This event is now fully booked
Speakers: Duncan Toole (Principal Legal Adviser for Enforcement at the Office for Students and Legally Qualified Chair at Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service), Richard Coleman KC (Barrister at Fountain Court Chambers), Sam Thomas (Barrister at 2 Bedford Row Chambers) and Shannett Thompson (Partner at Kingsley Napley)
Chair: Laura Hoiles (Capsticks Solicitors LLP)
Description: Join us for an evening of round-table discussion and networking as Junior ARDL hosts this in-person event in London. The session is aimed at Junior members of the Association (0-9 years PQE) to help develop essential skills in regulatory and disciplinary law. The speakers will be speaking and hosting discussion on a wide range of practical and skills based topics, followed by drinks and an opportunity to network.
Duncan Toole will provide an overview of working in house v private practice, including advice for those considering applying for a Civil Service legal role. Duncan will also draw on his own experience and discuss the role of the legally qualified chair in regulatory and disciplinary law proceedings.
Richard Coleman KC will discuss advocacy, in particular (i) submissions on the facts in civil proceedings and (ii) submissions on legal authorities.
Sam Thomas will speak about preparation and advocacy in healthcare regulatory cases, in particular looking at interim order cases. This will include practical tips for working under tight time constraints to prepare for these hearings.
Shannett Thompson will discuss useful hints and tips for planning an effective fitness to practise investigation, including evidence gathering and drafting allegations.
This seminar will take place in person. Please note that the seminar is open to members only and you will be asked to confirm that you are a member before joining the event.
The Chair
Laura Hoiles is an Associate within the Regulatory team at Capsticks Solicitors LLP. Laura has conducted fitness to practise (FTP) investigations and prepared cases for FTP and professional discipline hearings for a variety of healthcare and non-healthcare regulators, including the NMC, GDC, GPhC, GCC, HCPC and TRA. She has a broad experience, involving complex multi-registrants cases, clinical competency, serious sexual misconduct, criminal convictions, fraud and dishonesty. Laura joined the ARDL Committee in 2022 where she focusses on the Association’s offering to its Junior members (0-9 years PQE), including coordination of the ARDL Mentoring Scheme.
The Speakers
Duncan Toole is the Principal Legal Adviser for Enforcement at the Office for Students (OfS). He provides legal advice and support on a broad range of legal matters and has a particular focus on OfS’s investigatory and enforcement functions. Prior to joining the OfS, Duncan worked for 8 years as a Senior Regulatory Enforcement Lawyer at Ofsted, representing the organisation in Care Standards Tribunal cases (both First-tier and Upper Tribunal)
Duncan also sits as a Legally Qualified Chair in the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) and has held this position since 2019. He regularly chairs fitness to practise hearings involving misconduct, conviction and health, in addition to restoration hearings. Duncan is also a member of the ARDL Committee.
Richard Coleman KC practises at Fountain Court Chambers and is a member of the ARDL Committee. He is recognised in the legal directories as a leading practitioner in professional discipline, financial services, banking and finance, commercial dispute resolution and professional negligence. He has appeared in a number of leading cases concerning the regulation of solicitors, accountants and financial services firms including mostly recently: Your Lawyers v Harcus Sinclair [2021] UKSC 32, Supreme Court (whether an agreement by a solicitor not to act for other claimants in the VW emissions litigation was enforceable); Financial Reporting Council v KPMG and David Costley-Wood, Accountancy Scheme Tribunal, 2021 (on the duties of objectivity and integrity owed by accountants when giving restructuring advice); Solicitors Regulation Authority v MdR and another, SDT, 2021 (on the prohibition against providing a banking facility through client account); Solicitors Regulation Authority v Solicitor Z, SDT, 2021 (on abuse of process and non-disclosure agreements); Solicitors Regulation Authority v Baker McKenzie & others, SDT, 2020 (on the duty to investigate and report sexual misconduct); final notice issued by the Financial Conduct of Authority against Aviva plc, 2020 (on the disclosure obligations under the Listing Rules); and Solicitors Regulation Authority v Wingate & Evans [2018] 1 WLR 3969, Court of Appeal (on the meaning of integrity in professional codes of conduct).
Sam Thomas is a barrister at 2 Bedford Row Chambers. His practice encompasses advice and advocacy in relation to Financial Crime, Regulatory Law, Inquiries, and Cyber Law. He is ranked as a leading junior barrister in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. Sam’s regulatory practice includes financial regulation, healthcare and sports. Sam regularly appears for both registrants and the regulator in healthcare disciplinary proceedings. He has appeared before the GDC, GOC, GMC, NMC and UK Council for Psychotherapy, in a variety of case ranging from attempted murder and rape, to complex clinical cases involving the cross-examination of multiple experts. Sam is also a member and Vice-Chair of the ARDL Committee.
Shannett Thompson joined Kingsley Napley in 2011. She is a Partner in the Regulatory Team having trained in-house with the NHS. She provides regulatory advice predominantly in the health and social care and education sectors. Shannett has vast experience advising both regulatory bodies and regulated individuals. She also advises businesses such as clinics and care homes in relation to matters involving the Care Quality Commission. In addition, she advises students in respect of disciplinary investigations, developing a real niche in relation to sexual misconduct complaints. She is a member of the private prosecutions team providing advice to individuals, businesses and charities in respect of prosecutions were traditional agencies are unwilling or unable to act. Her work ordinarily relates to the most serious allegations including matters relating to dishonesty.
Shannett writes for external publications including Lexis Nexis, Lawyer 2B and has spoken at a number of external events. She has also been quoted in the press, including by the Sunday Times.
Shannett is a passionate advocate for issues relating to Diversity & Inclusion. She has been invited to speak at many external events including the Urban Lawyers Conference and Bright Network. She also regularly writes for publications such as Legal Women. Her focus areas are race and ethnicity.