Browne Jacobson expands regulatory team

UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has strengthened its criminal, compliance and regulatory team with the appointment of Caroline Barker and Tom Walker as legal directors.

Caroline joins the firm’s London office from HCR Law, bringing more than 20 years’ experience advising health and social care providers on regulatory matters.

She specialises in Care Quality Commission and Ofsted regulation, supporting organisations including care homes, domiciliary care agencies, children's homes and specialist education providers.

Her expertise includes regulatory investigations, enforcement challenges, safeguarding matters and appeals, strengthening the firm's health and life sciences practice.

Caroline said: “Independent and public health and care providers are operating in a regulatory environment that is changing faster than at any point in my career.

“The 10-Year Health Plan commits to a more data-led CQC, with AI-triggered rapid response inspections and extended powers to take enforcement action – and that will land hardest on providers that are not already thinking carefully about their compliance position. 

“For care homes, children's services, domiciliary providers and specialist operators, the stakes of an adverse inspection outcome have never been higher.

“What drew me to Browne Jacobson is the breadth of the platform: the ability to act for independent providers across the full regulatory spectrum – from challenging draft inspection reports and enforcement notices through to First-Tier Tribunal appeals and safeguarding investigations – alongside a team with genuine depth in the commercial and transactional side of health and care. 

“That combination is rare, and it is exactly what this sector needs right now.

“Browne Jacobson’s vast experience of supporting clients across the public and private sectors makes this a particularly exciting place to be as a regulatory lawyer and there are huge opportunities for us to connect clients from across these worlds.

“Independent health and care providers have a huge role to play in delivering ambitions set out in the 10-Year Health Plan but require a breadth of legal advice to navigate increasingly complex regulations.”

Tom joins the Cardiff office from Blake Morgan, bringing nearly two decades’ experience in criminal and regulatory law.

A barrister, he specialises in health and safety, consumer protection, environmental regulation and corporate crime, having represented both public bodies and private organisations.

He will lead Browne Jacobson's prosecution practice, advising and representing fire authorities, local authorities, government agencies and regulators.

Tom added: “Browne Jacobson is a firm supporting clients at the forefront of tackling society’s biggest issues, and this represents a tremendous opportunity to work at the intersection of regulatory law and public and private sector accountability.

“Our reputation in acting for government agencies, local authorities and regulators, as well as private sector corporate clients, is well established, and I look forward to bringing my experience in regulatory prosecutions to help clients navigate what is an ever-more demanding enforcement landscape. 

“The breadth of work here – from health and safety to consumer protection – is exactly where I want to be practising.”

Caroline and Tom’s appointments strengthen the firm’s regulatory offering across its health and life sciences, government and corporate practices, supporting clients with investigations, compliance and enforcement matters.

Andy Hopkin, partner and head of criminal, compliance and regulatory at Browne Jacobson, added: “Caroline and Tom are exceptional additions to our team and reflect the continued investment we are making in our regulatory capability across health government and the private sector.

“Caroline’s deep expertise in CQC and Ofsted regulation is invaluable as independent health and care providers face a step-change in scrutiny under the 10-Year Health Plan, while Tom’s track record as a barrister in defending and prosecuting criminal and regulatory proceedings adds an important dimension to the prosecution and litigation services we offer clients across both the public and private sectors. 

“Together, they significantly strengthen our ability to act on the most complex and high-stakes regulatory matters for clients anywhere in the country.”

Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →

Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.