Professional Regulatory & Disciplinary

• Healthcare
• Life Sciences
• Financial Services

• Fitness to Practise and Misconduct Inquiries & Investigations

We work with Ireland’s leading professional regulators to conduct investigations and inquiries regarding allegations against professionals, ranging from professional misconduct and poor professional performance to health-related matters. We assist our clients in preparing for a wide range of complex investigations, as well as presenting cases, including ones with multiple registrants, allegations spanning several years, and ones dealing with vulnerable witnesses.

• Court Applications, Appeals and Judicial Review

We provide advice and representation to our clients in relation to court applications, as well as appeals, judicial review, and other proceedings in the Superior Courts. Our lawyers regularly conduct their own advocacy in High Court proceedings.

• Statutory Framework, Drafting and Governance

On behalf of our professional regulatory and disciplinary clients, we have drafted a range of key documents concerning professional standards and training, as well as disciplinary codes and documents relating to investigations and inquiry hearings. Examples include drafting the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority’s application form and accompanying guidance notes for the accreditation of liquidators; the statutory instrument setting the requirements for professional indemnity cover for liquidators; the disciplinary procedures for members of the Stock Exchange; and guidance notes for other tribunals for the conduct of inquiries, and on what constitutes misconduct.

• Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC): We acted for GSOC in the Clarke Inquiry. This judicial inquiry was established by the Government in July 2015, and the first to be established under section 109 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. The Inquiry was conducted by Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Frank Clarke. The Inquiry was established to examine the conduct of certain officers within GSOC who had carried out an investigation into the conduct of certain members of An Garda Síochána. This was an intensive fast paced Inquiry which was completed within seven months. The successful outcome of the Clarke Inquiry report resulted in no finding of misconduct on the part of GSOC officers.

• Central Bank of Ireland: We advised the Central Bank of Ireland in successfully defending three sets of urgent court proceedings challenging the administrative sanction procedure for regulated financial services providers under the Central Bank Act 1942, as amended, including the successful defence of injunction and discovery interlocutory applications. These were the first such challenges to this legislation and matters of national and European importance.

• Maperath Herbal Limited: We advised a private sector client on compliance with Irish legislation/regulations in relation to the importation and distribution of an animal remedies product. This involved careful consideration and analysis of the relevant European regulations. We advised the client on its engagement with, and subsequent successful application to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an Animal Remedies Wholesaler’s Licence.

• Medical Council
• Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
• Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
• Chartered Accountants Ireland
• Accountancy Firms