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)

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

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Elizabeth Dudley-Jones
1
Band 1

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.

She builds a fantastic relationship with clients and is fabulous to work with.

Elizabeth is an exceptional advocate. She is persuasive, quick-thinking and compelling in her delivery.

1
Robin Kitching
Head of Professional Discipline
1
Band 1

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.

1
Rosalind Emsley-Smith
1
Band 1

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.

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

Rosalind is a very impressive advocate.

Ranked Barristers at
Deans Court Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Juniors

The Regions (Bar)

Professional Discipline

1
Elizabeth Dudley-Jones
1
Band 1
1
Robin Kitching
Head of Professional Discipline
1
Band 1
1
Rosalind Emsley-Smith
1
Band 1

Members

Provided by Deans Court Chambers

Adam Lodge

Ciaran Rankin

Colette Renton

Fraser Livesey

Harriet Tighe

Iain Simkin KC

Jacob Dyer

Janet Ironfield

Jonathan Lally

Joseph Hart

Lisa Judge

Megan Tollitt

Michael Hayton KC

Michelle Brown

Oliver Carr

Robin Kitching

Head of Department

Rosalind Scott Bell

Sophie Cartwright KC

Tom McKail

Virginia Hayton

Zoe Dawson