“When I was first notified of an investigation into my conduct by my professional body, I was shocked! I had done nothing wrong and as the shock wore off, I knew it was best to seek legal advice and remove the emotion from the situation.
I approached a number of solicitors to get some initial advise. The first few solicitors set about scaremongering and then laying out their extensive expertise and quoting large legal fees for their work. By the time I got around to contacting Jon, I was feeling extremely hopeless. That changed after I spoke with him.
From the onset, Jon was very pleasant and professional. Jon has a very calm and can do nature about him. I was instantly at ease and felt the situation would be in hand under Jon’s guidance. He was the only solicitor who took the time to understand my case before laying out his advice on the best way to move forward. Jon was upfront in addressing that he had no previous experience in dealing with ny particular professional body, however, he reassured me that the principles behind such cases were similar, if not the same, for such investigations. He evaluated the work that would be required, and provided me with an upfront fee based on that. Jon was considerate of the fact that I am a Trainee and he kept his cost at the lower end for me. This is a demonstration of the type of person he really is.
The timelines surrounding my case were tight and Jon worked to turn my response around quickly. Jon’s approach was to stop the investigation early on and prove there was no merit to the allegation made. The response to my professional body was extremely well drafted and ultimately the investigation was dismissed.
Throughout the whole process I was able to contact Jon at any point, and if he wasn’t immediately available, he would always get back to me very quickly. His team are also extremely professional and helpful in escalating queries for Jon’s attention. Even during a pandemic, there was always someone on the end of the phone to take my call!
All in all, this was an extremely worrying time for me and Jon, I cannot thank you enough for helping me. I wish you every success and would give my full endorsement to your legal services and expertise. To anyone seeking help against a professional misconduct allegation, Jon is one of the best out there!”
Trainee Actuary
“Jon has been very approachable and reassuring whilst managing my expectations from the very start after I found myself in a very difficult situation following a notification from the SRA of their intention to refer the matter to the SDT. Jon stood out thanks to his expertise and past experience which means he can put both hats on (that of the SRA prosecutor and that of the defence). In the end, he was able to persuade the SRA to change their decision and obtain the best possible outcome; all of it for a very reasonable fee. I would not hesitate to recommend him to any other solicitor facing disciplinary proceedings.”
Solicitor.
“Dear Jon,
I wanted to thank you for getting me re-admitted back onto the Roll of Solicitors.
Due to complex personal circumstances I had voluntarily removed myself and had no idea that getting re-admitted was anything more than completing some documents and paying a fee.
I laboured for months by myself and the expression “a person who acts for himself has a fool for a client” comes to mind. Never was a truer word said.
From the moment I instructed you, I knew I was in safe hands.
You were efficient, you anticipated how the SRA would react and your drafting exceeded my expectations.
At no time did you give me false hope. Despite the SRA initially appearing to be going to come to a contrary conclusion, I have been, through you, resorted to the roll and I will forever be thankful.
If anyone finds themselves in a position of engaging with the SRA and thinks they can do it themselves, think again and I would suggest that their first port of call should be Jon Goodwin. A true expert.”
Solicitor.
“Jonathan came highly recommended to us when we faced issues with our regulator. We wanted someone who could deal with the issues at hand in a sensible and timely fashion with as little impact to our reputation as possible. Through Jonathan’s calm and pragmatic approach, we were able to achieve a desirable outcome with little push back from the regulator.”
Solicitor
“I had been dealing with RICS in a drawn-out investigation.
Jonathan provided concise and expert advice and took my responses to date and provided case law along with a well considered written response drawing on personal references, evidence and his own vast experience. I could not recommend Jonathan enough to anyone looking to ease their stress levels.
My case went from initially being referred to a disciplinary hearing when dealing with it on my own to no further action required after Jonathan’s involvement.”
Chartered Surveyor.
“Jonathan provided clear, calm and reassuring advice from the outset to conclusion.of my difficult situation. His detailed prompt written responses, I feel, had a significant influence on the successful resolution of my dealings with the RICS. He has an exceptional understanding of the regulatory rules and relevant case law to put forward an evidenced, concise and carefully worded more balanced case reflecting the correct position.
He is definitely someone you would want to represent you and I have no hesitation in recommended him to anyone requiring his invaluable advocacy services.”
Chartered Surveyor
“ I can’t thank Jonathan enough having received notification that no action is to be taken against me by the SRA. From the first phone call with Jonathan, I felt instantly calmer, reassured and that my career was in safe hands. His knowledge and experience is outstanding. His advice was clear throughout and undoubtedly his presence at my SRA interview made a significant difference in bringing to matters to a close at an early stage. Jonathan was recommended to me and in turn, I cannot recommend him highly enough”
Solicitor
“Like all professionals I am proud of my achievements and the role that I play in the lives of my clients yet I felt that all of that could have been destroyed on the day that I received the letter from the SRA advising me that an historic event in my career was being investigated. Upon speaking to a former colleague and friend, Jonathan Goodwin was recommended to me as THE person to speak to. I called Jon’s office and even though it was late in the working day I was able to speak to someone who arranged for Jon to call me. The extreme anxiety that I felt at this time was allayed when speaking to Jon because of his calmness, professionalism and breadth of knowledge about the process and the mind-set of the SRA. The thought of the ongoing investigation was never far away but I felt that I had taken back control of the situation by instructing Jon. His reply to the SRA on my behalf was extremely well crafted and was presented in such a way as to lead them to a natural conclusion. My case, I realise, could have gone either way and everything in my life could have changed. Having Jon on my side made a enormous difference to the outcome of the investigation and I shall remain extremely grateful to him for everything that he has done for me. If you find yourself in this situation please do call Jon.”
Solicitor
“I would like to thank you for your expertise and assistance in resolving issues raised by the SRA with a positive outcome for ourselves . Your professionalism and support was really appreciated at that difficult time and I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone facing an SRA investigation . Your service was Invaluable.”
Solicitor
“I am very impressed with Jonathan’s resolution of my case, without a hearing, by way of an agreed outcome and a fine, in an instance where I had a criminal record and was really looking at a much more severe sanction from my regulator.
Jonathan is in a unique position of having also worked for the SRA, before switching sides, during his 25 years’ in practice.
I have Jonathan to thank for quite frankly saving my chosen career, a career I worked hard to build and which was under threat for over 15 months, until the resolution finally came.
Jonathan is a straight-talker, there’s no ton of legalese or lengthy advise to ponder, he gives it to you straight, he lets you understand that you are under no illusions that the situation is dire, but he will do his best, using his experience and contacts, to get the best outcome possible under the circumstances, which I must admit is exactly what happened in my case, just as I was beginning to lose hope.
Jonathan thinks strategically and knows the regulator rules inside-out (in my case, he was, effectively, telling the tribunal what their own rules are, that’s how well-versed he is) and is realistic about what negotiations and outcomes can be achieved in the circumstances.
He also offers value for money – in that the fees I paid him for my case were a fraction of what was quoted to me by another law firm.
All in all, I have Jonathan to thank for me remaining in my chosen profession and I cannot recommend him enough to anybody who finds themselves in trouble with the SRA (or other regulatory bodies).”
Solicitor
“Regulatory law, particularly in relation to SRA issues, is a very challenging battlefield and it is most reassuring to have an ally who enjoys formidable experience and ability in this highly specialised area. Jon personifies “outcomes focused” in his solution driven approach, delivering excellent results by reason of his commanding presence and presentation. He is a master of the brief, well communicated in his engagement, creating an immediate incentive for sensible dialogue and satisfactory, cost-effective , resolution.”
Solicitor
“Upon being contacted by the SRA just before close of business on the Thursday before an Easter Bank Holiday weekend, I was left in a very worried and anxious state with, seemingly, nowhere to turn until the following Tuesday at the earliest. I immediately contacted a number of solicitors by email with a view to obtaining some advice. Not only was Jon good enough to respond to me out of working hours over a bank holiday weekend and schedule a call for Good Friday (no less!), he also put my mind instantly at rest.
Jon has an extremely practical and reassuring approach which is greatly needed when being faced with the enormous pressure of potentially losing one’s career and livelihood. Jon was cool, calm and collected and left me feeling positive after our first conversation; something that I wouldn’t have thought was at all possible at the time.
Jon reviewed the notification from the SRA and proceeded to discuss with me a way forward drawing on an impressively wide and detailed knowledge of the SRA’s practices and procedures as well as an expert command of both law and strategy. I was presented with an immediate plan and some contingencies depending on how the SRA decided to play things.
The SRA were initially reluctant to disclose information to us but Jon not only managed to obtain this from them, he also took the time to really get to grips with my background, the situation giving rise to the investigation and then to prepare a detailed response setting out my position and the basis on which we opposed the SRA’s continuing investigation. Jon’s representations led to a very quick dismissal by the SRA and a discontinuance of their investigation.
I firmly believe that it was these representations which drew on my background, the context of the situation and an extraordinary combination of SRA guidance, policy and case law that won the day; none of which I believe could have been as effectively put together if it weren’t for Jon’s great care and meticulous dedication in fully understanding all aspects of the matter.
This was an extremely horrible time for me but Jon was the consummate professional and made me feel reassured and supported every step of the way. The fact that he always took the time to respond either by telephone or email could not have been appreciated more; in a situation like this it is often just the reassurance of a brief response that stops you from losing your thread and Jon was enormously reliable and reassuring in that regard (and all others too!). If I were ever to find myself in this situation or a similar one in the future, Jon would be my first call.
I cannot thank Jon enough for what he did for me and I cannot recommend his service enough to any and all who might need it. The reviews all proved true and the investment was definitely worth it!”
Retired Licensed Conveyancer
“I carried out extensive research on an appropriate solicitor for me at a very stressful time. I identified Jonathan Goodwin as ideal in the circumstances. I was not disappointed!
Jonathan was pragmatic, proactive and thorough. An excellent adviser to have on your side”
Solicitor
“We found ourselves in a potentially difficult situation with the RICS following a complaint that had been raised against us that had the potential to cause serious issues for the firm. Jonathan has a clear understanding of disciplinary procedures and used his experience to guide myself and the company through the initial investigation. He drafted a response on our behalf that dealt with the important issues and resulted in the RICS concluding that we did not have a case to answer. I would recommend him to other Survey Firms who find themselves having to deal with the RICS and will not hesitate to use him again if the need should arise, although I sincerely hope we never have cause to.”
Surveyor
“When I first contacted Jonathan solely on account of his impressive experience, I was a bag of nerves and consumed by worry. Prior to calling Jonathan’s firm, I had called 2 other solicitors on this same matter.
Jon called back promptly and what followed gave me such confidence, that I had someone who not only was interested in fighting my corner, but left me with no doubt that he was extremely competent and knew his stuff. His explanation of the procedure and rules was second to none. He followed our initial telephone conversation with emails and kept me updated throughout the engagement.
I had prior to speaking with Jon thought a satisfactory resolution seemed nigh on impossible.
Not only was he able put my case across to the SRA in a professional but empathetic manner, he offered options and all the re-assurance needed. His professional, detailed and strong representation left me in no doubt of the strength of his argument. The SRA closed the matter without further action.
To say I am a satisfied client is to say the least. Jon is the man you need on your side when you are under SRA investigation.
I are eternally grateful for his service and I recommend Jon without reservation any day.”
Solicitor
“I was in the unfortunate position to require the services of Jonathan Goodwin following a surprise visit from the SRA. I can honestly say that the past 3 years have been the worst profession experience of my life having practised as a solicitor, with an unblemished record, for over 20 years. Whilst I appreciate, as a profession, we have to have a regulator, unfortunately the way that the SRA treats solicitors and conducts their investigations is appalling. Throughout the investigation I was kept completely in the dark by the SRA and made to feel like a criminal. Throughout this whole process Jonathan Goodwin has been exceptional, with his non- judgmental approach and wealth of knowledge and experience. With his help we were able to provide a robust defence to the allegations which resulted in the best possible outcome all round. There is no doubt in my mind that without Jonathan’s help I would have been facing a 5 day hearing in the SDT. I also believe that when the SRA see Jonathan’s name on the case they do take note.
Having spent his entire career dealing with SRA prosecutions, there is very little that he hasn’t dealt with both in and out of the SDT, he really is a true expert in the field. I cannot thank Jonathan enough for all his help and reassurance during this extremely difficult time.”
Solicitor
“SRA investigations are a traumatic time – Jon’s advice and support was direct, concise and professional he’s an expert in his field and I can’t thank him enough.”
Solicitor
Thank you so much Jonathan. I am waking up to the best news since this issue started some years ago now.
We couldn’t have done it without you. Your advice was excellent, you managed our expectations well but at the same time ensured we never lost hope. We were impressed with your knowledge of not only the technical aspects of our case but also the inner workings of the the SRA. It was invaluable to have you on our side. Your response to the SRA on our behalf was excellently drafted with the appropriate case law to back up our argument. You managed to turn round the draft response very quickly. We are so grateful to you. Thank you once again.”
Solicitor
“Dear Jonathan,
I was extremely anxious about the SDT hearing but had the very great fortune of you accepting instructions to represent me at the two day hearing. As soon as I spoke with you on the phone and in person I knew straight away that I was in good hands but more than that your empathy meant a lot to me. As a gamekeeper turned poacher (if you allow) it was a great comfort to me that you were familiar with the likely SRA tactics and able to point out their errors. Your knowledge and expertise of the rules, regulations and case law, it very soon became apparent, is second to none. Your approach in trying to negotiate an agreed outcome and do away with the hearing, although rejected on the part of the SRA, was much appreciated as I would much rather not have had to give evidence.
Your tactics on day one to go on the offensive and to try to knock out the three allegations was impressive and while it succeeded in knocking out one and your excellent advocacy very nearly succeeded in knocking out the other two we were stymied by the Tribunal bench. At that point I confess I was deflated but with your encouragement you made me believe that we still had good arguments. Your tactic to call me to give evidence straightaway was inspired and worked as, in my opinion, the cross examination by the SRA Advocate was neither very detailed or aggressive. Whereas your advocacy was exceptional, at one point you even got the SRA barrister to agree to your way of thinking! After a very detailed summing up by you which really left the Tribunal with no room to manoeuvre towards a decision against me we won and all allegations were dismissed. A really exceptional result. Thank you!
You explained that the SRA no longer instructs you. Well all I can say is more fool them and good luck to professionals who need really exceptional representation. Without being cheeky, your name really says it all; Goodwin!
I would not have the slightest hesitation in recommending your services to any professional and am already spreading the news of your talent.
Thank you again Jon for all you did for me. Very best wishes for the future.”
“From the very first conversation with Jonathan, I was imbued with confidence, in light of his deep expertise and excellent client manor. He grasped the complex issues swiftly and immediately provided a sensible strategic plan to tackle the issues. I also found he was both amenable and responsive, and his final drafting second to none. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending his services, given his superior expertise in this field”.
Solicitor.