Regulatory Investigations Solicitors
At a Glance
- Strategic Engagement: We manage high-stakes relationships with key bodies including the SRA, CLC, BSB, IPreg, and ICAEW, moving interactions from adversarial to constructive.
- Investigation Management: We take immediate control of regulatory audits and information requests, ensuring your responses are precise, legally privileged (where applicable), and designed to prevent escalation.
- Enforcement Defence: We provide robust defence for firms and individuals facing allegations of misconduct, whether that be from internal disciplinary meeting or from the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT).
- Crisis Resolution: We guide Boards and COLP/COFAs through the complexities of self-reporting material breaches, balancing the duty of candour with the need to protect the firm’s position.
- Reputation Protection: Engaging our team early protects your standing with insurers, investors, and the public by controlling the narrative and demonstrating decisive remediation.
What is Regulatory Defence?
For any regulated professional, a letter from the regulator is a critical business event and the quality of your initial response often dictates the outcome.
Regulator engagement is about managing credibility. Regulators such as the SRA and FCA expect cooperation, transparency, and rapid remediation. However, firms can fall into the trap of over-disclosing or aggressively defending without understanding the regulator’s perspective.
At Cartwright King, we act as the buffer between your firm and the regulator. We support regulated firms, professionals, and investors in their engagement at all stages with the goal being to resolve issues efficiently, minimising disruption to your business continuity.
If you have received a notice of investigation or identified a serious breach, immediate advice is essential. Contact our Regulatory team on 0345 894 1622 for a confidential consultation.
Engagement Strategies & Defence Mechanisms
The approach to a regulatory issue must be calibrated to the severity of the risk. A routine audit requires a different tone than a fraud investigation. That’s why we tailor our strategy to protect your licence to practice.
Below is a breakdown of the primary mechanisms our team utilises to manage regulatory pressure.
| Mechanism | Focus | Operational Goal | Key Feature |
| Proactive Liaison | Relationship Management | Credibility | Initiating early, constructive dialogue with regulators (e.g., SRA, BSB) to frame issues proactively before they become formal complaints. |
| Investigation Response | Audit & Inquiry | Containment | Managing the scope of information requests and “production orders” to ensure you comply without waiving privilege or providing irrelevant data. |
| Enforcement Defence | Tribunal / Disciplinary | Exoneration | Robust legal representation for firms and individuals facing the SDT or disciplinary committees, challenging evidence and procedural errors. |
| Regulatory Settlement | Negotiation | Resolution | Negotiating Regulatory Settlement Agreements (RSAs) or Agreed Outcomes to conclude matters quickly and privately where possible. |
Protecting Reputation and Business Continuity
Regulatory investigations can often trigger other concerns from professional indemnity insurers, bank lenders, and investors.
We work directly with Boards and Senior Management to manage the effects of regulatory scrutiny:
- Insurer Notification: Advising on when and how to notify insurers of a potential claim or investigation to ensure coverage is preserved.
- Stakeholder Assurance: Providing credible, independent assurance to investors and banks that regulatory issues are being managed professionally and remediated.
- Business Continuity: Ensuring that the demands of an investigation do not stop your day-to-day operations.
Frequently asked questions.
What should I do if I receive a notification of investigation from the SRA?
Do not respond immediately in panic. Acknowledge receipt but seek legal advice before providing a substantive response. Your initial written reply will form the backbone of the regulator’s case. We help you draft a response that is cooperative yet protective of your legal position.
Does a regulatory breach always lead to a public tribunal?
No. Many investigations are closed without action or resolved via a private letter of advice or a negotiated settlement (Regulatory Settlement Agreement). Our objective is always to resolve matters at the lowest possible level of enforcement, keeping your reputation intact.
Should we self-report a breach immediately?
The SRA requires “prompt” reporting of serious breaches, but “prompt” allows time for investigation and advice. It is critical to understand the full extent of the issue before reporting so that you can present a remediation plan alongside the admission. We guide COLPs and COFAs on the timing and content of these reports.
Why Choose Cartwright King?
Managing a regulatory investigation requires an understanding of the regulators and internal processes.
We offer a unique advantage to regulated entities:
- Former Regulator Insight: Led by a former senior member of the SRA, our team understands exactly how investigators assess risk and what they need to see to close a file.
- Credibility with Regulators: We have established professional relationships with key personnel at the SRA, BSB, and other bodies. They know that when Cartwright King is instructed, the firm is taking the matter seriously.
- Cross-Disciplinary Defence: If a regulatory issue crosses into criminal law (e.g., fraud or money laundering), we are one of the few firms with a Tier 1 Business Crime team to handle the criminal defence alongside the regulatory process.
- Commercial Pragmatism: We understand that you have a business to run. Our strategies are designed to be cost-effective and focused on allowing you to return to “business as usual” as quickly as possible.
About Our Expert
Wesley Thompson brings over 15 years of experience in regulatory and financial support, including a tenure as a senior member of the SRA.
He specialises in law firm restructuring, ABS licensing, and firm authorisations for some of the UK’s largest regulated practices. With specialist expertise in the Legal Services Act and Solicitors Accounts Rules, Wesley provides strategic guidance across multiple regulatory bodies including the SRA, BSB, and CLC. His understanding of the regulator’s mindset makes him an invaluable asset for firms looking to navigate high-stakes investigations and enforcement actions.