Professional Discipline
Ian has a well-established practice in professional discipline and regulatory law. He is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of misconduct, fitness to practise, dishonesty, safeguarding, and breaches of codes of conduct. He acts both as counsel and as an adjudicator in disciplinary proceedings across a wide range of sectors, including sport, education, legal regulation, and policing.
In sport, Ian is a Disciplinary Commissioner for English Basketball, sits as a Chair for the British Basketball Federation, and has been appointed to the FA’s National Serious Case Panel. He also chairs disciplinary panels for the Staffordshire FA and serves as its Legal Director.
His regulatory defence practice includes representing solicitors, teachers, police officers, and professional sports personnel before disciplinary tribunals, including the SDT, Teaching Regulation Agency, and internal sports and safeguarding panels.
Ian is known for his calm authority, strategic approach, and depth of experience across complex, sensitive, and high-profile disciplinary cases.
Advocacy and Representation
Acts for professionals in a range of regulatory and disciplinary tribunals, including:
-Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT)
-Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA)
-Police misconduct hearings
-Sports Governing Body tribunals
Regularly instructed in matters involving safeguarding, integrity, and fitness to practise.
Professional Discipline Cases
- Successfully represented a sports coach in an ongoing sports disciplinary case concerning allegations of breaches of safeguarding towards young athletes.
- Representing a former teacher in TRA proceedings accused of historical sexual abuse allegations.
- Representing a teacher accused of historical sexual misconduct whilst a headmaster in the 1970s.
- Representing a solicitor in an SRA investigation accused of misusing client funds.
- Representing a solicitor in an SRA investigation accused of misconduct in Court of Protection Proceedings.
