Regulatory Defence

Investigations, sanctions, and prosecutions by regulatory bodies are on the increase. If you or your business are facing enforcement action by regulators, disciplinary hearings, or facing criminal investigations and proceedings, we can help.

As well as the potential impact upon your professional capabilities, prosecutions by some regulators have attracted increased sentencing powers and hefty fees for intervention, whatever the ultimate case disposal decision. Clearly the impact could be monumental to both individuals and businesses, and in some cases your liberty, as well as your professional survival, could very well be at risk.

We have extensive experience of advising clients facing action and intervention by regulators, defending clients facing disciplinary hearings and advising clients facing criminal investigations. We understand that the prospect of regulatory action can have serious implications for the survival of a business or for a professional’s practice and we recognise the need for urgent, specialist advice from expert lawyers.

Our team has many years of experience in successfully defending cases on behalf of businesses and individuals who have been investigated and prosecuted for a wide range of issues.

We have advised individuals and companies in relation to matters involving amongst others:

• The General Medical Council
• The Health and Safety Executive
• The General Dental Council
• Ofsted
• Trading Standards

We understand how daunting the prospect of dealing with regulatory problems can be and we are here to help you to try and avoid it, if at all possible.

Foster & Coleman can help you from the outset and provide the very best legal advice at the earliest possible stage. We will provide sound, comprehensive advice through every stage and representation by expert advocates.

Notable and recent cases where our team have acted include:

• HSE v H – Woolwich Crown Court – Prosecution following a fatal accident on building site
• HSE v L – Aylesbury Crown Court – Prosecution relating to Gas Safe Register qualifications
• GMC v X – Representation of a doctor regarding fitness to practice issues arising from linked criminal proceedings where we are also instructed
• HSE v G – Formal interview under caution – Investigation relating to unqualified contractors
• Trading Standards v M – Investigation into the production of counterfeit clothing
• R v X – Prosecution of a General Practitioner for harassment offences
• HSE v S - Prosecution following collapse of temporary platform and injuries sustained
• Advising a dental surgeon in relation to the investigation of an alleged sexual assault, linked to GDC enquiries
• HSE v S - Westminster MC - Fatality relating to scaffold construction
• J v HSE - Application for details to be removed from register
• Ofsted v P – Investigation following an injury sustained by a child at nursery

Service Testimonial