Philadelphia, PA commercial litigation attorney Stanley Cheiken shares his advice for professionals facing disciplinary actions. He advises that when professionals receive notice of an investigation or a charge from a disciplinary or licensing body, their first step should be to consult with an attorney. This applies regardless of whether they believe they have done anything wrong.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience, he notes that the most common mistake professionals make is attempting to respond directly to a prosecutor or investigator without legal representation. Such missteps often complicate matters and make it more difficult for counsel to effectively defend them once the seriousness of the situation becomes clear.

He also cautions against the equally damaging approach of ignoring a letter or complaint in the hope that it will simply disappear. The prudent course of action, he emphasizes, is to retain qualified counsel, obtain sound legal advice, and allow that attorney to manage the process and safeguard the professional’s interests.