Professional Discipline

At White Fisher, we specialise in providing legal counsel and defence for professionals facing investigations, prosecutions, or potential actions by their regulatory bodies. Our expertise extends to various professions, including company directors, doctors, dentists, lawyers, and financial advisors. We offer comprehensive guidance on professional regulation and discipline matters.

Our services also encompass advising companies, directors, and senior managers regarding company investigations, directors’ disqualification proceedings, and related criminal matters. We recognise the challenges and disruptions these proceedings can pose. Using a proactive approach, we aim to minimise harm to our clients and their enterprises while focusing on cost reduction.

We guide clients through all stages of proceedings, from contesting disqualification orders to negotiating their terms and seeking permission to act despite disqualification.

Rapid and informed action is crucial when our clients face investigations. Regulatory interventions and suspensions can severely impact a professional’s career, with allegations of misconduct or impaired fitness causing significant stress. We emphasise early intervention to mitigate these effects, offering expert legal advice swiftly to protect professional standings and reputations. This includes preparing for regulatory interviews and crafting written submissions to shield our clients from undue harm.

Furthermore, our clients’ regulatory and criminal investigations often attract media attention. Leveraging our extensive experience in media relations, we provide strategic advice to manage and navigate media interests effectively, ensuring the best possible outcome for your case.

Regulatory Organisations

Adhering to the guidelines established by authoritative regulatory organisations is crucial for every regulated professional. Both companies and individuals must conform to these standards to avoid significant repercussions.

Regulated professionals navigate intricate regulatory landscapes, further intensified by vigorous enforcement measures. This amplifies the demand for expert legal assistance. We recognise the intricacies of these obstacles and provide customised support to guide you from the beginning of an investigation to the concluding hearings.

Legal Defence in Professional Discipline Cases

At White Fisher, we are acutely aware of the unique challenges our clients encounter in various professions:

• Accountancy: Our team has substantial expertise in defending accountants during investigations by key bodies like the Financial Reporting Council, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Taxation Disciplinary Board of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
• Actuarial: Handling complaints of professional misconduct with the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries is one of our strengths. We boast a rich history of involvement in contested cases, offering unparalleled experience in dealing with this specific regulator.
• Legal Sector: White Fisher is renowned for representing solicitors and barristers in disciplinary investigations, especially those involving high-profile social or professional misconduct in court settings. We frequently work on cases referred by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund, particularly for matters concerning the Bar Standards Board.
• Financial Services: In an era of increasing enforcement and disciplinary actions by the Financial Conduct Authority, our team, which includes former regulatory enforcement lawyers, is exceptionally equipped to represent and guide individuals in the financial services industry through all phases of disciplinary proceedings.

Our comprehensive understanding and experience across these fields make us an ideal partner for professionals seeking expert legal support.