SRA to Private Practice, A Compliance Career Journey – Episode 28 – Sean Grehan, Risk and Compliance Manager at Doyle Clayton
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Episode Summary
In this episode of The UNCOVER Pod, we sit down with Sean Grehan, Risk and Compliance Manager at Doyle Clayton, who spent 17 years at the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) visiting over 400 law firms as part of the forensic Investigation team.
Sean shares his unique journey from aspiring sports lawyer to fraud investigator to compliance leader, and offers invaluable insights on what the SRA actually looks for when they investigate a law firm.
In this episode, we discuss:
– Sean’s 17-year career at the SRA’s forensic investigation team
– Why he transitioned from regulator to private practice
– How to build compliance frameworks that actually work
– The gap between policies and practice (and why it matters)
– The FCA takeover of AML supervision: what’s really coming
– Proposed changes to SRA accountants’ reporting requirements
– What makes an effective compliance leader in 2026
– Why you shouldn’t fear the regulator
Whether you’re a compliance professional, a law firm partner, or someone considering a career in legal risk, this episode is packed with practical insights and insider knowledge you won’t find anywhere else.
UNCOVER is the UK’s specialist recruitment firm for Legal Risk & Compliance professionals. We connect exceptional talent with leading law firms and in-house legal teams.