Blog
Audit reviews: the process, pitfalls and published themes – a focus on FRC Audit Quality Reviews
Julie Matheson
Sarah is a Partner in the Regulatory team. She joined Kingsley Napley in 2010 from the Criminal Bar, having had a broad and varied criminal practise.
Having gained over 10 years’ experience investigating and presenting high profile and complex fitness to practise cases before a wealth of regulatory bodies, Sarah’s attentions have more recently focused on harnessing her FTP and regulatory expertise to assist regulators in a more holistic review of their legal processes, policies and systems.
Sarah has a particular interest in health regulation, working closely with regulators in this sector to design and implement regulatory frameworks that meet their needs. Her work involves helping established regulators to identify where things are being done well, and where improvements can be made as well as guiding start-up regulators to implement best practice from the outset of their operations.
A Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (British Quality Foundation), her unique ability to combine legal advice and process review has been called upon by a number of her clients. In particular Sarah has a keen interest in legal technology, and how it can be harnessed to assist her regulatory clients. She has recently collaborated with leading legal tech innovator Zylpha to develop an innovative new document bundling toolset.
Sarah has a particular interest in the Tech field, and in particular how regulators in the UK ensure public protection at the same time as encouraging innovation and the use of machine learning and automation.
FTP Investigations and Advocacy
In the area of professional discipline Sarah has acted for some of the leading regulatory bodies in high profile and complex cases. These regulators include the General Optical Council, the General Dental Council, the Health and Care Professions Council, the Teaching Regulation Agency and the Security Industry Authority. Sarah provides regulatory bodies with expert, down to earth and practical legal advice on issues such as sufficiency of evidence, admissibility, threshold decision making and investigation strategy.
Representing Professionals
Whilst in Chambers, Sarah had a busy and varied defence caseload, which provided her with the essential skills to look after individuals’ interests in both criminal and regulatory proceedings. She has advised individuals facing proceedings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), Institute of Civil Engineers and the UK Council for Psychotherapy. She has recently defended individuals facing investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Sarah acts for senior officers and directors when their organisations are subject to safeguarding investigations and complaints.
Investigations and Private Prosecutions
Sarah’s extensive investigations and prosecution experience in both the criminal and regulatory arena mean that she is well placed to advise individuals and organisations regarding internal investigations. In particular she has advised a number of organisations in relation to their safeguarding policies, procedures and investigations, most frequently sporting National Governing Bodies.
Sarah has particular experience of cases involving vulnerable witnesses. She can communicate in British Sign Language to Stage 1 level. Sarah also provides advice to victims of crime and witnesses to investigations.
