GDC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council, along with Keziah Pearson, who assists Social Work England and the General Optical Council (GOC), were made partners. During 2021, the practice hired healthcare, veterinary and equine expert Nicole Curtis, and consultant Katrina Wingfield, who advises healthcare regulators, from Bates Wells.

Clyde & Co‘s ‘first-class operation‘ is experienced in assisting audit firms and partners with disciplinary proceedings; and the healthcare regulatory and disciplinary team, led by Claire Petts, represents healthcare practitioners in investigations. Fergal Cathie represents professionals in Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) cases; James Roberts is accountants’ liability, regulatory and disciplinary head; and Tim Crockford acts in disciplinary proceedings involving auditors and accountants. Also highly regarded are Penrose Foss, who assists with disciplinary proceedings; global lawyers’ liability, disciplinary, regulatory and investigations head Richard Harrison; professional liability expert Sarah Clover; Joanna Bower, who acts for healthcare professionals in disciplinary investigations; Niya Phiri, who represents law firms; and ‘standout of counsel‘ Andrew Forsyth. Sam Holden, Judith Duffin, Tabitta van Nouhuys, Natalia Jeremiah, Jonathan Lawrence and Michael Clark are experienced legal directors; and at senior associate level Stephen Hooper is a 2021 hire from Hempsons, while Padideh Dolatshahi specialises in healthcare defence work. In July 2022, the firm merged with BLM, the combination adding partners: Katie Costello, Adam Weston and the recently promoted Lee Biddle, who all represent healthcare professionals; healthcare advice practice head Jane Lang; and associate Ewan Bright, who acts in disciplinary law matters.

Hempsons‘ national regulatory, crime and professional discipline practice routinely advises clients from the health, social care, sports, police, fiduciary and corporate executive sectors. Senior consultant Simon Eastwood specialises in criminal defence and insurance-related work; Adam Smith‘s track record includes large General Medical Council (GMC) cases; Tania Francis routinely acts for healthcare professionals; Surjit Dubb‘s practice covers healthcare regulatory, crime and disciplinary work; and Sharon Cooney is a healthcare regulation expert. The London office also features lead misconduct and discipline lawyer Robert Newbould, while associate John Fitzpatrick ‘has a good eye for detail‘. Over in Manchester, Katherine Sheldrick defends professionals in disciplinary, regulatory, criminal and coronial proceedings; senior partner Anne Ball is a healthcare specialist; and crime and regulatory defence expert James Rowley is a 2021 hire from Weightmans LLP. In Harrogate, Hannah Stephenson routinely defends healthcare professionals before regulatory bodies. Chris Morris retired in 2021.

Kingsley Napley LLP acts in complex cases across all regulated sectors, and has longstanding experience in working with large UK regulators. Regulatory practice head Nicola Hill ‘runs a really tight ship‘; Julie Norris advises law firms, solicitors and barristers on regulatory compliance, investigations, adjudication, enforcement and prosecutions; Julie Matheson heads up the accountancy regulation practice; Iain Miller ‘has a wealth of knowledge and experience‘; and Melinka Berridge has leisure and hospitality, built environment and charity sector expertise. Also key to the team, Shannett Thompson ‘stands out‘; Hannah Eales is a fire safety law specialist; Sarah Harris assists regulators with designing regulatory frameworks; and Jessica Clay (a partner since May 2022) is a legal services regulation expert. Within the senior associate pool, Charlotte Judd advises solicitors and law firms, defends accountants and accountancy firms, and assists regulators and public bodies; and Sarah Atkinson prepares fitness to practise cases for regulatory bodies.

Further to its June 2022 merger with RadcliffesLeBrasseur LLP, Weightmans LLP‘s large, combined national team routinely represents healthcare clients at GMC and GDC hearings, and defends solicitors facing SRA and SDT proceedings. The firm also undertakes work involving architects, accountants and the police. Sam Flew leads the healthcare professionals team, in which William Childs, Stewart Duffy, Simon Gomersall, Anne Green, Ian Sadler, Alistair Hewitt and Ricardo Bassani are all key partners. Richard Jolly is national health sector practice head; Mickaela Fox specialises in matters involving solicitors; Susanna Heley specialises in professional disciplinary work for legal professionals; and Nigel West ‘has unmatchable experience‘. Consultants Alex Leslie and Richard Privett are also both experienced in health-related matters, while principal associate Tom Thurlow is ‘very attuned to his clients’ needs‘ and Sadie O’Reilly is a recently promoted healthcare partner. Former police law head Tom Nutter moved to RJW Legal in April 2022.

Browne Jacobson LLP‘s ‘dynamic, responsive, client-centred team‘ represents several leading public and third sector regulatory bodies in the UK. The national practice acts across a range of disciplinary and regulatory matters, including disciplinary investigations, presentation of matters before professional conduct panels, and acting as legal adviser to statutory committees. Other areas of expertise include conducting matters before the High Court and Court of Appeal, and the First Tier and Upper Tribunals. Nottingham-based Fiona Butler is client partner for the firm’s significant regulatory client, the TRA; Ros Foster is ‘an outstanding expert on Fitness to Practise law‘; Manchester-based Ben Bentley heads up the firm’s North West professional discipline and regulatory team; and the track record of recently appointed partner Samantha Paxman in Nottingham includes acting as a Presenting Officer for the TRA.

CMS‘ professional discipline and regulatory team is ‘one of the most experienced in the UK‘. The firm has a substantive practice in both prosecuting individuals on behalf of their regulators, such as the GOC and GPhC, and defending individual registrants before the GMC. Head of the Manchester-based professional discipline and regulatory team Rachel Cooper is ‘fiercely committed to her clients and works harder than anyone else‘; and Yvonne Screene in London is poised to take over the client lead for the Medical Defence Union (MDU), which is currently held by Sheffield-based Chris Horsefield, who retired from the partnership in April 2022 but remains a consultant. Also in Manchester, of counsel Katie Clarke advises on all aspects of health, social care and education regulation throughout the UK; and senior associate Natasha Ricioppo is ‘an excellent solicitor who is always on top of her cases‘.

DAC Beachcroft LLP‘s ‘consistently good team‘ has substantial experience in representing medical practitioners in disciplinary proceedings before a range of healthcare regulators. The professional discipline practice also focuses on financial services, public law and local government-related matters. Richard Highley in London is experienced in acting in investigations involving leading accountancy firms; and Bristol-based Louise Wiltshire assists healthcare professionals during investigations. In Manchester, the ‘calm, measured and careful‘ Christopher Briggs acts for doctors and dentists in disciplinary proceedings before the GMC and GDC, respectively; and at associate level Caroline Dean focuses on defending medical practitioners, while ‘absolute star‘ Christian Carr represents health and care professionals facing investigations by their regulators. Former public law head Stephen Hocking left the firm for 11KBW in May 2022.

Comprising ‘excellent, technically strong lawyers’, Fieldfisher‘s professional discipline team acts for over 40 different regulators across a range of sectors, including health, sport, surveying, policing, finance and law. It also assists higher education institutions that offer study courses in the regulated professions. ‘A standout partner with a wealth of experience‘, Sarah Ellson‘s track record includes significant judicial reviews, appeals and Professional Standards Authority cases; and Matthew Lohn is experienced in advising on discipline issues, frequently within the healthcare or finance sectors. At director level, Carina May‘s sector experience covers healthcare, finance and law, while solicitors Olivia Rogers and Chloe Williams are also key regulatory group members.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s professional disciplinary work complements the firm’s renowned administrative law, human rights and disputes practices. Recently, the team’s work was predominantly in the financial and legal sectors, and it is particularly noted for large-scale accountancy sector disciplinary cases. Andrew Lidbetter specialises in administrative and public law, including professional disciplinary matters; Nusrat Zar‘s practice incorporates both prosecuting disciplinary proceedings and advising on disciplinary schemes; Will Glassey, a 2021 hire from Mayer Brown International LLP, assists professional firms and individual professionals with disciplinary actions; and of counsel Jasveer Randhawa is experienced in a range of public and administrative law disputes, including disciplinary proceedings. In March 2022, David Reston retired from the partnership, but remains as consultant; and former advocacy group lead Tom Leech KC left to become a High Court judge in late 2021.

Fielding ‘one of the best professional discipline teams in London‘, Russell-Cooke LLP consistently represents professional and regulatory bodies, regulated businesses and individuals across several professions, including accountants, solicitors, barristers, healthcare professionals, academics, architects, financial services professionals, teachers, and charity trustees. Senior partner John Gould is ‘the doyen of professional discipline who has seen it all‘; Matt Bosworth is retained by both regulatory bodies and individual professionals; and Michael Stacey is ‘a standout partner in this field‘. Key expansion within the team during 2021 includes legal counsel Tom Bradford, a professional discipline specialist, who was rehired from Freeths LLP; Robert Stevenson, who regularly represents architects and arrived as consultant from BLM; and ‘up-and-coming senior associate‘ Sheetul Sowdagur, who rejoined from Bindmans LLP.

Bates Wells‘ 'very skilled team' covers the entire range of professional discipline, including health and social care, legal services, architecture, science and astronomy; the practice has a track record of acting for representative bodies, such as royal colleges and institutes. Public and regulatory specialist Claire Whittle was promoted to partner in April, although former practice leader Melanie Carter moved to Bevan Brittan LLP in mid-2022 and contentious public law partner Emma Dowden-Teale left for DLA Piper.

With ‘a fantastic understanding of client pressures‘, Blackfords LLP houses health and social care sector specialists. The group also has notable expertise in representing serving police and Ministry of Defence Police personnel in misconduct proceedings; the group also acts for football professionals and assisting those facing sexual abuse allegations of a historic nature is a fast-growing area for the firm. Group head Gary Rubin, Trevor Francis and Gary Bloxsome are all experienced in professional discipline matters; director Philip Williams in Cardiff represents social care clients; and solicitor advocate Jennifer Richardson‘s recent work includes acting for social care and medical professionals.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP‘s recent track record includes instructions from clients from a wide spectrum of sectors, including the sport, healthcare, the arts and private banking industries. Practice head Edward Craig is a seasoned litigator, whose contentious practice includes acting for sports regulatory bodies, companies, private banks, and wealthy individuals; and the ‘simply superb‘ legal director Rachel Warren has significant experience in advising professionals who are subject to disciplinary proceedings brought by professional regulators. At senior associate level, Danielle Sharkey brings in-house expertise from her time at the British Horseracing Authority, where she regularly appeared for the regulator.

‘A very capable and proper international law firm‘, DWF is well known for defending professionals from the legal, medical, actuarial, accountancy and financial services sectors. As ‘a standout practitioner in the disciplinary/regulatory field‘, Richard Burger is experienced in defending accountants and insolvency practitioners in professional disciplinary investigations; Harriet Quiney is an experienced professional indemnity and regulatory partner; Simon Mason defends disciplinary complaints against accountants; and John Bennett and Sheona Wood both defend legal professionals. In May 2022, Rosie Shapiro joined from BLM, where she led the national professional discipline practice group.

With longstanding experience in acting before disciplinary bodies, Keoghs LLP‘s ‘strong and dedicated team‘ advises on disciplinary matters involving the full range of healthcare, veterinary, construction, legal and FCA-regulated professionals. Heading the professional and financial risks team nationally, Ruth Lawrence specialises in representing professionals before their disciplinary bodies; ‘extremely thorough and highly capable solicitor‘ Sarah Naylor leads the veterinary defence team; Sian Davies is the firm’s healthcare group head; Jason Howarth acts for medical practitioners at regulatory hearings before the GMC and GDC; and Graham Taylor regularly acts for veterinary surgeons and ophthalmologists.

Handling ‘cases with great judgement and effectiveness‘, Murdochs Solicitors focuses almost exclusively on defending solicitors and other legal professionals facing regulatory investigations and disciplinary proceedings. Senior partner and practice leader Andrew Blatt ‘demonstrates clear expertise in both the legal regulatory and practical aspects of dealing with an SRA investigation‘, in addition to acting in SDT proceedings and complex partnership disputes involving misconduct. Senior consultant Robert Forman is ‘a formidable lawyer of great integrity‘; and director Nicholas Trevette is ‘simply outstanding at every stage of a case‘.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP‘s ‘excellent‘ professional discipline practice is exclusively focused on defence-side work; and the team acts across several sectors, including accountancy, healthcare, education, and financial and legal services. Heading up the firm’s regulatory department, Carl Johnson‘s track record includes successfully defending cases before a wide range of professional disciplinary bodies; his client base including doctors, dentists, accountants and legal professionals. Laura Hannah‘s ‘attention to detail is exceptional‘ and senior associate Chloe Parish is the lead lawyer for the firm’s Ofsted work, and has developed a specific niche in pharmacy-related matters.

Bindmans LLP‘s practice draws from the firm’s expertise in crime, fraud and regulatory law, public law, professional negligence and employment law. Katie Wheatley‘s practice includes FCA investigations; John Halford acts in a range of professional disciplinary matters; and Kate Goold defends doctors, nurses, teachers, solicitors and FCA-approved persons.

‘A client-oriented firm that provides practical advice‘, Brett Wilson LLP‘s team regularly defends solicitors, law firms, dentists, doctors and architects in disciplinary proceedings. With extensive experience in regulatory and disciplinary matters, criminal law and the related civil litigation, the ‘confident and experienced‘ Nick Brett ‘delivers when it means most‘.

Headed up by ‘standout partner‘, Richard Creamer, Gordons Partnership 2020 Limited‘s regulatory department has particular experience in acting for healthcare professionals. Charles Atkins assists doctors and dentists with professional conduct issues; and Iain Pickering is a a healthcare specialist. Pharmacy law expert Susan Hunneyball was elevated to the partnership in May 2022.

Professional discipline is a growing area of expertise for ‘outstanding firm‘ Hickman & Rose. Department leader Andrew Katzen represents individuals and corporate bodies under investigation by regulatory bodies; Claire Wallace is a professional discipline expert; Ross Dixon is ‘simply brilliant‘; and founding partner Ben Rose represents clients facing professional misconduct accusations.

Howard Kennedy LLP is sought out by senior individuals from professional services firms who have been threatened with disciplinary proceedings; and solicitors’ disciplinary work is another key area of strength for the team. Practice leader Ian Ryan is ‘at the top of his game‘, while Joel Leigh is a barrister defence expert.

Legal Risk LLP assists law firms (and their insurers and regulators) and other professional services practices with professional disciplinary matters. In Liverpool, Frank Maher advises US, European, Australian, Asian and UK law firms, while Sue Mawdsley is an anti-money laundering expert, and Francis Dingwall in Oxford is ‘an excellent resource‘.

McCormicks is well known for its football-related disciplinary and regulatory work. The practice also handles SRA investigations and SDT defence work. Peter McCormick is a renowned sports lawyer; Peter Minnikin‘s practice includes disciplinary matters involving medical practitioners and physiotherapists; and Philip Edmondson heads up the litigation services team.

Richard Nelson LLP‘s ‘knowledgeable and focused team‘ consistently represents individuals and organisations in professional disciplinary proceedings; its expertise covering the legal, accountancy, teaching and medical sectors. In Nottingham, Richard Nelson is an SRA specialist, and Marie Dancer focuses on healthcare professionals, while Cardiff-based Steve Roberts represents solicitors who are being investigated.

RPC‘s professional practices group focuses on the regulatory issues affecting the legal services sector, insolvency practitioners, accountants and architects. Graham Reid has ‘first-class knowledge‘ and, in Bristol, Robert Morris has longstanding experience in handling disciplinary and regulatory matters, while senior associate Emma Wherry assists with construction-related professional discipline work.