Department profile
Deans Court Chambers

Professional Discipline

UK Bar Guide 2026 : The Regions (Bar)


Deans Court Chambers

Rankings

About

Provided by Deans Court Chambers

Deans Court Chambers is the only regional barristers chambers in the UK which is Band 1 ranked by Chambers and Partners for Professional Discipline.

These independent rankings are a reflection of the exceptionally high level of expertise and experience to be found within the Deans Court Professional Disciplinary Law team. The success of the team lies in the excellence of individual practitioners which combines to produce a true strength in depth in both defence and prosecution work.

“An exceptional bunch of barristers who have renowned practices both prosecuting and defending individuals facing allegations of misconduct relating to clinical failings, sexual misconduct and other serious matters. Many of the barristers draw on their supplementary skills in inquests and criminal cases to inform their practice in this area." - Chambers and Partners

The team’s breadth of knowledge extends across the full scope of Professional Discipline encompassing all of the main professional regulators.

Although the team has extensive experience across the range of Professional Discipline its reputation for excellence has undoubtedly been built on the bedrock of Healthcare Discipline in which Deans Court has been a leading presence for twenty years. We have appeared both for defence and prosecution in some of the most complex and high profile cases to have been heard by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in recent years.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Professional Discipline - The Regions (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Deans Court Chambers offers an exceptional bench of barristers who have renowned practices both prosecuting and defending doctors facing allegations of misconduct relating to clinical failings, sexual misconduct and other serious matters. Many of the barristers draw on their complementary skills in inquests and criminal cases to inform their practice in this area. According to one interviewee, its members are "consistently excellent, knowledgeable and highly effective in their advocacy".

Peter Kelly is the senior regulatory clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are efficient, responsive and easy to deal with, which makes the process of instructing counsel smooth and straightforward.

    Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Elizabeth Dudley-Jones
    Band 1Elizabeth Dudley-Jones

    Elizabeth Dudley-Jones

    Elizabeth Dudley-Jones has a broad professional discipline practice, with a notable focus on handling cases concerning medical and healthcare law, involving issues such as misconduct, dishonesty, criminal allegations and clinical failings. She regularly prosecutes cases for the GMC, including several cases before the fitness-to-practise panel.

    • She is highly experienced and extremely thorough. She inspires confidence in the client and instructing solicitor.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
    • She builds a fantastic relationship with clients and is fabulous to work with.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
    • Elizabeth is an exceptional advocate. She is persuasive, quick-thinking and compelling in her delivery.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Robin Kitching
    Band 1Robin Kitching

    Robin Kitching

    Robin Kitching is a reliable barrister known for his work for the GMC in sensitive and high-profile cases, with expertise in handling fitness-to-practise cases. He handles professional discipline matters as part of a broader practice that also encompasses criminal law work.

    • Robin has an extremely sensible head. He looks at a problem in a way you don't always at first see. He always gives a third option that you wouldn't have thought of.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Rosalind Emsley-Smith
    Band 1Rosalind Emsley-Smith

    Rosalind Emsley-Smith

    Rosalind Emsley-Smith is a barrister who uses her broad experience in criminal law to good effect in disciplinary cases in the healthcare sector. She regularly acts for the GMC and has a wide knowledge of the MPTS, with a particular focus on fitness-to-practise hearings and reviews of fitness-to-practise hearings.

    • Her submissions are very impressive.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
    • She's thoughtful, appealing, and her judgement is spot on. She is also really modest; there's no bluff and nonsense.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar
    • Rosalind is a very impressive advocate.

      Professional Discipline respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Deans Court Chambers (3)

The Regions (Bar)

Members

Provided by Deans Court Chambers

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership