Healthcare
The ranking is weighted towards firms with considerable experience in acting for the NHS/public sector, although we also include practices representing clients in the private sector, such as those interacting with NHS bodies.
‘Leading firm’ Beachcroft LLP acts for three large central London PCTs on their property portfolios, numerous foundation trusts and NHS entities. Anne Crofts advises NHS organisations on PPP and infrastructure transactions, while Nick Chronias is recommended for employment matters and Marisa Broadhurst for property work. Although Kiran Bhogal moved to Weightmans LLP, this was offset by the arrival of Andrew Johnston, who joined the practice from Capsticks.
Bevan Brittan LLP provides ‘strength in depth and value for money’ to an impressive roster of clients in the healthcare sector. Advising over 40 foundation trusts, 21 NHS trusts and over 30 PCTs, the team boasts ‘an excellent knowledge base with appropriate use of specialists’. John Chapman ‘brings expertise as well as flexibility, and always acts promptly when required’.
Healthcare boutique Capsticks provides ‘good response times and knowledge’, representing over half of the 267 NHS acute trusts and over a third of the 152 NHS PCTs. David Mason gives ‘clear advice and is good at identifying risks’. Peter Edwards is experienced in employment matters relating to disciplinary action and discrimination issues. John Witt, Alison Morley, Chris Brophy and Colin Lynch are also recommended.
At Bindmans LLP, Saimo Chahal has recently brought two human rights cases involving mental patients and another relating to assisted dying to the House of Lords. ‘She gives the most professional, well-organised service’, and is noted for her understanding and communication skills. John Halford is recommended for his expertise in health and community care services.
‘Professional and knowledgeable’, Hempsons acts for the NHSLA and 65 of the country's 152 PCTs. Lynne Abbess focuses on medical partnership and Chris Morris, who is praised for his ‘good teamwork’, specialises in dental law. Christian Dingwall ‘makes complex problems easy to understand’, while Jamie Foster, John Holmes, Jean Sapeta and Bertie Leigh are also important members of the team.
Mills & Reeve LLP’s ‘highly responsive and personal’ practice offers ‘clear and concise advice, and a helpful perspective from a commercial standpoint’. The team’s services include PFI/PPP, LIFT, professional regulation, primary care and procurement expertise. Practice head Bridget Archibald in Cambridge, and Jill Mason and Tim Winn in Birmingham ‘have great expertise and manage their teams excellently’.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP is prominent in the local improvement finance trust market and also acts on complex PFI transactions. Sandra Humphrey in Leeds and Mike O’Connor in Manchester lead the team, providing ‘sensitive advice in an approachable manner’. Leeds partner Ruth Snell, Manchester associate Stephen Tainsh and London-based Nancy Walmsley stand out. The Department of Health is a key client.
Browne Jacobson LLP acts for over 50 NHS trusts and PCTs in relation to mental heath, accommodation needs and negligence matters. It also represents the NHSLA, and has recently been instructed by the Department of Health. Simon Tait heads a Birmingham-based team that was recently bolstered by the arrival of Melanie Print from Bevan Brittan LLP.
Able to tap into the firm’s wider corporate and commercial expertise, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP regularly handles big-ticket transactions for private hospitals, including the likes of Nuffield hospital. Jason Zemmel heads a team that includes David Day, Paul Smith and ‘rising star’ Jonathan Lisle.
Eversheds LLP advises a range of public and private sector clients including Accent group and Papworth Hospital NHS foundation trust. Bill Gilliam heads a ‘responsive’ team, which features Rebecca Carter, Jonathan Cripps, Richard Moulton and Ruth Connorton.
Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP has a ‘terrific healthcare team’ advising both commercial and public sector operators. Former practising doctor Matthew Lohn heads the practice and is praised as ‘absolutely tenacious and with a very good instinct’. Tom Rider, Judith Chrystie and Rosemary Rollason are ‘absolutely brilliant’.
Niche firm Leigh Day & Co ‘provides a Rolls-Royce service, demonstrating a willingness to take on cases which others would not, and then to succeed’. The practice ‘excels’ at representing immigration detainees and people with multi-personality disorders. Sean Humber is ‘a leading expert on prison healthcare’, Frances Swaine ‘combines great care and commitment to human rights’, and Alison Millar offers ‘excellent service in clinical negligence’.
Morgan Cole’s team works closely with the Department of Health and conducts ‘cutting-edge’ regulatory work for the HFEA and the Department of Health’s Commercial Directorate. The practice deals with mental health, mental capacity and associated human rights issues, as well as major commercial projects, including PPP/PFI and procurement work. Practice head Eve Piffaretti, Gayle Curry and Bruce Potter are pivotal members of the department.
Pinsent Masons LLP offers ‘professional advice and overall good value for money’. The ‘responsive and knowledgeable team’ is currently working with the Department of Health on a national decontamination programme. Practice head Barry Francis and Carly Caton are ‘always available to support and advise’.
RadcliffesLeBrasseur specialises in mental healthcare, acting for 80% of all private sector beds across the country. Headed by Andrew Parsons and Alex Leslie, the practice advises doctors and dentists on professional regulation matters, as well as several national care homes, including the Priory, Cygnet and Four Seasons.
Wragge & Co LLP is ‘strong’ on both the public and private sector sides, advising on primary care transactions with a combined value in excess of £350m in 2008, and for pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Rosemount Pharmaceuticals. In 2008, new client wins included two Middle Eastern countries’ departments of health. Practice head Bleddyn Rees and Birmingham partner David Hamlett stand out.
At Charles Russell LLP, David Reissner advises clients on property-related healthcare matters, including establishing new developments and health centres. In the pharmaceutical field, the practice won a case in the Court of Appeal on behalf of Co-op Healthcare in 2008. Also recommended are Tim Jenkins and Debra Kent in Guildford.
Nabarro LLP’s 18 healthcare partners advise NHS bodies, medical defence entities, healthcare companies, the Department of Health, and other government bodies. The practice also acts for various generic pharmaceutical companies. Warren Taylor leads the team, which was recently bolstered by the arrival of Chris Horsefield from Beachcroft LLP.
Osborne Clarke’s focus is on representing private sector entities, particularly in relation to their interaction in the emerging public-private healthcare market. The practice advises independent sector treatment centres, acute PFI hospitals, LIFT projects, and care homes and villages. Kevin Gibbs and Cathy Harris arerecommended.
Lynn Aglionby and Rosemary Hart at Trowers & Hamlins LLP advise numerous charities, housing associations, commercial providers and local authorities. The practice has been involved in LIFT/PFI matters, as well as in the remodelling of various social care projects. In 2008, notable client wins included Southern Cross, Cancer Partners UK, Golden Lane and Care UK.
Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP advises a range of healthcare entities including primary care services, hospices and hospitals across the spectrum of health and social care matters. Abbie Rumbold heads a practice that includes Stephen Lloyd, who brings extensive commercial experience. Clients include Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP is ‘prepared to put in the extra effort to get the improved reward’, and acts for a number of banks and listed companies. Andrew Sherratt has ‘vast’ M&A expertise, while Jim Buchanan focuses on health sector projects. Marcus Pearl is seen as ‘one to watch’ in the healthcare field.
Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s healthcare work has a strong leaning towards the charitable sector, and includes notable clients such as AgeCare, Breast Cancer Care, St Dunstans and The Salvation Army. The practice also advises St John & St Elisabeth, Middlesex, and Moorfields Eye hospitals. Practice heads Imelda Moffat and David Darvill are recommended.
At Clifford Chance, practice head Julian Acratopulo is acting for a US biopharmaceutical company in WIPO arbitration, and for other pharmaceutical companies including Bayer, Pfizer, Stryker and Baxter Healthcare. The team recently handled matters for two universities in relation to a judicial review of the HFEA’s decision to grant them a licence to create human-animal hybrid embryos for research purposes.
Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team represents local authorities and healthcare trusts on high-profile public law cases, as well as individuals, care homes and charities on disability and elderly client issues. Yogi Amin leads the practice and is praised for his work, particularly in the community care field.
Headed by Andrew Lockhart-Mirams, Lockharts advises over 1,800 GP practices, plus numerous dental practitioners, healthcare professionals and professional bodies throughout the country. The practice also helps to establish companies and LLPs tailored for the delivery of healthcare services.
Clare McConnell recently joined Stephenson Harwood from Pinsent Masons LLP, bolstering the team’s strength in relation to PFI/PPP healthcare matters. The practice is instructed by more Middle Eastern clients looking to invest in the UK healthcare sector. John Hargreaves heads the team, which includes key playes such as Tepo Din.
Taylor Wessing LLP’s healthcare practice concentrates on complex transactions for NHS trusts as well as sponsors, contractors and funders. Practice head Hamid Yunis and his team specialise in PFI/PPP, and NHS LIFT matters. The group also provides solutions in relation to managed equipment services transactions and strategic partnerships for the development of hospitals and IT outsourcing opportunities.