Browne Jacobson bolsters regulatory team

Browne Jacobson has recruited two legal directors to provide regulatory support for public and private organisations in sectors including health and social care.

Caroline Barker and Tom Walker have joined the UK and Ireland law firm, where they will work with clients across health and life sciences, government, and corporates as members of the criminal, compliance and regulatory team, which is led by Andy Hopkin.

Barker, who joins from HCR Law and is based in the London office, specialises in regulatory healthcare law, acting for health and social care providers, including care homes, domiciliary care agencies, children’s homes, and residential special schools.

She has more than 20 years’ experience advising health and care providers on their regulatory obligations and rights and helping them to navigate regulation from the Care Quality Commission and Ofsted.

Her appointment bolsters Browne Jacobson’s health and life sciences practice, which is overseen by Gerard Hanratty. In particular, she will work with the independent health and care team, which is led by Vicky Tomlinson and works with clients, including private hospitals and clinics, later living, specialist and complex care operators and children’s services organisations, as well as developers, investors and funders.

‘Independent and public health and care providers are operating in a regulatory environment that is changing faster than at any point in my career,’ Barker said.

‘The 10-year health plan commits to a more data-led CQC, with AI-triggered rapid response inspections and extended powers to take enforcement action – and that will land hardest on providers that are not already thinking carefully about their compliance position. For care homes, children’s services, domiciliary providers and specialist operators, the stakes of an adverse inspection outcome have never been higher.’

Walker joins as barrister with two decades’ experience in defending and prosecuting criminal and regulatory cases. He joins from Blake Morgan and is based in Browne Jacobson’s Cardiff office, advising clients nationally.

Bringing nearly two decades’ experience, he has a background in general and international criminal work but has focused on specialist regulatory work since 2007. He has acted as a solicitor-agent for the Health and Safety Executive and is on list B of the specialist regulatory advocates list.

Walker will lead the firm’s prosecution practice, which includes advising and representing fire authorities, local councils, government agencies and regulators.