Recommendations
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She's a great advocate who gets to the essence of a case quickly and pursues it without any fuss
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Recognised as a Key Lawyer and a Leading Individual in Professional Discipline
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[Nicole] has a wealth of experience in the field of professional regulation, can identify what is important in a case and exactly how all the elements should be managed
Experience
I am experienced in providing advice on regulatory and disciplinary law, with particular emphasis on healthcare, veterinary and equine work.
I often act as advocate before disciplinary committees, and am experienced in having conduct of regulatory appeals, including to the Privy Council.
I also advise regulators on judicial review and policy matters, and review their rules, regulations and guidance documents. I am experienced in advising both statutory and non-statutory regulatory bodies, and also act on behalf of individuals regarding proceedings brought by their regulatory bodies.
I sit as a legal assessor and regularly undertake audit and training work for regulators.
I am ranked in Band 1 in Professional Discipline in both Chambers and the Legal 500.
- I have acted for a statutory regulator in relation to an appeal to the Privy Council brought by a professional who had been struck off following a conviction for conspiracy to commit a fraud (2018 - 2019)
- I represented a statutory regulator in an appeal to the Privy Council by a professional who had been struck off for numerous clinical failings (2018 - 2019)
- I have undertaken audits of fitness to practise decisions on behalf of a statutory regulator, considering decisions at all stages of the regulator’s processes, from initial complaint to final hearing (2018 and 2019)
- I have sat as Legal Assessor to Investigating Committee and Professional Conduct Committee of a statutory healthcare regulator (Jan – March 2019)
- I acted as an advocate before a Disciplinary Committee in relation to proceedings against a professional for attempting to undertake surgery to another person when they were not a qualified doctor (November 2018)
- I have acted as an advocate before a Disciplinary Committee of a statutory regulator with regards to allegations of misuse of social media (October 2018)
- I have also acted as an advocate before a Disciplinary Committee of a statutory regulator in relation to proceedings brought against a professional following a conviction for smuggling miniature dachshund puppies into the UK (August 2018)
- I represented a statutory regulator in an appeal to the High Court (Administrative Division) brought by a registrant who had been found guilty of serious professional misconduct (2017 - 2018)
- I have acted on behalf of an individual registrant in relation to proceedings brought by their statutory regulator for allegations of serious professional misconduct (2017 - 2018)
Areas of expertise:
Qualifications and career
- 1992 Called to the Bar, Gray’s Inn
- 1990 Emmanuel College, Cambridge BA Hons (Law)
- I spent approximately ten years in independent practice at 1 Paper Buildings before joining Penningtons in 2003 and becoming a partner there in 2010 (and, in doing so, was one of the first barristers to enter partnership with solicitors)
- In April 2018 I became team leader for the professional regulatory team at Penningtons Manches.
- In January 2019 I joined the Public and Regulatory team at Bates Wells.
Pro bono, memberships, and appointments
- 2015 – appointed Independent Member of General Dental Council’s Quality Assurance Group
- 2016 – appointed Legal Assessor to General Osteopathic Council’s statutory committees
- Ex officio member of the committee of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
- Member of the editorial board for the ARDL bulletin
- Organises the annual Marion Simmons QC essay prize
- Member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council User Group