News
New SRA investigations, enforcement and litigation leader appointed
22 April 2026
The SRA has announced the permanent appointment of Jonathan Peddie, who joined the SRA on an interim basis in September 2025, as Executive Director – Investigations, Enforcement and Litigation.
Sarah Rapson, Chief Executive of the SRA, said: 'I am delighted to welcome Jonathan Peddie permanently to the SRA. He brings a deep knowledge of the legal sector, having previously been a partner at Baker McKenzie, global head of litigation, investigations, enforcement and financial crime at Barclays Bank, and Deputy General Counsel at Clifford Chance.
'Jonathan's expertise will be invaluable as we establish a more proportionate regulatory approach.'
Peddie will lead an end-to-end review of the casework process, including reviewing the application of the assessment threshold test, and improving quality assurance of triage and investigations. He will work with other members of the executive leadership team in developing alternative regulatory tools to investigations.
Jonathan Peddie, Executive Director Investigations, Enforcement and Litigation said: 'Solicitors perform a vital but sometimes overlooked public service, one that is essential to the health of our society and economy. I know that from my own experience of legal practice in law firms and in-house.
'When I joined the SRA on an interim basis, my priority was to make sure that the public could continue to have full confidence in the profession. The past six months have reinforced for me the critical importance of a strong, agile and proportionate investigations and enforcement function as a foundation of trust and confidence for the public and solicitors.
'I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience of legal practice and regulation to bear. I look forward to playing a role in delivering the changes Sarah Rapson has outlined, to address the challenges the organisation faces.'
This announcement is an important step forward as part of our broader focus on operational excellence. This is one of four priorities announced in March, alongside improving collaboration, proactive risk identification and a focus on big issues.
Together, these priorities are designed to put in place the foundations that will transform the organisation into a modern, proportionate regulator that is trusted and effective.
Jonathan's biography
Jonathan Peddie is a highly experienced legal leader with over 30 years' expertise in investigations and enforcement. This involves both UK and international regulators and prosecutorial authorities, including the FCA, PRA, SFO, National Crime Agency, HMRC, the CMA and the UK and US security and intelligence services.
Jonathan began his career at the criminal bar, prosecuting and defending serious crime and professional discipline matters, and spent a decade at Clifford Chance LLP specialising in business crime, regulatory investigations and complex commercial litigation. As Deputy General Counsel, he also led the firm's global professional indemnity risk.
He joined Barclays Bank PLC in 2005 and held senior leadership roles through the global financial crisis, in litigation, investigations enforcement and financial crime. He led many of the most significant investigations and disputes faced by the banking sector, including sovereign wealth fund investigations, landmark Supreme Court litigation and hundreds of conduct-related matters.
In 2015, Jonathan returned to private practice as a partner at Baker McKenzie LLP, focusing on investigations and regulatory enforcement, and served as Chair of the firm's global Financial Institutions industry group. He sits on the FCA's Regulatory Decisions Committee and is a published author on investigations and financial crime.