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Anne Marie Rugeris

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

annemarie.rugeris@keystonelaw.co.uk

“I just wanted to write to let you know how grateful I am for the help you gave me during most of the previous 10 months. I think you showed me exceptional presence and were always there for me to answer even tiniest questions, but very often more important ones. Actually it was a privilege knowing you both during this experience.”

- Client, represented during BAcC proceedings

Anne Marie is an experienced partner specialising in healthcare regulation and fitness to practise cases, with significant experience in acting for healthcare and other regulators in respect of professional disciplinary investigations, including on behalf of the Health and Care Professions Council, the General Dental Council, the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the Teacher Regulation Agency, and the General Chiropractic Council.

Anne Marie also has particular expertise in acting on regulatory cases both in the First-tier Tribunal and the High Court, as well as advising and supporting clients in relation to inquest proceedings, CQC enforcement, safeguarding and a variety of other regulatory issues.

In addition, Anne Marie has niche expertise in healthcare contractual disputes and performers list cases, including advising in respect of the performance management of healthcare professionals, commercial contracts, and NHS dispute resolution proceedings. Anne Marie has also represented student professionals in university fitness to practise investigations and qualified professionals in local-level processes including MHPS (Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS) and employer disciplinary proceedings.

Expertise

Anne Marie advises on complex professional disciplinary matters, representing healthcare professionals and regulators in investigations, fitness to practise cases, inquests, and safeguarding issues across a wide range of clinical contexts.

Experience

  • Successfully advised and represented healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings, including those of the GMC, BAcC, HCPC, GPhC and GDC.
  • Successfully conducted fitness to practise investigations on behalf of the GDC, NMC, GCC, HCPC, and GPhC involving complex clinical conduct, deficient professional performance, health, fraud, and dishonesty issues.
  • Advised regulatory bodies and NHS England on procedure and published guidance.
  • Advised and supported clients in respect of inquest processes, including preparation of the client’s case.
  • Advised and supported clients in respect of CQC investigations and prosecutions.
  • Successfully acted for NHS England in respect of a doctor’s appeal against removal from the Performers List in the First-tier Tribunal.
  • Advised a medical student in a fitness to practise case following serious allegations of inappropriate sexual touching, possession, and use of prescription drugs.
  • Represented qualified professionals in local-level processes including MHPS (Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS) and employer disciplinary proceedings.

Anne Marie specialises in legal issues across the healthcare sector, including Care Quality Commission enforcement, safeguarding reviews, fitness to practise investigations, healthcare contractual disputes, and public law challenges involving medical professionals and organisations.

Experience

  • Successfully represented student professionals in university fitness to practise investigations and qualified professionals in local-level processes including MHPS (Maintaining High Professional Standards in the Modern NHS) and employer disciplinary proceedings.
  • Successfully represented healthcare professionals in regulatory proceedings, including those of the GMC, BAcC, HCPC, and GDC.
  • Successfully challenged CQC ratings and factually inaccurate draft Inspection Reports, including securing the reversal of a ‘requires improvement’ rating to an overall ‘good’ rating.
  • Advised and supported provider clients in relation to Local Authority Safeguarding investigations and Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
  • Advised and represented provider clients in relation to a high-profile CQC prosecution.
  • Successfully secured the withdrawal of CQC from two First-tier Tribunal appeals made by two registered adult social care providers, preventing the closure of the care establishments.
  • Successfully conducted fitness to practise investigations on behalf of the GDC, NMC, GCC, HCPC, and GPHC involving complex clinical conduct, deficient professional performance, health, fraud, and dishonesty issues.
  • Advised regulatory bodies and NHS England on procedure and published guidance.
  • Successfully acted for NHS England in respect of a doctor’s appeal against removal from the Performers List in the First-tier Tribunal.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers

Member of the Dental Law and Ethics Forum

Anne Marie qualified as a solicitor in 2009. Prior to joining Keystone Law in May 2023, she worked at the following firms:

  • Healthcare Counsel Ltd
  • Capsticks Solicitors