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ANDREW PAVLOVIC

Partner
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Andrew Pavlovic is a Partner specialising in SRA professional discipline and regulatory investigations.

Recognised by Legal 500 UK 2023 as a “Next Generation Partner” in the field of professional discipline, Andrew has substantial experience in advising firms and individuals that are subject to regulatory investigations or prosecutions.  He has negotiated regulatory settlement agreements with the SRA, including in cases where serious allegations have been made, and has experience of conducting lengthy and complex proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.

Andrew has recently had a number of instructions arising from sexual misconduct allegations, including acting for a former partner of a law firm in respect of an SRA investigation which was recently closed without the SRA taking any action.  He has written a number of articles and spoken at webinars on this topic, and provides partner behavioural training to law firms on the recent SRA sexual misconduct guidance and workplace environment guidance.

Andrew often provides regulatory advice alongside our partnership/employment specialists, where internal investigations are taking place in relation to alleged misconduct which may trigger the requirement for either the firm or the individual to self report the matter to the SRA or other regulators.

At his previous firm Andrew acted for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (“SRA”) for several years, assisting in complex disciplinary proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and subsequent appeals to the High Court, as well as cases where the SRA obtained injunctive relief (The Law Society (Solicitors Regulation Authority) v Dixit Shah (AKA Sanjay Shah) [2014] EWHC 4382 (Ch))

Andrew’s exposure to the methods of the SRA and their approach to cases puts him in a strong position when advising both firms and lawyers who are subject to such investigations. 

Andrew also has strong expertise in commercial litigation. He has acted for a wide range of clients, including law firms and partners, high-net-worth individuals, companies, charities and regulators.  He has considerable experience in professional negligence claims against solicitors, and edited the “Lawyers Liability” chapter of The Law of Legal Services and Practice (2nd edition).  He also conducts civil fraud cases involving injunctive relief and is a member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association.  He advises on defamation and reputation management issues, including claims pursuant to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

Andrew was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in September 2010.

REPUTATION, NOMINATIONS AND AWARDS

 A calming influence on any case he works on… providing clear, thoughtful and commercially astute advice. (Legal 500 UK 2024)

Andrew Pavlovic’s specialism in SRA regulation and professional firm disciplinary matters places him at the heart of the thorny issues facing many professional firms. (Legal 500 UK 2023)

POSITIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
  • Member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
  • Member of the International Bar Association Professional Ethics Committee
  • Member of the Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association
  • Member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association
  • Former treasurer of the South London Law Society from 2015-2019
RECENT MATTERS

Professional Discipline

  • Advising a law firm partner subject to an SRA investigation in respect of allegations of sexual misconduct.  Investigation closed with no further action;
  • Currently instructed by 2 partners subject to SRA investigations in respect of alleged sexual misconduct;
  • Providing on-going self reporting and other advice to a law firm in respect of an SRA investigation into alleged misconduct by a partner, including considering whether the firm had to self report itself for potential rule breaches;
  • Providing partner behavioural training to law firm partners on the SRA Workplace Environment Guidance and Thematic Review and Sexual Misconduct guidance;
  • Represented a veterinary surgeon accused of dishonesty and “disgraceful conduct” in a 3-day hearing before the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Disciplinary Committee;
  • Advising a large commercial organisation regarding its in house legal function and whether the same in house team can advise different subsidiaries of the organisation without infringing the SRA’s rules on conflict of interest/confidentiality;
  • Advising a partner at a large accountancy firm on his self-reporting obligations to the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales, following the commencement of a disciplinary investigation against him in respect of alleged sexual misconduct.

Commercial litigation

  • Obtained an interim injunction pursuant to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 to prevent the alleged intimidation of company staff at/outside the company’s premises;
  • Currently Instructed in a professional negligence claim against a firm of solicitors for their conduct of a probate dispute;
  • Currently instructed by respondents in committal proceedings in respect of alleged breaches of pre and post judgment freezing orders.

Partnership

  • At his previous firm, Andrew acted pursuant to a general retainer for a law firm, advising on, among other things, the following:
    • Advising a partner at the firm and negotiating a regulatory settlement agreement with the SRA, in respect of serious allegations of acting dishonestly and without integrity;
    • Providing initial advice on the firm’s potential conversion to an ABS and the requirement to notify/obtain the SRA’s approval in respect of the appointment of non-authorised persons.
    • Reviewing proposed engagement letters and advising as to whether the proposed arrangements complied with the relevant Conditional Fee/Damages Based Agreement Regulations;
    • Advising in respect of the firm’s entitlement to assert a lien over its files in circumstances where negligence was alleged by the client;
    • Advising on the firm’s obligations to disclose documents to a client’s trustee in bankruptcy;
    • Advising on/drafting a response to the SRA in respect of a complaint made to them about the firm by a third party.