With ‘deep knowledge of cases and the needs of regulators’, Blake Morgan LLP is consistently mandated to act in professional discipline matters involving education, healthcare, accountancy and legal professionals. The team routinely advocates for regulators before Conduct and Competence and Health Committees, as well as before Fitness to Practise Panels and in the High Court. Healthcare sector expert Clare Strickland leads the practice, which includes regulatory group leader Bradley Albuery, who acts for regulators from the healthcare, legal and accountancy sectors, and Graham Miles, who predominantly focuses on fitness to practise matters. The practice further comprises James Danks, who acts for both regulators and respondents in disciplinary proceedings; Delme Griffiths, whose ‘knowledge of regulatory law is encyclopaedic’; and Antonia Dowgray, whose track record encompasses cases for the General Medical Council (GMC), General Dental Council (GDC), and General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Also key are barrister Tania Dosoruth, a former Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) senior lawyer; Alison Wood, who has notable healthcare and accountancy sector experience; and Lisa Clark and Sarah Price, who both represent professional regulators in fitness to practise matters.

Capsticks LLP’s regulatory practice represents health and social care regulators, as well as regulators in the veterinary, equine, legal services, and education sectors. It also acts for police forces in police misconduct matters. Professional regulatory sector head Mark Whiting routinely represents national regulatory bodies; regulatory division leader James Penry-Davey ‘stands out in this area of practice’; Kate Steele currently oversees a substantial fitness to practise caseload; Nicole Curtis is a specialist in healthcare, veterinary, and equine matters; and Mark Rogers heads up the firm’s Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) work. The practice also includes the ‘very responsive and thoughtful’ Ian Brook, an adviser to the SRA; Anna Holdsworth, who acts for the GDC and Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC); Jenny Wood, who leads the division’s NMC work; Keziah Pearson, who is ‘highly regarded by clients and peers alike‘; John Tippett-Cooper, who acts for the SRA in disciplinary cases; and Victoria Sheppard-Jones, who presents cases before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for the SRA. Other experienced figures are Cameron Scott, Michael Collis, Louisa Atkin and David Collins, as well as Louise Culleton, Hannah Pilkington, Adelita Thursby-Pelham, Tamsin Ryder, Louise Wilshire and Amy Wilson.

With ‘unrivalled expertise in defending SDT cases’, Clyde & Co acts for large law firms and high-profile partners in high-stakes regulatory investigations and disciplinary matters. The team also represents healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings before private hospitals, NHS England and NHS Trusts. The group is further experienced in appealing to the Health, Education and Social Care Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal (HESC), as well as the High Court; and additionally acts for accountancy firms in accountants’ regulatory and disciplinary proceedings. Jane Lang is ‘exceptionally gifted’; Adam Weston represents healthcare professionals in disciplinary cases; Fergal Cathie is notably focused on the law firm sector; James Roberts heads the accountants’ liability, regulatory and disciplinary team; and Richard Harrison leads the global lawyers’ liability, disciplinary, regulatory and investigations department. The practice also features the ‘pragmatic’ Lee Biddle; Tim Crockford, who acts in Financial Reporting Council (FRC) investigations; Niya Phiri, a defender of law firms and legal professionals; and Penrose Foss, who assists with defence-side disciplinary proceedings concerning auditors, accountants, taxation professionals and insolvency practitioners. Other experienced practitioners are Rowena Lewis, Andrew Forsyth, Rebecca Gowling, Jonathan Lawrence, Michael Clark and Laurel Forde, as well as Lesia MacCormack, Stephen Hooper and Ewan Bright.

Kingsley Napley LLP’s defence team covers legal services, accountancy and finance regulations, as well as fire and health and safety-related matters. Appointed regulatory team head in November 2023, Melinka Berridge acts for major regulators from the education and healthcare sectors; Julie Norris assists partners, other legal service providers and UK law firms with investigations and SRA enforcements; Julie Matheson specialises in advising professional services firms, predominantly in the accountancy and built environment sectors; Shannett Thompson has the ‘ability to put nervous clients at ease‘; and Iain Miller and Jessica Clay are praised for their ‘technical expertise, sound client care and tactical acumen’. The practice further comprises Hannah Eales, an adviser to both regulatory bodies and those who appear before them; Laura Ryan, a prosecutor of individuals for regulators; Lucy Williams; who specialises in regulatory law, primarily in the legal and financial sectors; Sarah Atkinson, who acts in range of architectural cases and complex clinical matters; Clare Hastie, who investigates and prepares fitness to practise cases on behalf of regulatory bodies; and the ‘absolute standout’ Kathryn Sheridan. Other names to note are Charlotte Judd, Ian Ko and Louise Murphy-King. Former regulatory head Nicola Hill departed the firm in March 2024.

Weightmans LLP‘s ‘exceptional lawyers’ are consistently sought out to represent clients at GMC, GDC and HCPC hearings; and the practice has notable expertise in defending solicitors facing SRA investigations and SDT proceedings. The group also supports law firms during the early stages of complaints. The department further acts in disciplinary proceedings before the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the Architects Registration Board (ARB), and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW); and additionally assists the professional regulators of emerging professions such as approved inspectors, in relation to the Construction Industry Council Approved Inspectors Register (CICAIR). William Childs has ‘great abilities’; Sam Flew, Alistair Hewitt and Mike Scherp act in healthcare-related disciplinary investigations; Simon Gomersall ‘always prepares his cases impeccably’; and Anne Green and Michaela Nicholas represent healthcare professionals in disciplinary matters. The team also showcases litigator Susanna Heley, an expert in professional disciplinary work for solicitors; national health sector practice head Richard Jolly; ‘excellent tactician and lawyer’ Ian Sadler; Nigel West, who specialises in defence work for solicitors; and Sadie O’Reilly, who assists with disciplinary proceedings involving dental and medical practitioners. Tom Thurlow, Stewart Duffy, Richard Privett are also key team members.

CMS, which houses ‘one of the best professional discipline teams in the marketplace’, routinely defends medical practitioners in disciplinary proceedings, on behalf of the MDU and MPS. The 21-strong professional discipline and regulatory team also assists the GPhC and GOC with preparing professional disciplinary cases for hearing. The group further acts for a range of corporate entities from the healthcare, social care and education sectors in professional disciplinary matters. The practice is co-led by ‘true team player’ Rachel Cooper, who is a specialist in professional discipline and regulatory advisory work in the healthcare, social care and education sectors; and the ‘extremely diligent’ Yvonne Screene, an expert in medical advisory work and defending medical and dental claims. The next line of experienced practitioners includes Katie Clarke, who prosecutes cases for the GOC and GPhC, alongside defending MDU members in disciplinary cases; Nyree Bichard, who acts for the MDU in high-profile matters; and Jennie Dawson, who prosecutes cases for the GOC and GPhC, and defends HCPC registrants and MDU members in disciplinary cases. Natasha Ricioppo left the firm in September 2024.

‘One of the top professional discipline outfits in the country’, DAC Beachcroft LLP fields experts in matters involving lawyers, accountants, surveyors and medical practitioners. Among the practice’s several experienced practitioners, accountancy service line leader Richard Highley ‘stands out’ for his representation of accountants in Financial Reporting Council and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales investigations; the ‘excellent’ Rebecca Smith acts for regulated financial professionals, including accountants, actuaries, pensions trustees, and financial advisers; and Claire Hughes-Willliams leads the solicitor regulatory team that defends SRA proceedings against solicitors. Also key to the practice, Catrin Davies acts in professional indemnity claims involving solicitors; Tom Bedford defends solicitors against professional disciplinary investigations and proceedings; and Louise Wiltshire and Susan Trigg both act for healthcare professionals during regulatory investigations. Other names to note are GMC proceedings specialist Christopher Briggs; Caroline Dean, who represents medical practitioners in investigations; Julian Bubb-Humfryes, who is ‘clear partner material’; and fitness to practise expert Claire Anderson. Tessa Davies and Christian Carr left the firm in January 2024 and June 2023, respectively.

Fieldfisher‘s large professional discipline team ‘delivers on the brief and works to a very high standard’. In addition to acting for an array of different regulators across health, sport, surveying, policing, finance and law, the group represents higher education institutions that offer regulated profession-related study courses. Regulatory group co-head Sarah Ellson ‘knows everything about professional regulation’; and Matthew Lohn has particular experience in healthcare and finance sector-related discipline issues. The practice also comprises Frankie Everitt, an adviser on a range of professional disciplinary, public law and regulatory issues; the ‘very impressive’ Martin Sleight, who is a former GMC in-house counsel; and Olivia Rogers, who assists regulatory bodies and businesses with professional discipline matters. Currently on a part-time secondment to the Bar Standards Board, Chloe Williams is ‘an absolute star in the making’.

With ‘talent in every aspect of professional regulation and discipline’, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP acts for leading professional bodies, as well as firms and individuals, in relation to disciplinary investigations and proceedings. Recent work for the team predominantly involved large-scale financial, accountancy and legal sector-related disciplinary cases. Clients also notably benefit from the team’s leveraging of the firm’s public law expertise. The department is co-led by William Glassey, a ‘top name in the market’, who acts for professional firms and individual professionals in regulatory investigations and disciplinary actions; and ‘superb lawyer’ Andrew Lidbetter, whose experience covers prosecuting, defending and advising adjudication committees on disciplinary cases, in addition to revising disciplinary schemes. Also key to the group, Nusrat Zar represents accountancy regulators, such as the Financial Reporting Council, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants; Antonia Pegden‘s wide-ranging practice encompasses professional discipline work; and Henry Saunders is a ‘star of the future’.

With ’broad experience from decades of involvement in professional discipline for a range of professionals‘, Russell-Cooke LLP acts for both professional and regulatory bodies, as well as for regulated individuals and businesses. Sector expertise for the 12-strong team covers finance, legal, health and social care, as well as property and infrastructure. It also has a strong track record in advising the sport, education and charities sectors. The practice is co-led by regulation and public law specialist John Gould; and professional discipline and sports law expert Matt Bosworth, ‘a go-to lawyer for clients with regulatory issues’. The practice further showcases Michael Stacey, who acts for regulatory bodies and individuals, businesses and charities on regulatory and professional disciplinary issues; and Sheetul Sowdagur, whose primary focus is on assisting clients working in the health and social care sectors. Sowdagur also represents teachers, academics, accountants, actuaries, and financial services professionals.

Blackfords LLP has notable health and social care sector experience. It also represents serving police and MoD police personnel in misconduct proceedings; acts for solicitors in SRA investigations; and advises football professionals facing sexual abuse allegations of a historic nature. Gary Rubin is ‘one of the leading lights among professional discipline lawyers’; Trevor Francis regularly assists with professional disciplinary hearings; and Gary Bloxsome and Jo Kaucher ‘provide excellent service to police officers facing regulatory proceedings’. The department further comprises social care expert Philip Williams, while Jennifer Richardson‘s recent caseload includes acting for medical professionals in relation to misconduct allegations.

Browne Jacobson LLP has ‘significant experience in investigating and preparing professional discipline matters on behalf of regulators’. The firm’s sizeable government, regulatory and advocacy department has longstanding experience in teaching-related professional discipline matters. It is also a lead provider to the Teaching Regulation Agency, as well as being consistently mandated by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care. The firm’s in-house barrister team is led by Fiona Butler; Samantha Paxman has notable experience in complex hearings; and Ben Bentley is ‘a very competent professional discipline practitioner’. Promoted to partner in May 2024, Ian Perkins is an education sector expert.

The ‘well-resourced team’ at DWF is well known for acting in professional disciplinary matters across several professions, including medical, legal, actuarial, accountancy, and financial services. Among the group’s several experienced lawyers, healthcare professional specialist Rosie Shapiro ‘has an excellent strategic and tactical grasp of the issues in a case‘;  corporate crime practitioner Euros Jones regularly conducts internal corporate investigations; Harriet Quiney represents a range of professionals before disciplinary bodies; and Matthew Reynolds focuses on solicitor and accountant-related matters. The practice further includes healthcare sector expert Charlotte Ellis, who is an ‘outstandingly hard worker’. Simon Mason left the firm in August 2023.

‘Extremely tenacious in pursuing the interests of clients’, Gordons Partnership 2020 Limited is consistently mandated by major medical defence organisations, corporate bodies and healthcare professionals, including doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, paramedic practitioners, and physician associates, to assist with healthcare regulatory proceedings and healthcare law issues. Richard Creamer is ‘a go-to person’; Susan Hunneyball is a regular adviser to healthcare and social care clients; and Iain Pickering is particularly focused on representing doctors, dentists and pharmacists. Also key to the group, Lily-Rose Lloyd acts for healthcare professionals in investigations before their regulatory bodies; and Brendan Costello, who also maintains a robust healthcare practice.

Keoghs LLP‘s ‘expertise in the specialist field of veterinary medicine is second to none’. The 18-strong group also acts for doctors, dentists, nurses, psychologists, and opticians, as well as architects, engineers, surveyors, solicitors, licensed conveyancers, and FCA-regulated professionals such as insurance brokers and financial advisers. The professional and financial risks team is led by Ruth Lawrence, who acts for veterinary and construction professionals; the ‘extremely thorough and highly-capable solicitor’ Sarah Naylor leads the veterinary defence team; healthcare head Sian Davies defends a range of medical practitioners; and Jason Howarth acts for medical practitioners at GMC and GDC hearings.

Keystone Law‘s professional discipline team, which specialises in the defence of healthcare professionals, ‘really knows how to assist clients through the perils of multi-faceted investigations’. Defending doctors, dentists and other healthcare practitioners, whose registration is questioned by healthcare regulatory bodies, Tracy Sell-Peters is ‘the go-to for any issue relating to professional discipline’; and Andrea James is an expert in both professional discipline and healthcare regulatory law. The department further includes the ‘extremely thorough’ Sharon Buckham, who has notable experience in healthcare regulatory work, while Rebecca Dymott also regularly defends healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings. Natasha Ricioppo joined the team in September 2024 from CMS.

Murdochs Solicitors is ‘a go-to firm for solicitor-related professional discipline work’. The practice is experienced in representing both firms and individuals that face SRA investigations and SDT proceedings; and its expertise covers avoiding and challenging SRA intervention, self-reports to the SRA, and appeals to the SDT and the Administrative Court. Andrew Blatt specialises in SRA investigations and SDT proceedings, as well as complex partnership disputes involving misconduct; SRA and SDT expert Robert Forman is ‘absolutely brilliant in this area of regulatory law‘; and Nicholas Trevette is also experienced in solicitors’ discipline and regulation.

‘Able to provide a wide range of specialist legal services to professionals and businesses’, Richard Nelson LLP‘s sector expertise encompasses legal, accountancy, medical and education. The ‘tactically astute’ Steve Roberts acts for lawyers during investigations and before regulatory tribunals; Marie Dancer is routinely instructed by the Pharmacists’ Defence Association to defend pharmacists before the GPhC; and veteran practitioner Richard Nelson represents solicitors in SRA investigations, as well as before the SDT. The practice further includes Victoria Rees, who acts for healthcare professionals and teachers; and Sarah-Jane Varley, who ‘has a very firm grip on the procedures and principles’.

RPC‘s 20-strong professional practices group focuses on regulatory issues concerning legal services, insolvency practitioners, accountants, architects, and healthcare professionals. Its workload covers a range of contentious areas, including internal and regulatory investigations, regulatory reporting obligations, and disciplinary proceedings. The group is co-led by Graham Reid, who ‘lives up to his reputation’; and Robert Morris, who specialises in claims against accountants, financial professionals and insurance brokers. The practice further includes Dorothy Flower, who assists GMC and HCPC-investigated individuals; Davina Given, an expert in financial services and accountancy disciplinary matters; and Tom Wild, who is ‘destined for greatness’.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP‘s ‘first-rate team‘ is best known for defence-side work in the accountancy, healthcare, education, financial services and legal services sectors. The 11-strong team acts for professionals in cases brought by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, GMC, GDC, GPhC, and the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries. The Wigan-based regulatory department is led by Carl Johnson, who is ‘a true veteran of fitness to practice proceedings’; and Laura Hannah is a healthcare sector specialist. At senior associate level, Chloe Parish is developing a niche practice in pharmacy matters.

Bates Wells‘ ‘thorough, diligent and responsive’ team acts for a range of representative bodies, such as Royal Colleges and Institutes, as well as membership organisations with professional discipline functions, including the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. The multidisciplinary group also represents leading health and social care bodies, including Social Work England. The practice is led by public and regulatory law specialist Matthew Smith, an April 2023 recruit from BDB Pitmans. Amrita Hurst departed in July 2023.

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s ‘very impressive’ professional discipline practice acts for a range of legal, accountancy education and healthcare sector professionals. It is also increasingly mandated to represent universities in fitness to practise investigations into students studying vocational degree courses, such as medicine and teaching. The team is headed up by the ‘outstanding’ Daniel Purcell, who is well known for his representation of professional regulators.  Former practice co-head Melanie Carter departed the firm in June 2024.

Brett Wilson LLP has ‘carved out its professional discipline reputation through some notable successes’. The team is regularly mandated by solicitors, law firms, doctors, dentists, healthcare professionals and architects to defend disciplinary proceedings and investigations. It also handles student investigations at universities. An expert in defending professionals against disciplinary processes and regulatory investigations, Nick Brett, is ‘an absolute leader in his field’. Criminal law and professional disciplinary practitioner Vicky Lankester was hired from Kingsley Napley LLP in June 2023.

Specialist employment, partnership, and regulatory law firm CM Murray LLP is known for its advice to law firms, partners and other professional services firms on partnership issues. It is particularly focused on misconduct investigations. The ‘very responsive’ regulatory and professional discipline team is led by Andrew Pavlovic, a ‘go-to lawyer for any professional disciplinary matter’, who has notable expertise in acting for SRA-regulated firms and individuals. Providing key support is Corinne Staves, who advises firms and individual partners on SRA regulation.

Delivering ‘an excellent service across the board’, Cole Khan Solicitors LLP‘s professional discipline and regulatory team represents legal, financial services, education, and accountancy and actuarial professionals in disciplinary proceedings brought by regulators and employers. The employment and professional discipline boutique is co-led by Emilie Cole, who routinely acts for professionals in disciplinary and regulatory proceedings; and employment and professional discipline law specialist Shazia Khan, who is ‘quite simply superb at her job’.

‘Completely dedicated to obtaining the best possible results for clients’, Constantine Law Limited acts in a range of professional disciplinary sectors, including financial, legal, accountancy and healthcare. The team’s assistance also frequently encompasses criminal and employment law aspects. ‘Without doubt one of the best regulatory lawyers in the country’, Sarah Wallace is especially well known for handling FCA investigations; Jemma Sherwood-Roberts routinely represents individuals facing investigation; and Emmeline Coerkamp defends individuals under investigation for multi-jurisdictional serious fraud offences.

Hickman & Rose has ‘one of the very best teams for representing those caught up in criminal, regulatory and professional discipline matters’. The team defends lawyers, accountants and financial services-related individuals in SRA, FCA and FRC cases, as well as matters brought by medical professionals’ regulators. Andrew Katzen ‘has a wonderful track record’; Claire Wallace represents solicitors, barristers and financial services professionals under investigation; Ben Rose defends professional misconduct allegations; and Ross Dixon is experienced in FCA, FRC and SRA work.

Howard Kennedy LLP‘s 11-strong team acts for solicitors and law firms in SRA investigations and prosecutions, including assisting with production orders, legal professional privilege and search warrant executions. It also acts for other professional services firms facing professional disciplinary issues, including individuals confronting the threat of disciplinary proceedings. The group is led by business crime and regulatory specialist Ian Ryan, who is ‘a standout practitioner for professional discipline issues’, while Jennifer Harper is experienced in SRA issues.

McCormicks has a strong market reputation for football-related disciplinary and regulatory work. The 24-member team, which is ‘commercially pragmatic and solution focused’, also handles defence-side SRA investigations and SDT work, as well as NPA matters. The practice is co-led by renowned sports law specialist Peter McCormick OBE and Peter Minnikin, who acts in disciplinary work involving medical practitioners and physiotherapists. The group also includes David Birks, who leads the firm’s commercial disputes and sports litigation team.