Townshends LLP
Cornwall House,
31 Lionel Street,
Birmingham
B3 1AP
t: 0121 214 1540
f: 0121 214 1549
Townshends LLP
Clinton House,
High Street,
Warwickshire,
B46 3BP
t: 01675 467333
f: 01675 467373
Townshends LLP
2 Brays Lane
Coventry,
CV2 4DZ
t: 02476 448606
f: 02476 458725
Services
Professional Regulation
Our Professional Regulation Team is led by solicitor advocate and senior litigation partner Jayne Willetts.
Formerly based at Hammonds Birmingham office Jayne and her team moved to Townshends in 2007.
Described in Chambers & Partners 2008 as the “regulatory gurus of the Midlands” Jayne and her Team provide specialist advice to the legal regulators as well as to law firms and to individual solicitors.
Townshends has until recently undertaken outsourced complaints handling for the Legal Complaints Service as well as acting as agent for the Solicitors Regulation Authority in interventions in the Midlands area.
Jayne regularly appears as an advocate before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal both prosecuting and defending as well as dealing with appeals to the High Court.
The expertise that we have developed in this area and our close links with the regulators means that we are perfectly placed to defend other law firms. Jayne herself is described in Chambers & Partners Directory 2010 as “a formidable defence advocate with many years experience as a litigator”. Whether it is dealing with a complaint of inadequate professional service or representation before the Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal, we can assist.
Legal Complaints Service
A complaint of inadequate professional service can often be complex and overlap with allegations of negligence. Combine this with the myriad of confusing LCS policies and procedures and the complaint can become overwhelming. We can help to cut through the complexities in order to reach a fair and commercially viable settlement. We have particular expertise in relation to complaints involving potential negligence.
SRA conduct investigations
Conduct investigations by the SRA are invariably highly complex, covering many different areas of your practice. The impact on you and your firm can be massive, the consequences potentially serious for all involved. We will manage the situation in order to put forward the best possible defence and to reduce the impact on the firm.
Be smart at the start and obtain proper advice before attending interviews with the SRA investigators.
Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
If you are at this stage, we cannot stress how important it is to obtain expert advice. Instruct Townshends and benefit from a wealth of experience both prosecuting and defending before the SDT. From preparing a statement in mitigation to representing you at the Tribunal, we can help.
Conditions on practising certificates
The imposition of conditions on your practising certificate can dramatically affect your ability to practice and may stop you practising at all. Townshends can advise on challenging the imposition of conditions such as approved employment. We can also advise on appealing to the Master of the Rolls.
If you find yourself or your firm the subject of an investigation by the SRA or facing a complex LCS complaint please contact us for guidance. Confidentiality is guaranteed. An initial telephone discussion without obligation can set your mind at rest.
For further information please contact our Professional Regulation Team
Jayne Willetts Tel: 0121 214 1541 j.willetts@townshends.co.uk
Sarah Knight Tel: 0121 214 1551 s.knight@townshends.co.uk
Matthew Moore Tel: 0121 308 4813 m.moore@townshends.co.uk