Professional regulation and discipline

Our professional regulation and discipline team draws on skills and personnel from across the firm. We advise firms and individual practitioners on all aspects of professional regulation, disciplinary investigation and proceedings, including criminal proceedings. Our team is able to offer a complete service, advising from the beginning to the end of a matter, including, where necessary, conducting our own advocacy.

Selected directory listings

• "They are an excellent firm. I'm consistently impressed with how available, smart, thorough and diligent they are. All the people I've interacted with seem to be cut from the same cloth" - Chambers UK 2013
• "They're very organised and detailed in their advice; I would have full confidence in using them again" - Chambers UK 2013
• "Recommended for Client Service" - Chambers UK 2011
• "Clients praise the firm's expertise and its 'knowledgeable, responsive and sensible' lawyers" - Chambers UK 2011

Specific professional practice areas include:

Accountants

We advise firms on all aspects of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales' disciplinary process. In particular, we can assist you in drafting representations to both the Investigation Committee and the Disciplinary Committee and in the past we have successfully negotiated alternative terms for Consent Orders initially proposed by the Investigation Committee. We can also advise on the likely approach to be taken by the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board when investigating complaints.

For more information please contact Rupert Boswall (rupert.boswall@rpc.co.uk).

Clinical

We have experience across all clinical specialisms. Our clients include doctors, dentists, nurses, osteopaths, chiropractors and practitioners of complementary medicine. We regularly act for practitioners facing Fitness to Practise proceedings before their regulatory bodies, primarily the GMC and the GDC. We can advise on, and assist with, on all aspects of the conduct and preparation of your defence and, when appropriate, take the case through to appeal. We also help you deal with complaints, and we have acted for practitioners facing PCT Performance Panels, assessment by the NCAS, an enquiry by the the Healthcare Commission, an SUI investigation, inquest or similar enquiry. The types of case handled cover the entire range, from issues of competency and performance, to fraud or dishonesty, to sexual impropriety with patients. We are also able to prepare suitable mitigation when the circumstances require it.

For more information please contact Clare Jaycock (clare.jaycock@rpc.co.uk) or Dorothy Flower (dorothy.flower@rpc.co.uk).

Lawyers

Our lawyers' liability team regularly advises solicitors and barristers on complaints of poor service and misconduct. This includes disciplinary investigations by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Complaints Service, as well as representation before the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal. Our work has included allegations of conflicts of interest, dishonesty, breaches of Solicitors' Accounts Rules, misleading the court, defamation, access to client documents and failures to submit an accountant's report.

For more information please contact Graham Reid (graham.reid@rpc.co.uk).

Financial Advisers

We represent firms regulated by the Financial Services Authority and Approved Persons at enforcement investigations and proceedings conducted by the FSA, including accompanying personnel at FSA interviews and defending individuals and firms facing enforcement proceedings.

For more information please contact Jonathan Davies (jonathan.davies@rpc.co.uk).