Shannett Thompson

Shannett is a Partner in the Regulatory Team having trained in the NHS and commenced her career exclusively defending doctors. She provides regulatory advice predominantly in the health and social care and education sectors. Shannett has vast experience advising  regulated individuals,  businesses such as clinics and care homes and students in respect of disciplinary investigations. She is a member of the private prosecutions team providing advice to individuals, business and charities in respect of prosecutions were traditional agencies are unwilling or unable to act. In addition Shannett has built up a significant niche in advising investors and businesses in the cannabis sector.

Advice for doctors

Shannett is highly recommended for advising doctors facing proceedings brought by the General Medical Council (GMC), and she works closely with our employment team in respect of Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS) investigations thereby ensuring that the doctor’s on-going career is a pivotal consideration throughout an investigation. She represents doctors throughout the entire investigation from initial contact, Interim Orders (IO), substantive hearings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal and appeal.

Advice for students
Shannett largely acts for students in relation to disciplinary investigations relating to both academic and non-academic conduct. She regularly works with the criminal litigation department on matters which may also constitute a criminal offence to ensure that the client’s position is protected.

Regulatory advice for businesses

Shannett advises health and wellbeing businesses across all aspects of their regulatory obligations, especially during start-up. She works closely with the corporate and commercial team to ensure clients receive the tailored advice they need.

Shannett advises care homes and primary care providers in relation to civil and criminal enforcement action threatened by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Her approach is collegiate, pragmatic and focuses on getting the best result for clients in often difficult circumstances.

Medical cannabis

Shannett has been at the forefront of providing advice in the area of cannabis-based medicines, CBD and related licensing issues.

Private prosecutions

Shannett acts for businesses and charities in respect of prosecutions where traditional agencies are unwilling or unable to act. She advises in respect of the full range of offences.

She also assists victims of crime to challenge decisions not to prosecute.

Advice for regulators

Shannett has extensive experience of conducting investigations on behalf of regulators in both the healthcare and education sector. She advises from initial complaint all the way through to substantive hearing stage, and is an able advocate, so often presents cases. 

Diversity & Inclusion
Shannett is a passionate advocate for issues relating to Diversity & Inclusion. She has been invited to speak at many external events including the Urban Lawyers Conference and Bright Network. She also regularly writes for publications. Her focus areas are race and ethnicity and social mobility.

Shannett regularly speaks at external conferences on disciplinary issues and her articles have been published externally including in the Journal of Professional Negligence, Lexis Nexis, Sunday Times and other professional publications. She was recognised by Brummel Magazine as ’30 Ones to Watch' list of London’s City stars for 2018.

REcent work

Shannett has acted in the following matters amongst others:

• On behalf of a nurse in respect of an appeal by the Professional Standards Authority;
• For a care home following adverse inspection reports and a notice to vary its registration by the Care Quality Commission;
• Successful defence of a doctor following dishonesty allegations relating to prescribing;
• Advising an individual on the legality of cannabis cultivation for medical purposes;
• Advising a entrepreneur on obtaining a licence for cannabis cultivation and distribution;
• For an accountant following concerns raised by the ACCA on use of the client account;
• On behalf of a nurse in an appeal to the Registration Appeals Committee after the Registrar denied her application for registration due to previous convictions;
• On behalf of a student doctor who was refused his medical certificate which would allow him to commence training;
• Successfully assisted a nurse to remain on the register despite allegations of dishonesty;
• On behalf of a regulator involving defamatory comments made by registrants on social media;
• Represented a doctor following a concern raised about his status involved in presenting television programmes.

Publications and articles

Shannett’s case summaries and blogs are often reported by Lexology.

• Shannett Thompson, Partner at Kingsley Napley and Chair of the BAME & Allies Network, explains her career path and gives some tips for others, Legal Women, 6 November 2020
• Victims’ Right to Review Scheme: does a victim have a right to make representation?
• CBD certification scheme to launch in the UK
• CQC guidance and what it means for care providers during the Coronavirus pandemic
• Regulatory advice for doctors amidst Coronavirus pandemic
• Coronation Street delves into the legal problems of the GP Good Samaritan
• Uber back in the news
• StaRs: Stand up and be accountable
• Misconduct: Managing disciplinary procedures in tandem with external processes – (co-authored with Clodagh Hogan)  article in the Employment Law Journal, July 2019
• Operating Department Practitioner struck off for making sexualised comments about colleagues, May 2014 
• 'Paramedic who failed to take bleeding woman to hospital still fit to practise', Wales Online, January 2013
• 'Indian radiographer who could not speak English worked at cancer hospital for SIX YEARS before being sacked after string of complaints', The Mail Online, November 2012
• 'Paramedic who boasted on Facebook that he 'saved someone's life and managed to cop a feel of some cracking jubblies' is found guilty of misconduct', The Mail Online, April 2012
• 'Surgeon's 'right-hand man' struck off after being caught drunk as woman patient lay bleeding on operating table', The Mail Online, August 2011

Professional societies and memberships

• Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
• The Law Society