Regulatory Defence

The expert regulatory defence solicitors at DPP Law are highly experienced in working with clients who have been made the subject of regulatory investigations.

If you have been accused of breaching industry regulations of any kind, we will provide you with all the advice and support you require to work with the regulatory body in question towards a satisfactory conclusion.

We will also help you to investigate your current procedures to understand the reasons behind any possible breach, and, at every stage of your case, our regulatory legal solicitors will assist you in building a strong defence. Finally, we can represent you or your business in a court of law should you face criminal prosecution.

Regulatory investigations are usually carried out if you or your company is found to have failed to adhere to particular legally enforceable directives. These regulations are usually applied and overseen by independent authorities such as Trading Standards or the Health and Safety Executive.

To avoid facing regulatory defence penalties, the best approach is to engage specialist regulatory law solicitors as soon as you learn of any investigation into your practices.

If you or your company is made the subject of regulatory investigations, it may be because you are suspected of breaching the following regulations:

• Trading standards, including copyright, trademark, trade description, weights and measures and consumer rights
• HSE (Health and Safety)
• HMO (House in Multiple Occupation)
• Food Hygiene

Possible regulatory defence penalties include hefty fines and a potential custodial sentence depending on the seriousness of the case and any prior convictions, so engaging the services of specialist regulatory legal solicitors is highly recommended in these circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a regulatory offence?

If you or your company fail to adhere to the rules set out by regulatory bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Trading Standards, the Food Standards Agency or the Environment Agency, you will be committing a regulatory offence and it’s highly likely that you will be investigated. As soon as you are made aware of any enquiries, you should seek the assistance of regulatory defence solicitors.

What is the penalty for failing to comply with regulations?

Regulatory defence penalties vary depending on the nature of the alleged breach. However, the possible maximum punishments include an unlimited fine and between 2 (for breaches of food hygiene or health and safety) and 14 (for breaches of Trading Standards) years’ imprisonment. Regulatory law solicitors may help you to see a more serious sentence commuted.

Why do regulations exist in business?

While they may seem restrictive on occasion, businesses are required to comply with regulation in order to maintain a safe environment for staff and customers, to protect employees’ rights, to prevent any negative impact on the environment and to introduce a basic standard to which all companies must adhere so that they can be monitored equally in terms of quality and ethics.

The potential outcomes of a regulatory investigation reach beyond civil or criminal penalties, as your reputation, and that of your company, is also at stake under these circumstances.

DPP Law’s regulatory defence solicitors understand the importance of rectifying matters of this kind as soon as they arise, and will work diligently and transparently with you and the regulatory body in question to ensure a just and positive outcome.

Get in touch with our regulatory defence solicitors today for further information.