“Instructing Jonathan was the best thing I did in respect of my case. From a technical perspective, his other reviews speak for themselves – he lives and breathes these regulatory investigations and provides pragmatic advice with legal, technical, and procedural insights that only a lawyer with this much experience in the regulatory sector can provide. On a more personal level, anyone who has ever been the subject of an SRA investigation will know how it grinds you down mentally and physically. Jonathan took so much pressure and stress off of my shoulders and offered a judgement free service throughout the entire process. My advice to others under investigation is – you wouldn’t advise a client in an area you have no experience in, so don’t try and advise yourself when your career is on the line – hire a proper regulatory investigations lawyer such as Jonathan.”
Legal Clerk
“We contacted Jonathan Goodwin when we (the Firm and the Partners) received investigation letters from SRA containing multiple concerns such as, Conflict of Interests, Using client account as banking facility , Confidentiality, Failing to act in the best interests of client, Overcharging the client, Not dealing with the client concerns in time etc..
Jon’s approach to all these issues was fantastic. He successfully dealt and the SRA investigation closed – We would not have been able to deal with this, had we not instructed him.
On top of all this, his costs are very reasonable. We will highly recommend anybody in this situation to contact Jonathan Goodwin – We are very grateful to him.”Solicitors
“An SRA investigation is a uniquely stressful event for a practising solicitor as the consequences can be life changing if things go wrong. Instructing you to respond to the SRA was the very best possible decision I could have made. Your support and clear expertise in these matters gave me great strength and courage to see the matter through. I cannot thank or praise you enough.”
Solicitor
“I am very grateful for your assistance during what I can only describe as a most difficult & stressful time. Your advice was refreshingly frank, fees transparent & you were on hand to answer my queries in good time. I am especially grateful to you for submitting a response so quickly and then coming back to me 3 days later with a successful outcome – truly life changing. Thank you.”
Solicitor
“ I was referred to Jonathan by a former colleague / friend who had faced similar false allegations made by an opponent Solicitor which whilst totally unfounded led to an investigation by the SRA.
Once instructed Jonathan offered me a service by which I could fix the fee for the initial work done and once we had agreed on this he discussed the case with me and the allegations and asked me to provide him with as much information as possible to enable him to prepare a draft response to the SRA on my behalf .
Whilst I could have responded myself it gave me comfort that Jonathan was dealing with it on my behalf which left me free to continue with my own work whilst he dealt with drafting the response .
He was polite in his response yet managed to convey the urgency of the matter to the SRA which in turn elicited a response that I personally was not under investigation but that they may need to request further information in the future as their investigation progressed .
Jonathan checked in with me regularly after this to see if I wanted him to contact the SRA to find out if the investigation was closed and eventually I said yes and could not be happier to wake up to an email stating that it has been closed .
I cannot describe the relief that this email brought and can honestly say that if you face similar allegations in the future that I would highly recommend Jonathan and his team to deal with it for you . They have been amazing, and I cannot thank them enough .”
Solicitor
“We recently had cause to involve Jonathan in a case being brought against the firm by the SRA.
His knowledge of the procedures and workings of the SRA must surely be second to none.
He was able to successfully cause the case against us to be dismissed, based on the merits of the arguments and points he put forward.
Furthermore, he is extremely approachable and easy to talk to when discussing any issues.
I would not hesitate for one moment to recommend him most highly.”
Solicitors
“We instructed Jon in relation to potential breach of Solicitors Accounts Rules. This was a complex and nuanced issue, and we needed our representative to fully understand the arguments. Jon certainly did that. He spent time taking detailed instructions, reading voluminous papers and produced two sets of outstanding Representations which outlined the issues clearly. Ultimately the Regulator elected not to pursue the investigation and we believe that Jon’s work was pivotal to that decision. We were hugely relieved and delighted by the outcome. We would recommend Jon to any firm facing an investigation by the Regulator.”
Firm of Solicitors
“Jon was recommended to me as the solicitor who carried most weight with the SRA. In my initial meeting with him, Jon was clear, positive, and clearly knew his stuff. He turned the work around quickly, and his letter to the SRA was authoritative, clear and robustly argued. It led to the SRA concluding that the complaint to them did not meet the threshold criteria and throwing it out. I would strongly recommend using Jon at an early stage.”
Solicitor
“Jonathan resolved an issue for me that I feared would derail my legal training, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his invaluable insight, excellent legal advice and clear, prompt communication. Throughout the process, Jonathan was incredibly reassuring, guiding me with confidence and expertise. I honestly can’t recommend Jonathan highly enough. If you’re ever in need of legal assistance that truly makes a difference, then Jonathan is the one you want.”
Legal Professional
“I first made contact with Jonathan after receiving an email from my regulator stating I had behaved inappropriately or sexually towards another. The process lasted nearly 16 months. Throughout this period, Jonathan worked tirelessly to secure me the right result. Unfortunately, the case escalated to the SDT. I instructed Jonathan to take charge of the two day hearing as I was sure he was the right person.
His advocacy was quite simply outstanding. He was factual, professional, persuasive and to the point. I have never witnessed such advanced advocacy in my career. He was also very understanding and flexible at all times during the process. We were able to win the case against all odds. I will forever be grateful to Jonathan for his help and guidance in really putting his all in and going above and beyond. In summary, Jonathan was pivotal in driving me out of a dark place and really getting my life back on track.
I would recommend Jonathan at all costs.”
Solicitor
“I was lost, extremely stressed and distraught when I received a complaint letter from the ICAEW. I sought confidential counselling with CABA and the prospect of seeking legal help was raised, which led me to Jonathan’s practice. After putting in a request for service, he was very prompt in contacting me to listen to my concerns, my desired outcome and he talked through his experience and how he could assist me.
I sent the letter to Jonathan, together with the evidence bundle that the ICAEW shared. We agreed that he will produce a response letter to the ICAEW. He provided a first draft that was of extremely high standard, citing all relevant case law and ICAEW regulations to defend my position.
The ICAEW eventually responded to the letter and informed us that after considering the matter together with our response, they concluded that there was insufficient evidence and had therefore closed the file. Jonathan was very professional and supportive throughout the process.”
Chartered Accountant
“Jon is an exceptionally talented advocate . I instructed him to defend me against extremely challenging allegations before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, he skilfully navigated through a minefield of evidence and with diligent and forceful advocacy succeeded in making the SRA fully withdraw their allegations.”
Solicitor
“I made contact with Jonathan soon after receiving my letter from the ICAEW. A previous employer had levelled some serious accusations against me and I feared for the future of the business I had spent years building. After searching online I found Jonathan’s website and trawled through the testimonials.
I decided that the potential ramifications were so severe that I needed legal assistance. In hindsight it was the best decision I have ever made. From the first conversation with Jonathan I felt like I was in safe hands. It was immediately apparent how well informed he was on the process I was involved in and how the ICAEW would approach it.
We collaborated to produce a first response. Jonathan’s input reinforced the factual information I had provided. The knowledge of the rules/precedents that he included added an extra dimension to the letter which I could not have achieved myself.
When ICAEW eventually responded to our letter they informed me that after considering the response they believed no further action was required and the file was closed. This outcome exceeded my wildest expectations.
I struggle to put into words how grateful I am for Jonathan’s assistance. Throughout the process I always felt like he understood how much a successful outcome meant to me and my business as well as bringing a calmness to the proceedings that was invaluable.
The feeling of relief when hearing the news was overwhelming. I have spent the last 5-6 months frozen, only able to look backwards. Thanks to Jonathan I can now finally move forward again and I cannot describe how liberating that is.
Please contact him if you require assistance, in my experience you will not regret it.”
Chartered Accountant
“Facing action from a regulator, in my case the SRA, is a very scary and lonely situation to be in. The best thing I did was call Jon. My only regret was that I didn’t do so sooner.
Jon’s advice was clear and honest throughout. He has an incredible understanding of the whole process. His written representations were extremely thorough and very impressive.
I felt reassured to have him acting for me. He understood my position. I was so impressed with his advocacy and negotiating skills, in achieving, what was for me, an excellent outcome.
Facing a regulator is not something you want to do alone, and Jon is exactly the person you want in your corner.”
Solicitor
“Having had the chance to read the SRA’s decision in full, to say that I am relieved is an understatement! The investigation had been ongoing for a considerable amount of time and knowing I had done nothing wrong and reading the caseworkers recommendation initially, was difficult.
I was initially hesitant in instructing Jon, as I believed I could draft my own representations. However, after contacting Jon and reading his throughly drafted representations, I was extremely pleased at both Jon’s assured and direct way of communicating, in what was a very distressing time, and how clear and to the point the representations were. Highlighting the key areas of issues/disputes and putting my case across very comprehensively.
I also appreciate the way in which Jon timely dealt with my case as I did contact him at the very last minute. However, at no stage did Jon let this affect my case detrimentally!
If any professional is in a similar situation, I fully recommend contacting Jon! Thank you again for all your help with this, it has been much appreciated.”
Solicitor
“Following a complaint raised by my former employer with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority, I contacted Jonathan. We had a preliminary call and I was impressed by his knowledge and experience of dealing with the SRA. He clearly explained the process of dealing with such complaints and had a pragmatic approach to what I should expect. We worked closely together and prepared a detailed response to SRA’s investigation letter. The response prepared by Jonathan demonstrated his legal knowledge in this area particularly detailing case law which was helpful in defending my position. After 6 months of back and forth, the matter was finally closed by the SRA without any further action. I would highly recommend Jonathan. The service was excellent as Jonathan was prompt and responsive. It was reassuring having him on my side.”
Solicitor
“Anyone who has been the subject of disciplinary action by a regulator, and in my case the Solicitors Regulation Authority, will know that the impact extends way beyond your working life. It significantly impacts your personal and family life, affecting your mental wellbeing in the process.
Who you chose to advise and represent you is one of the most important decisions you can make.
In my case, after initially representing myself, I realised that this is not an area of law where a practitioner should go it alone, I therefore sought advice from a barrister and solicitor who I understood to be very experienced in this area. Not only was I advised incorrectly, as it subsequently transpired, but they also seemed to have very little regard for the impact the investigation was having on me.
Something did not feel right and after yet another period of despair, I came across Jonathan’s details online. It is no exaggeration to say that telephoning Jonathan was the best decision I made. When I called, I was immediately put through to Jonathan’s assistant who informed me that Jonathan was engaged in a tribunal hearing and would come back to me as soon as possible. Jonathan returned my call during a short adjournment, and from that moment on, I knew I’d found the right person. Jonathan came back to me as quickly as possible because he cares and fully appreciates the impact regulatory investigations can have. It was the first time in a long time that I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.
Within the space of a week, after providing Jonathan with everything he needed, Jonathan discussed the case in detail with me, providing clear and detailed advice on my case and the disciplinary process. He put me at ease and his expertise was, simply put, outstanding. The advice he gave on the likely outcome of my case, was spot on. Jonathan is so much more than what I consider to be an unrivalled expert in his field, he is a person who genuinely cares for his clients. Jonathan “had my back” and at the same time as showing compassion and understanding on a personal level, he remained determined and committed to achieving the best possible outcome in my case. Jonathan did exactly that.
In summary, I cannot recommend Jonathan Goodwin highly enough. It is no exaggeration to say that he was instrumental in getting me through one of the worst experiences of my life”
Solicitor
“A first-class service. Guided me through what was involved in terms of the process, and wrote a superb and comprehensive set of submissions on my behalf. Very happy with the service received and highly recommend.”
Solicitor
“Jonathan was absolutely brilliant in his work on my SRA investigation claim. His detailed advice and strong and calm presence in the meeting with the SRA, achieved a positive result in my case and I couldn’t be more pleased. Many thanks.”
Legal Professional
“When I first received notification from the SRA regarding an investigation into my conduct, I naively thought I would be able to deal with it myself. I did the initial responses believing so long as I was honest and transparent the SRA would have a positive response. This was not the case.
The investigation was lengthy and further questions were asked and at each juncture the SRA escalated the matter before I received a notice that the matter would be referred to the SDT. The level of stress of was unbelievable and I was now at risk of losing my professional qualification.
In my research for help I can across Jonathan’s website and the reviews were positive. From the beginning Jonathan was amazing. He explained the process and highlighted why matters had escalated and the importance of having his support from day 1. Most importantly he explained what steps could be taken to minimise the outcome of the investigation.
The arguments he raised and the drafting of legal principles for regulatory matters were alien to me and I should have sought his advice much sooner. The pressure and stress of being investigated also felt less as he was there to explain and to listen which was very reassuring.
Nearly 2 years later the matter was resolved by way of an RSA and was the best outcome I could have hoped for. Before Jonathan’s input I was looking at being struck off and had it not been for his help that is probably where I would have ended.
If you are ever unfortunate to be in a position where the SRA are investigating you, then I would highly recommend getting in contact with Jonathan as soon as possible.”
Solicitor