Regulatory and Professional Discipline Group

9 St John Street Chambers has a wealth of experience in these specialist areas of law, with members ranked in the leading directories for both health and safety work and professional discipline.

We provide initial advice, support and representation for clients in a way that is accessible, convenient and helpful to them, from first instructions right through to any subsequent hearings. The Group represent clients at all levels in regulatory and disciplinary proceedings, from first instance tribunals through to High Court s40 appeals.

The Group is well balanced in terms of both prosecuting and defending serious and technically complicated health and safety cases, including corporate manslaughter trials. In the field of professional discipline, the Group has a strong reputation in prosecuting healthcare disciplinary proceedings, particularly on behalf of the GMC before Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service Tribunals, and in defending clients at Police Disciplinary proceedings. Members are regularly instructed in high profile and lengthy Fitness to Practise Tribunals on behalf of the GMC, involving serious clinical and personal misconduct, patient fatalities and deficient performance. Group members provide regular training on legal developments to in-house lawyers and specialist performance assessors.

Our breadth of expertise in regulatory work covers the full spectrum of health and safety legislation, environmental enforcement, appealing prohibition and improvement notices, cases involving complex financial sentencing considerations, appeals and administrative review. Members of the team have an excellent understanding and current experience of a broad spectrum of enforceable undertakings including in the areas of construction, manufacturing, railways, retail, restaurants, motor vehicles and, in particular, residential care and nursing homes. Clients include the HSE, CPS Special Casework directorate, NHS Trusts, Government departments, Local Authorities, corporate clients and private individuals.

Members of the team are able to provide telephone advice and support in the immediate aftermath of a serious incident, to enable clients to prepare for interviews with the police or HSE, and any consequent regulatory enforcement action. The Group is also proactive in developing non-contentious work, advising clients - both individually and through regular in-house seminars - on developments in the law and necessary adaptations to safety systems or structures in order to comply with changes in the law. Members also represent corporate and private clients, and government departments, in related Inquest, Appeals and Administrative Review proceedings.


What the Legal Directories say:

Chambers and Partners - 2018

9 St John Street has a high standing in the area of professional discipline due to its expertise in handling healthcare- and police-related disciplinary cases. Sources regard it as "a really impressive set" that is "very good for disciplinary cases." Its members regularly act for the GMC and for police officers in disciplinary proceedings. Significant recent instructions include GMC v Dr K, a sensitive case in which a GP was accused of raping his own patient, and GMC v Buchholz and Masood, a complicated case involving two eminent surgeons accused of dishonesty in their research projects. 

Chambers and Partners 2018

Legal 500  - 2015

“9 St John Street provides instructing parties with 'a choice of quality advocates' who handle a balanced mix of prosecution and defence work in the health and safety arena, and have experience in corporate manslaughter trials. Inquests arising from health and safety investigations are another strong suit. On the non-contentious side, members of chambers advise on compliance with both existing and new legislation.”

Legal 500 2015

Legal 500 - 2014

“A significant amount of 9 St John Street’s health and safety work derives from high-value personal injury cases. Practitioners are also noted for their expertise in inquests linked to HSE investigations, and advising employers on how to better manage health and safety."

Legal 500 2014

What the clients say:

David Walton Partner and Head of Regulatory Department - Keoghs Solicitors

“I have been instructing Personal Injury and Regulatory Counsel at 9 St John Street for in excess of 15 years. I consider certain members of this chambers to be comparable – nationally – to anybody in their fields. The technical ability and approachability of counsel available across my areas of specialisation are excellent meaning that I consistently receive a first class service from everyone who I instruct. The clerking is first rate.”

David Walton Partner and Head of Regulatory Department Keoghs Solicitors

Jill Elford Principal Law Clerk, Legal Adviser’s Office - Health & Safety Executive

“Having worked with 9 St John Street on a large, high profile investigation, it was gratifying to find that a real emphasis was placed on team working. We operate within a niche area of the law and 9 St John Street offer competent and experienced barristers who specialise in Health and Safety Law providing us with sound and reasoned advice. We have found that as part of this service, both counsel and chambers clerks have always been accessible and mindful of our needs.”

Jill Elford Principal Law Clerk, Legal Adviser’s Office Health & Safety Executive

Sundeep Soor - Director - Cartwright King Solicitors

"Cartwright King have been instructing 9 St Johns Street for the last three years for Health and Safety work. We have had an excellent service from both the clerking team and counsel, resulting in some positive outcomes for our clients."

 

Sundeep Soor - Director Cartwright King Solicitors