Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that Nicole Curtis, a barrister specialising in professional regulation, has been appointed a partner.
Nicole's appointment follows the historic Legal Services Board announcement on 1 April 2010 that it has approved Bar Standards Board applications designed to change barristers' working practices and give consumers greater access to their services. As a result of the amendments, which take immediate effect, barristers can now work as managers and hold shares in legal disciplinary practices as well as work in partnerships. Nicole, who was previously an associate at Penningtons, is therefore one of the first barristers to take up the position of partner within a law firm.
Nicole was called to the Bar in 1992 and spent ten years in independent practice at a general common law/criminal law set of Chambers, before joining Penningtons' professional regulation team in 2003. She advises on regulatory, disciplinary and public law (including judicial review) and is described by the latest edition of Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession as 'an incisive and thorough advocate'. Her work in the healthcare regulatory field has particular emphasis on pharmacy and veterinary medicine. She regularly appears as an advocate before Fitness to Practise Committees and has had conduct of a number of Privy Council appeals. Nicole is a committee member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers.
Penningtons' chief executive David Raine comments: "We are delighted that Nicole has joined the partnership, particularly as her appointment marks a milestone in the ongoing development of the legal profession. It also reinforces our commitment to providing a broad range of regulatory services to professional bodies."
Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession and The Legal 500 recognise Penningtons’ professional regulation practice as one of the top in the UK. The 2009 edition of The Legal 500 describes the team as having 'outstanding knowledge' of its sector.
Nicole's appointment brings the total number of partners at Penningtons to 51.