Steve Roberts

Steve qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and joined Richard Nelson LLP in 2008 becoming a partner in 2014.

The work Steve undertakes on behalf of other lawyers includes advice in respect of all aspects of compliance, applications for admission, firm set up and closures, investigations, and representation during investigations and before regulatory tribunals. He has assisted many firms to obtain authorisation and has helped many junior lawyers be admitted to their chosen profession (even where difficult disclosures have to be made). He regularly assists lawyers to deal with investigations and appears before disciplinary tribunals on a regular basis. He has successfully challenged SRA applications for interventions on numerous occasions.

The work Steve undertakes on behalf of accountants includes advice and representation in relation to disciplinary investigations and before the various disciplinary panels. He regularly defends accountants in proceedings brought by ACCA, ICAEW and AAT.

He is a member of the Solicitors Assistance Scheme and the Cardiff and District Law Society Regulatory Issues Sub-Committee. He is a former past-president of the Cardiff and District Law Society. He regularly provides talks to other lawyers on regulatory matters and is assisting Practical Law Company draft content for their guidance for legal professionals.

In addition to his work representing professionals before their regulators, Steve is a specialist in dealing with prosecutions brought by Companies House against directors personally, having dealt with such matters for 15 years. He regularly makes successful representations to Companies House persuading them to withdraw proceedings and regularly represents directors before Cardiff Magistrates Court.

Steve is also an experienced transport and road traffic lawyer. He regularly assists Road Haulage Companies in applications to, and proceedings before, the Office of The Traffic Commissioner as well as criminal proceedings in the Magistrates and Crown Courts.

Chambers and Partners 2023 recognised Steve as a “regulatory lawyer with considerable experience representing solicitors facing SRA investigations and proceedings before the SDT.” His strengths in that directory were said to be “his level of knowledge in the practice area he specialises in is superb, and his client care is second to none…. He has exceptional clarity of vision and knowledge of his sector but without losing an empathetic approach.”