Bevan Brittan LLP‘s team exhibits ‘unrivalled experience‘ in advising clinical commissioners and NHS trusts, property services, and resolution organisations on PFI variations, the Health and Care Act 2022, and estates disposals. The team is particularly adept at assisting NHS bodies with engagement with the Covid-19 public enquiry, in addition to issues concerning mental capacity and safeguarding. Practice head Joanna Lloyd is a clinical negligence expert, with an emphasis on obstetric and brain injuries, while Vincent Buscemi has a great deal of expertise in acting for developers, operators, and organisations on corporate vehicles, service transfers, and public engagement. Rosemary Jago primarily focuses on assisting NHS clients with procurement and delivery issues, including the funding of new hospitals and key worker accommodation, while Letitia Winterflood-Blood, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, has extensive experience in partnership and contractual matters, often advising NHS trusts on mergers and joint ventures. Carly Caton left the team to join Browne Jacobson LLP in November 2022.

Gerard Hanratty leads the practice at Browne Jacobson LLP, which is noted for its ‘unparalleled depth of knowledge‘. The team regularly acts for NHS Resolution, health boards, and NHS trusts in matters concerning inquests, governance, and policy. The team also has extensive capabilities in the areas of mental health and Court of Protection cases, in addition to the reformation of primary care provision. Hanratty advises NHS organisations on governance and service reconfiguration projects, while Christian Dingwall utilises his corporate and regulatory expertise to advise clients on partnerships, the merging of trusts, and integrated care joint ventures. Charlotte Harpin has extensive experience in integrated care system development, and data sharing arrangements. Carly Caton, who offers an ‘exceptionally high level of support‘, joined the team from Bevan Brittan LLP in November 2022, contributing her vast knowledge of collaborations between the NHS and the private sector, and income generation projects.

The ‘excellent‘ team at DAC Beachcroft LLP is well versed in handling data and procurement issues concerning the Covid-19 data store, and appeals concerning patient treatment decisions. The ‘hugely talented‘ Hamza Drabu heads the practice with ‘fierce intellect‘ and broad expertise in strategic commercial transactions, particularly in relation to the acquisition of NHS trusts and primary care deals. Alistair Robertson is known for his knowledge of judicial reviews, including those concerning the NHS response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Darryn Hale is particularly knowledgeable in the field of health information, and regularly advises clients on the use of NHS data. Udara Ranasinghe focuses on the employment aspects of healthcare, with a particular emphasis on whistleblowing cases involving doctors, while qualified barrister Jacques Howell, who joined the team from Clyde & Co in June 2022, has longstanding expertise in complex inquests work. Gemma Brannigan has broad experience in inquests and Court of Protection hearings involving medical treatment orders.

The team at Hill Dickinson LLP acts for a number of notable clients, including the North Central London and North East London ICBs, and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and represents them before the Court of Appeal in medical treatment cases and judicial reviews. Praised by clients for having ‘knowledge at her fingertips‘,  Kiran Bhogal leads the team with longstanding expertise in judicial reviews, often acting in public enquiries, public consultation duties, and challenges to major service reconfigurations. Andrew Craggs focuses on policy issues and patient safety matters, while Emma Stockwell regularly represents the CQC, Health Education England, and NHS England in investigations and inquiries, in addition to appearing in appeals to the Upper Tribunal against registration decisions. Andrea Proudlock joined the team from DAC Beachcroft LLP in June 2022, contributing her vast experience in NHS real estate transactions.

Acting for a number of integrated care boards and NHS trusts, the team at Mills & Reeve LLP dispenses advice on digitisation, infrastructure matters, and large-scale capital schemes. Practice head Jill Mason has broad expertise spanning both the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005, in addition to judicial reviews and inquests. The ‘incredible’ Rob Day, having been promoted to partner in June 2022, leads on the primary care and NHS governance side, often advising both commissioners and providers on operation developments. Duncan Astill maintains his regulatory focus, often handling healthcare-related investigations and prosecutions. Jog Hundle, who has longstanding experience in employment and corporate issues within healthcare, frequently advises on discrimination and whistleblowing cases concerning medical staff.

The team at Addleshaw Goddard handles a wide variety of matters, including both commercial transactions and competition issues, as well as disputes. The group frequently advises clients on infrastructure projects and construction issues surrounding the building and redevelopment of hospitals. Michael O’Connor co-heads the practice alongside Louise Dobson; the former primarily assists clients with transactional issues, including procurement projects, and the dissolution and acquisition of trusts, while the latter maintains a disputes-focused practice.

With ‘excellent strength in depth‘, the team at Bindmans LLP predominantly represents individuals in inquests and cases involving mental health, safeguarding and palliative care issues. Practice head Laura Hobey-Hamsher is a ‘first-class lawyer‘ who is well known for acting in Court of Protection cases concerning the medical treatment, health, and welfare of individuals under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Children Act 1989. Will Whitaker exhibits ‘excellent judgment‘ when handling the full gamut of human rights issues, with particular emphasis given to health and welfare. Praised for her ‘eye for detail‘, mental health expert Elizabeth Cleaver primarily represents individuals in health and social care matters, including challenges against policies and decisions. Basmah Sahib regularly appears before the Mental Health Tribunal, and handles judicial review challenges concerning policy.

Bruce Potter and Eve Piffaretti jointly head the ‘responsive, experienced, capable and personable‘ practice at Blake Morgan LLP. The group handles the full gamut of relevant matters, including national research programmes and public health initiatives, and public enquiries. In addition to advising conduct regulators, Piffaretti has broad knowledge of issues surrounding the safeguarding of vulnerable children and adults, and has a great deal of experience in handling issues concerning mental capacity and mental health. Utilising his vast experience of public policy within the healthcare arena, Potter regularly dispenses advice on procurement projects, inquiries, and organisational mergers.

Exhibiting ‘clear knowledge and understanding‘, Capsticks LLP‘s team handles the full spectrum of issues, notably, hospital redevelopment projects, and the termination of NHS PFI contracts, in addition to defending NHS employers in claims before the Employment Tribunal. Practice head Andrew Rowland utilises his employment background and ‘unrivalled experience‘ to advise NHS employers and NHS England on strike action, whisteblowing claims, and injunctive proceedings. Peter Edwards has a great deal of expertise in advising regulators and NHS bodies on their statutory powers and governance issues, while Dylan Young has ample contentious experience, with public procurement challenges being a distinctive area of focus. Stephen Tainsh leads on the corporate side, regularly assisting NHS trusts with collaboration agreements.

The team of ‘excellent lawyers‘ at Clyde & Co displays ‘unrivalled knowledge and experience‘ in representing NHS Trusts in clinical negligence claims, coroner’s inquests, and hospital PFI projects. Claire Petts leads the team, and takes a ‘firm hand and rigorous approach‘ when handling medical malpractice claims concerning brain injury. David Hansom has a great deal of public sector expertise, and often represents NHS Trusts in litigation concerning public procurement, affecting critical services. Joining as a result of the recent BLM merger, Adam Weston brings broad knowledge spanning NHS England, CQC, and hospital trust investigations, as well as allegations of misconduct and dishonesty, to the team.

The ‘great team‘ at Kennedys is well known for handling end of life proceedings, community treatment orders, and section 21A applications. Having advised the National Emergency Critical Care Committee during the Covid-19 pandemic, practice head Rob Tobin is seen as a ‘go-to lawyer‘ for NHS Trusts requiring assistance with their responses to crises concerning mental health disorder services. Daniel Freeman has broad knowledge of capacity and emergency treatments, and goes ‘above and beyond‘ when advising on the training of doctors and psychiatrists. Senior associate Indi Kaur is a ‘very knowledgeable‘ mental health specialist who regularly advises on urgent applications to the Court of Protection for decisions relating to obstetric care.

Known for its expertise in and focus on technology-related work, Bird & Bird LLP handles a myriad of matters, including international healthcare projects, public and private sector partnerships, and investment within the sector. The team shows great aptitude for handling data protection matters for life sciences entities. Mark Hilton jointly co-heads the practice alongside Sally Shorthose, who has broad knowledge of IP transactions and life sciences regulation. David Ayers has longstanding experience in delivering healthcare projects relating to pathology services and data protection. Senior associate Ben Woodfield focuses on assisting clients with IT contracts and intra-NHS arrangements.

Burges Salmon LLP houses a team of ‘extremely knowledgeable, hard-working‘ practitioners who regularly advise on public private partnerships, with notable clients including Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance. Patrick Parkin leads the team with his longstanding expertise in advising NHS Trusts and hospitals on procurement projects. Richard Binns frequently handles arbitrations and disputes for independent social and healthcare providers. Lucy Pegler was promoted to partner in 2022, and often advises clients on collaborative procurement matters and framework agreements.

The team at Fieldfisher advises a varied client base of care providers and employers on regulatory issues. A particular recent highlight involves assisting the Covid-19 inquiry with its set-up and establishment. Sarah Ellson leads the team with her vast expertise in regulatory issues surrounding cannabis and CBD, regularly advising medical manufacturers, online pharmacies, and clinicians. Known for his corporate and commercial expertise, Neil Palmer assists GPs and independent providers of NHS services with M&A deals and commercial contracts.

The ‘efficient, hardworking and knowledgeable‘ team at Irwin Mitchell is known for handling cases against clinical commissioning groups and NHS trusts. Yogi Amin heads the practice, often acting in cases concerning the right to die. Mathieu Culverhouse is ‘impressively knowledgeable‘ when handling mental capacity and community care issues, while Oliver Studdert regularly appears in Court of Protection cases regarding children’s rights. Angela Jackman frequently acts for vulnerable individuals in deprivation of liberty matters, and associate Rebecca Chapman focuses on access to medical care issues.

Boasting a specialism which is ‘second to none‘, the team at Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP maintains its focus on public law, and the human rights and interests of children and adults with disabilities. Polly Sweeney, Anne-Marie Irwin and Alex Rook jointly head up the practice. Rook focuses on the administrative side of the healthcare sector, often acting in judicial reviews, while Sweeney focuses on care package disputes and medical treatment disputes before the Court of Protection, and Irwin dispenses advice on entitlement to NHS care.

Tim Nye and Kyle Holling jointly head the practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP. Predominantly dispensing advice on the redevelopment of hospitals, the team often assists commissioners and NHS trusts. Nye primarily handles matters concerning joint ventures and M&A, and regularly advises entities within acute care, mental health, and residential nursing, while Holling utilises his expertise in real estate to assist funders, operators, and commissioners with real estate transactions.

The team at VWV has ‘invaluable insight‘ into corporate issues concerning GP surgeries, CQC-related matters, and PCN disputes. Ben Willis heads the team alongside ‘excellent litigator‘ Rachel Crean. Willis has ‘great knowledge‘ of advising GP surgeries and doctors on development and funding, while Crean primarily focuses on NHS GP partnership disputes and commercial disputes concerning commissioners. Associate Adam Siwak assists a number of GP federations and primary care providers with the establishment of primary care networks.

The ‘excellent‘ team at Weightmans LLP represents a diverse client base of mental health trusts, hospital trusts, and healthcare professionals in inquiries, procurement-related matters, and data breach claims. Andrew Parsons has a great deal of experience in CQC regulation, often acting in Court of Protection cases concerning mental health law. With her vast expertise in clinical negligence, Rachel Kneale acts for a number of NHS trusts, while Julia Appleton handles a broad range of matters, ranging from consent, urgent admission, and treatment issues, to judicial reviews concerning healthcare bodies.