Since Capsticks started to take on regulatory work almost three decades ago, we have handled many thousands of disciplinary and FTP cases and seen them through investigation, preparation and presentation.

We work with most of the health and social care regulators on FTP cases, alongside regulators in the following sectors:

• veterinary and equine
• legal services
• education
• architectural
• financial
• surveying

We also work with police forces on misconduct matters. This breadth gives us a unique and deep understanding of different statutory frameworks, risk profiles and public interest considerations, allowing us to transfer learning and best practice across sectors for the benefit of our clients.

Our work with these sectors now involves more than one-thousand FTP and disciplinary matters each year, from initial investigation through to contested hearings and appellate litigation. We are routinely instructed on our clients’ most sensitive and high-profile matters, including complex investigations, contested hearings, High Court applications for interim order extensions, statutory appeals and judicial reviews.

For more information on this service, contact Partner and Head of Professional Regulatory Division James Penry-Davey.

From advice on employee relations matters, TUPE and pay disputes to claims including large scale litigation in the Employment Tribunal, civil and appellate courts, our Employment and Pensions specialists have substantial experience advising professional regulators across a variety of sectors on the full range of employment issues.

We are uniquely positioned to provide advice to organisations both as an employer and as a regulatory body. Aside from frequently acting in litigation processes, we also provide advice to regulatory bodies across the various employment issues that they are facing day-to-day, including recruitment issues, grievances and disciplinaries, contract reviews and TUPE concerns.

We have advised on:

• staff engagement models
• addressing the impending changes arising from the Employment Rights Act 2025
• dealing with issues arising from constantly evolving technologies (particularly social media use and AI)
• how to deal with reasonable adjustments during the FTP process
• how to address the changing law around conflicting beliefs and complaints relating to social media use
• alleged discrimination

Our team also provides bespoke training for clients and has successfully rolled out a number of sessions across client workforces.

For more information on this service, contact Partner Jonathan Lewis.

Our public law and professional regulatory experts often advise on the interpretation and application of statutory frameworks, helping regulators understand the scope of their powers and duties and make decisions that are lawful, proportionate and defensible. We support clients on issues that include vires, fair decision‑making and the correct interpretation of legislation in a regulatory context.

We also work closely with regulators to draft, review and refine policies, rules, procedures and guidance, ensuring they are clear, practical and aligned with statutory objectives. This is particularly valuable in disciplinary and Fitness to Practise cases, where robust drafting and consistent interpretation help streamline decision‑making, reduce the risk of legal challenge and support effective, defensible outcomes.

For more information on this service, contact Partner and Head of Professional Regulatory Mark Whiting.

Regulators are constantly having to deal with data protection, freedom of information and confidentiality law issues. We can help clients respond to these requests, deal with referrals to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and ensure that they have the correct policies and procedures in place. In particular, we can advise on the powers and duties of statutory organisations and regulators, and ensuring lawful decision making

Our information law experts have successfully represented clients:

• in the High Court and County Court on confidentiality related issues;
• in the Tribunals on Freedom of Information Act matters; and
• before the Information Commissioner on data protection issues, including helping clients manage proposed enforcement action.

We have also worked to draft a wide range of information sharing agreements, policies and other governance documentation – which includes advising a large healthcare regulator in relation to reviews and policy matters, and their updated agreed removal policy. We can advise on broader advisory and risk issues, including mental health, drugs and pharmaceuticals, and complaints management.

We regularly give training to clients on information law issues.

For more information on this service, contact Partner Andrew Latham.

Our panel training service is highly sought-after, and we provide induction and refresher training to a range of clients on disciplinary and public law. This includes training on good decision‑making principles, including how to structure decisions, apply legal tests, give clear and defensible reasons, and minimise the risk of successful challenge.

Previous experience includes:

• Providing a non-healthcare regulator with a suite of training on disciplinary law, judicial review and Article 10
• Conducting the induction and refresher training for the legal assessors and legally-qualified Chairs of a healthcare regulator

For more information on this service, contact Partner Ros Foster.

We act for regulators across many sectors, as well as many NHS bodies and private sector providers of public services, advising on their powers and duties and defending challenges to their decisions by way of judicial review claims and statutory appeals. This work consists of assisting clients in responding to both actual and threatened judicial review claims and in relation to High Court appeals.

Our Regulatory specialists also provide advice on public law issues such as vires, decision making and policy development and/or review.

Our experience includes:

• advising a regulator on its ability to introduce a new provision in their qualification rules and the associated appeal rights, including helping to devise the associated procedure
• advising a regulator on the scope of its powers to utilise its funds for research and other development projects
• securing the refusal of permission for judicial review against a decision by a regulator not to award exemptions to a student and an associated award of costs

For more information on this service, contact Partner Ros Foster.

Our in-depth understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that apply to organisations mean we are at the forefront of changes to these frameworks and often advise clients across all sectors on regulatory reform. We have hands-on experience of how new regulatory frameworks work in practice and the development of the rules, guidance and policies that sit alongside it.

Our specialists play an active role in key sector debates about regulation and its application. Previous experience includes:

• The consultation on the draft General Medical Council Order 2026, which reforms how the GMC regulates medical practitioners, physician associates and anaesthesia associates across the UK
• We supported Social Work England to implement and operate a brand-new regulatory framework and subsequently to review and revise that framework

For more information on this service, contact Partner and Head of Professional Regulatory Mark Whiting.

Joining Capsticks’ Regulatory division means being part of a team which is respected across the sector and known for its integrity, intellectual challenge and meaningful impact. It is a place where you can develop your career, work on cases that truly matter and grow within a supportive, specialist environment that values your ambition, your development, your wellbeing and your potential.

Demand for our work continues to rise nationally, and you could play a key role in shaping and expanding our practice. You will work closely with health, social care and education regulators, among others, supporting our clients and helping them navigate some of the most significant challenges facing the regulatory landscape today.

We have teams in our Birmingham, Leeds, London, Manchester and Winchester offices.

At Capsticks, we value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive working environment where everyone is able to be themselves and reach full potential. The firm is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and therefore we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, background, culture, ethnicity, race, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, neurodiversity, religion and beliefs.