About
Since qualifying as a Barrister in 2009, Chris has been instructed to act in hundreds of cases before tribunals and the High Court. As a specialist in professional regulatory / professional disciplinary law, he has extensive experience of advising and representing at hearings before the NMC, HCPC, GMC, GDC, GOC, GOsC, ICAEW and NHSE.
He also advises in relation to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) proceedings.
Chris has worked as a regulatory advocate, Senior Lawyer and head of investigations at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, as well as a barrister and Senior Associate within Blake Morgan’s professional disciplinary team, ranked as a Legal 500 Tier 1 firm in the field.
Before being called to the Bar, Chris worked as a qualified healthcare practitioner. This has given him exceptional insight into the difficulties encountered and the experiences of those working in a range of professions, particularly those allied to healthcare.
Having completed public access training, Chris can be instructed directly by members of the public as well as by solicitors.
- Professional Disciplinary Law / Professional Regulatory Law
- Responding to allegations at the investigatory stage
- Advising on alternative disposal and voluntary removal
- Interim order hearings and applications to extend interim orders in the High Court
- Appeals against committee decisions
- Registration appeals
- Restoration hearings
With extensive experience of representing before Committees and the High Court, Chris has acted in cases of all levels of complexity. This includes cases where the concerns are particularly complex and sensitive or where alleged failures in care may have caused or contributed to patient harm or death.
Chris provides legal advice at every stage of the legal process including the investigation stage, interim order hearings, substantive hearings, registration appeals and substantive order reviews.
- Davey v General Dental Council, Queen’s Bench Division [2015] WL 6757832 – a case where the key principles surrounding the making of an immediate suspension order on public interest grounds were established.
- Ige v The Nursing and Midwifery Council [2011] EWHC 3721 (Admin), (which was cited in the Law Commission joint consultation paper 'Regulation of Health and Social Care Professionals'). All grounds of appeal were successfully defended.
- Kibe v The Nursing and Midwifery Council [2013] EWHC 1402 (Admin). All grounds of appeal were successfully defended.
Chris has experience of providing training to regulators, speaking at national conferences and in 2014 and 2017, he was invited to speak at the CLT conference on Disciplinary and Regulatory Tribunals.
- Bar Vocational Course – The College of Law
- Post Graduate Diploma in Law – The College of Law
- MSc. Mental Health Studies - King's College London
- Member - The Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)