Regulatory Opt

Disciplinary and Regulatory

"Exceptional array of talent, from the pupils right through to the silks."

Chambers UK, 2020

 
 
 
 
 

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Overview

However sensitive and challenging the proceedings 9BR Chambers offers expert advice and clear guidance by navigating disciplinary and regulatory complexity.

Our barristers have extensive experience across various professions and regulatory bodies. We act in disciplinary and regulatory proceedings from sports to social care, from healthcare to higher education.  Our team provides pre-hearing advice and act through proceedings from interim order applications to substantive final hearings, where fitness to practice is adjudicated upon, and appear at the High Court on appeal.

9BR Chambers understands the changing landscape within the regulatory sphere and recognises the reputational risks faced by both professionals and regulators where issues arise. Our barristers provide expert advice and support in sensitive and challenging circumstances. We excel in navigating the complexity of regulatory proceedings and recognise the importance of balancing the interests of registrants, service users, complainants, witnesses and the public. Our disciplinary and regulatory barristers provide clear and practical advice distilling often convoluted rules and legislation into coherent and clear guidance.

Every barrister in 9BR Chambers regulatory and disciplinary team continues to undertake domestic criminal work. We are, therefore, exceptionally well positioned to advise and provide representation in matters with a regulatory/disciplinary and criminal interface.

Specialisms
Dispute Resolution

Across many areas of commercial litigation 9BR Chambers has a focused and experienced team of barristers known for their collaborative and accessible approach.

Our commercial litigation barristers are expert in a broad range of areas including civil fraud, asset tracing, company law, contractual disputes and insolvency cases. We regularly appear in commercial cases in the Business and Property Court, Commercial Court, Insolvency and Companies Court as well as the Central London County Court and local County Courts.

Our team always take a collaborative and accessible approach, working closely with solicitors, accountants and other professional advisors. Our barristers accept instructions from solicitors, from professionals through Licensed Access and, in appropriate circumstances, from members of the public and businesses on a Direct Public Access Basis. Some members have a licence to litigate allowing them to conduct litigation and so without instruction by a solicitor and without the red tape of direct access instruction.

Education

Including allegations of serious sexual misconduct and violence 9BR Chambers has achieved successful outcomes for teaching authorities, students, and teachers representing them at tribunals and hearings.

9BR Chambers has achieved successful outcomes for teaching authorities, students and teachers at tribunals and hearings.

Healthcare

Whatever the sensitivities and intricacies of healthcare regulation 9BR Chambers bring extensive experience to act for individuals, organisations and regulatory bodies, tailoring the specific requirements for each case.

The regulatory bodies we work with include: the General Medical Council (GMC), the General Dental Council (GDC), the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), the General Optical Council (GOC), and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

Police

Whether claimant, Police Federation, or related body 9BR Chambers have a proven track record in disciplinary police work, through extensive knowledge of criminal investigations, proceedings, and civil litigation.

Our disciplinary and regulatory barristers draw upon their expertise in criminal law to shape their approach to cases involving the police. Central to these cases is knowledge of the process of criminal investigations, proceedings and their resulting documents. We know and understand the formal rule governing police officers’ actions.  

9BR Chambers is also experts in civil litigation involving the police. We have specialist knowledge including misconduct in public office, assault, malicious prosecution, negligence and wrongful imprisonment.

Safeguarding

From charge to conclusion, 9BR Chambers act throughout safeguarding proceedings, drafting safeguarding policies and representing bodies and individuals. Notably 9BR Chambers prosecuted the first safeguarding case brought by the British Horseracing Authority.

Our disciplinary and regulatory team run safeguarding cases from the point of charge to conclusion.

Social Work

At any stage in proceedings 9BR Chambers bring expertise to a full range of applications and hearings. 9BR Chambers is regularly instructed by Social Work England.

Our barristers bring expertise to all aspects of social work cases. Whether considering the evidential and investigative steps required or applying for and reviewing interim and substantive orders. We deal with the full range of applications including hearsay, privacy, and partial discontinuance in advance of final hearings. We regularly act in substantive hearings, employing our expertise in witness handling and legal submissions.

Sport

For governing bodies, individuals and teams across many sports 9BR Chambers provides advice and achieves proportionate and fair outcomes for clients, with our barristers holding positions on sport’s governing bodies.

9BR Chambers involvement in this area spans a wide range of sports including football, rugby, cricket, boxing, cycling, horse racing, polo and athletics. Our experience covers the full range of disciplinary and regulatory issues, including anti-corruption, safeguarding and anti-doping.

We understand the specific reputational risks faced by both athletes and governing bodies in sport. 9BR Chambers regulatory and disciplinary team provides pragmatic advice in order to achieve proportionate and fair outcomes for clients.

Due to our extensive criminal expertise, we can competently assist athletes and members charged with criminal offences at every stage of proceedings.