Regulatory Compliance Lawyers

We understand the severe impact critical incidents can have on your people and your organisation. Our expert regulatory, risk and resolution team support you every step of the way, ensuring you’re prepared to respond effectively to:

• Critical incidents: From safeguarding concerns to serious injuries or fatal accidents, we provide practical advice on reporting, governance, GDPR compliance, and communications.
• Matters requiring investigation: Whatever type of investigation is needed, we can support you with the many legal and practical elements of running an effective investigation.

Our team of compliance lawyers and barristers have an in-depth knowledge of criminal, civil and family court procedures, public law and the special educational needs tribunal, and inquest rules. We can work with you and your staff, and with your insurers to ensure that your organisation and people are properly prepared and represented in relation to:

• Interviews and independent scrutiny: such as safeguarding case reviews, police interviews, inspections or inquiries, our experienced team will be by your side, preparing you for what is ahead, advocating for you and protecting your interests.
• Legal proceedings: We help you respond to claims and legal proceedings of all types. We can represent your interests in the courts and tribunals ensuring you’re supported throughout.
• Coroner's inquests: Our team brings sensitivity and expertise to inquest processes, from internal investigations, through disclosure to the Coroner and the preparation of statements, to representation at hearings and handling Preventing Future Deaths Reports.
• Inquiries: Tailored advice for responding to statutory and other formal inquiries, helping you comply and maintain your organisation’s integrity.

Strong policies and clear training are the foundation of a compliant, confident organisation in which people know what is expected of them. We help you establish best practices and stay ahead of ever-changing regulations:

• Registration and inspections: Whether applying to register for the first time, making a material change application, or preparing for an ISI, Ofsted, CQC or HSE inspection, we guide you through the process and any applications or challenges, including responding to an inspection. We can help with factual accuracy check, complaint and public law challenge by way of judicial review.
• Safeguarding: With extensive experience in child protection and safeguarding, we provide expert advice and tailored training for Governors, leaders and staff to uphold the highest safeguarding standards. 
• Policies and procedures: Our team works with you to draft, update, and implement policies tailored to your organisation’s unique needs, ensuring compliance with legal and sector-specific requirements.
• Training: Empower your staff and leadership teams with bespoke training that fosters understanding and the effective implementation of policies.

Our deep understanding of the education sector (from nurseries to universities and beyond) means we’re ideally positioned to help you address strategic and operational, challenges and to manage risk:

• Education contracts: We create bespoke agreements, such as Parent and Student Contracts and placement contracts with local authorities designed to meet your organisation’s specific needs and safeguard key relationships.
• Admissions and exclusions: From initial planning to appeals, we guide you through the complexities of the law relating to admissions and exclusions in your setting, ensuring a fair and compliant process.
• SEN and disability: Our team offers expertise in special educational need and disability matters having advised schools, local authorities and universities on their obligations under the Equality Act 2010. We support you in responding to complaints and claims relating to discrimination, navigating statutory assessments, EHCP processes and tribunal appeals. Whether you need guidance on compliance or assistance defending discrimination claims, we're here to help.
• Student discipline and behaviour: Manage even the most sensitive behavioural issues with confidence. We provide advice on implementing fair and robust disciplinary procedures, including handling the most serious incidents, while aligning with your safeguarding and data protection obligations.

When challenges arise, we work by your side to resolve disputes efficiently and manage financial risk:

• Complaints and appeals: Whether managing internal complaints or external reviews, we provide expert guidance to help you navigate the process with confidence. Our support includes advising on Office of the Independent Adjudicator cases and fitness-to-practice proceedings.
• Dispute resolution: From regulatory disputes, contractual and common law claims to public law challenges, we deliver practical, results-driven solutions, addressing related concerns like data protection and Charity Commission reporting. 
• Debt recovery: Our creative debt recovery solutions, including the discounted School Fee Recovery Scheme, help you maintain financial stability while addressing contractual and consumer credit issues.

We offer specialist services to strengthen your organisation’s governance and delegation arrangements to ensure compliance across all areas:

• Regulatory due diligence: Comprehensive audits and reviews tailored to your needs, focusing on safeguarding, compliance, and specialist regulatory requirements.
• Education transactions: We provide niche expertise in relation to regulatory aspects of these transactions, including safeguarding, and the management of pupil and parent relationships.