'Explosion' in regulatory work leads to new group

DISCIPLINARY CASES: call to recognise field as specialism

An Association for Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL) was launched this week.

The association represents lawyers working in a range of different sectors, from healthcare to financial services.

It also includes lawyers who act for solicitors in disciplinary matters.

It will offer training and education, as well as networking events.

Chaired by Roger Henderson QC, ARDL has an initial membership of 135 lawyers from around the

country.

Its five founders are solicitors Rod Fletcher of Russell Jones & Walker, Rosemary Rollason (Field Fisher Waterhouse), Susie Dryden (Blake Lapthorn), Calum Burnett (Allen & Overy) and barrister Ian Stern (Hollis Whiteman Chambers).

Ms Rollason said the recent increase in this type of work had created a need for such an association.

'In the last five years, regulatory and disciplinary work has exploded due to the setting up of more regulatory bodies and an increased public awareness of them, which leads to more complaints,' she said.

Ms Rollason said she hoped that ARDL will bring together specialists from a variety of practice areas.

'It will help them greatly to come together, learn about other areas and see where their work overlaps.'

She added that ARDL wanted to raise the profile of regulatory and disciplinary work and see it better recognised as a specialism.

Victoria MacCallum