Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Health in North

DAC Beachcroft LLP

The Newcastle-based healthcare team at DAC Beachcroft LLP undertakes a range of matters for NHS healthcare foundations and local authorities in the North, including disputes and transactional agreements. The trio of Gill Weatherill, Sarah George, and Nicola Fairbairn co-head the cross-disciplinary team. Weatherill is the first port of call for public sector healthcare clients in the mental health dispute resolution space. Employment practitioner George assists with NHS employee trust schemes, notably working on fleet management matters, while Fairbairn focuses on healthcare related real estate matters, such as the development and acquisition of new facilities. Construction specialist Rachel Gibson handles refurbishment projects, while regulatory enforcement expert Anna Hart is a key contact for clients seeking assistance in Article 2 jury inquests. Procurement and tenders for hospital and care facility redevelopments are particular areas of expertise for Katherine Calder.

Practice head(s):

Gill Weatherill; Sarah George; Nicola Fairbairn


Other key lawyers:

Rachel Gibson; Anna Hart; Katherine Calder


Testimonials

‘Very professional and capable but also responsive, flexible and easy to work with.’

‘Gill Wetherall and Nicola Fairbairn are really capable, provide high quality work and are very much part of the team.’

Key clients

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust


Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Elysium Healthcare


North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust


NHS England


East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust


Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust


North West Boroughs NHS Foundation Trust


York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust


City Hospitals Independent Enterprises Ltd


North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust


The Priory Group


Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust


South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust


Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust


NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group


The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


QE Facilities Ltd


Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust


Greensleeves


Elysium


Home Group


Cygnet Health Care


Barchester Healthcare


Department of Health and Social Care


Lancashire Procurement Cluster


Envivo Group


North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board


Geonomics England


North of England Commissioning Support Unit


The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust


Dimensions


Work highlights


  • Advised Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in respect of an emergency High Court Application made by a Local Authority to try and prevent the discharge of a child from psychiatric hospital.
  • Advised Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust in respect of an independent homicide investigation, complex inquest proceedings and disclosure of patient information in circumstances where a psychiatric patient fatally assaulted a member of the public.
  • Advised Home Group and six mental health charities in the common interest on the formation of the Durham Mental Wellbeing Alliance which involved advising on and negotiating the Alliance Agreement with Durham County Council and advising on and drafting the Provider Collaboration Agreement between the providers.

Hill Dickinson LLP

Hill Dickinson LLP opened a Newcastle base in July 2022, the firm’s sixth UK office. Office head Andrea Proudlock, who joined from DAC Beachcroft to launch the office, is the key contact for healthcare real estate instructions. Alison Oliver, who joined from Hempsons in September 2022, is an expert on primary care matters, assisting individual practitioners, primary care networks and GP federations as well as NHS trusts. Proudlock is supported on the health real estate front by her former colleague at DACB, senior associate Richard Hartis, while fellow senior associate Lucy Probert, who joined from Ward Hadaway in the summer of 2022, is another key member of the team.

Practice head(s):

Andrea Proudlock; Alison Oliver


Other key lawyers:

Richard Hartis; Lucy Probert


Testimonials

‘Alison Oliver offers pragmatic and expert advice.’

‘Andrea Proudlock is very keen to assist – she is approachable and customer-centred.’

‘I have worked with Andrea Proudlock and Richard Hartis – both are very approachable and patiently explain the issues that I need to consider. I particularly appreciate the attention to detail and always feel that nothing has slipped through the net.’

Key clients

Lawrence House Group Practice


Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board


Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust


All Saints Multi Academy Trust


Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Work highlights


  • Advising Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust on the development of strategic headquarters.
  • Acted for Lawrence House Group Practice, an 11-partner GP practice, in the negotiation of a lease of a newly built health centre in Tottenham Hale in the London Borough of Haringey, funded by NHS England.
  • Advised NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board in relation to the time-critical granting of a lease for two rape crisis units in St Helen’s Merseyside.

Sintons LLP

Sintons LLP’s NHS healthcare team advises a mix of NHS foundation trusts, dental and GP practices , and pharmacies on a range of non-contentious and contentious matters. Newcastle-based Team head Amanda McCabe is a key adviser to NHS trusts for corporate and commercial strategies. Victoria Armstrong continues to focus on the development of healthcare facilities, while senior associate Chloe Dinsdale is a go-to practitioner for work at the intersection of IT and healthcare, assisting a number of NHS trusts on digital transformations and collaborations. Other names to note include regulatory partner Kathryn Riddell, who represents clients in disputes concerning care obligations, and associate Louise Weatherhead, who advises widely on data breach protocols, corporate and commercial transactions, cross-border transfers and public sector training programmes.

Practice head(s):

Amanda McCabe


Other key lawyers:

Victoria Armstrong; Chloe Dinsdale; Kathryn Riddell; Louise Weatherhead


Testimonials

‘Excellent team, providing individual strengths depending on client requirement. Great support for organisations working in Health.’

‘We have always had an identified contact providing personal bespoke services and advice. Chloe Dinsdale has been an excellent contact for us.’

‘Very pragmatic approach to problem solving, and good grasp of issues in the NHS.’

Key clients

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


The Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria


QE Facilities Limited


Healthcall Solutions Limited


Durham East Primary Care Network


Central Durham GP Providers Limited


Hadrian Primary Care Alliance


Intrahealth Limited


Valens Medical Partnership


Village Medical Group


Work highlights


  • Advising The Newcastle upon Hospitals NHSFT on a Court of Appeal case concerning a reporting restriction order protecting the anonymity of hospital clinicians involved in the care of a child, now deceased, who had been the subject of end-of-life proceedings.
  • Advised Healthcall Solutions Limited on the provision of a 3 year licence for all NHS Trusts and healthcare bodies within the North East and North Cumbria region to use certain digital health solutions.
  • Advising the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria in connection with the development of an innovation lab hosted by a local NHSFT.

Ward Hadaway LLP

Nicola Richardson, who heads the health and regulatory department at Ward Hadaway LLP, regularly acts for NHS trusts involved in potential corporate manslaughter claims, including those which have progressed to inquests and clinical negligence claims. Melanie Pears leads the public sector team, where she frequently advises NHS foundation trusts on the procurement and contracting of facility developments and redevelopments, as well as assisting with contract variations to PFI project agreements. Regulation specialist Rachel Birks is a go-to advisor for both claimants and defendants in professional discipline cases, while associate Victoria Parker advises healthcare providers on disputes concerning mental health act-related issues. Georgina Rowley is a key contact for matters concerning applications to the court of protection. Saji Bratch is a name to note for public sector property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and management of sites as well as development work. The employment healthcare team is co-led by Caroline Shafar and Stuart Craig, who represent clients in employee tribunal claims and company re-organisations. Lisa Evans – praised for her ‘excellent instincts in the healthcare sector’ – is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Nicola Richardson; Melanie Pears


Other key lawyers:

Stuart Craig; Caroline Shafar; Saji Bratch; Georgina Rowley; Rachel Birks; Victoria Parker; Lisa Evans


Testimonials

‘The firm has an ability to understand service and technical issues around contracts. Being able to advise and win arguments on silent parts of contract where there is ambiguity.’

‘They have saved the Trust a fortune on both PFI and non PFI contracts, and are excellent value for money.’

‘Melanie Pears is the legal support I have experienced.’

‘When instructed by them for clinical negligence I always found them to be efficient, good at involving themselves in the detail of the case, and managing procedural issues.’

‘Excellent team, full of quality. Always exemplary preparation for cases.’

‘A special mention for Lisa Evans, who is the consummate professional with excellent instincts in the healthcare sector.’

‘Victoria Parker is extremely thorough and knowledgeable.’

Key clients

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust


British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy


Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust


Care Quality Commission


Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust


Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust


Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust


Gateshead Health NHS Foundation trust


General Optical Council


General Osteopathic Council


General Pharmaceutical Council


Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Hull University NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust


Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust


Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service


North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust


North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust


North East and North Cumbria ICB


Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust


Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust


Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust


South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust


South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust


St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust


The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust


University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust


Work highlights


  • Advised Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on the procurement and contracting for significant development on the site of the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
  • Advised on the termination of the PFI agreement following the judgement in Tees Esk and Wear Valley v Three Valleys Healthcare and Another [2018] EWHC 1659 (TCC).
  • Supported a number of NHS Trusts in relation to contract variations which need to be implemented as a result of the cessation of GBP London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”).