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Beachcroft’s recent appointment to City Hospital Sunderland NHSFT as one of two full-service providers is a further endorsement of its capabilities in the healthcare sector. Other recent highlights include handling three of the largest Transforming Community Services programmes in the region, and advising a group of 13 GP practices on their proposals for a federated business model. The firm continues to act for various other NHS trusts across a wide range of areas including clinical risk, inquest and employment matters.

Jeffrey Keeble’s team at Ward Hadaway is currently advising NHS Rotherham on the development of joint service facilities for Rawmarsh and Kimberworth, and NHS Doncaster on the development of a new local GP surgery and a healthcare hub. It also advised North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust on its contribution to the Redfern Inquiry.

Eversheds LLP’s Bill Gilliam handles healthcare disputes.

Key highlights for Hempsons included its appointment to the North East Hub (NHS Procurement North East), and defending NHS North of Tyne in its first procurement challenge, brought by a PCT, to the Cooperation and Competition Panel. Janice Barber is the key figure in the team, which was recently joined by Stephanie Green from Ward Hadaway, and also handles commercial property and employment matters.

At Samuel Phillips Law Firm, the well-respected Barry Speker was recently involved in several High Court applications for treatment orders, including an application for consent to conduct open-heart surgery on a baby. Speker also advises on the acquisition of healthcare premises and the preparation of partnership agreements, as well as providing training on medical law and advice on risk management matters.

Amanda Maskery at Sintons LLP specialises in the dental sector, recently advising on a record number of sales, acquisitions and incorporations. Practice head Hilary Parker advised GPs and consultants, including Matrix Orthopaedics, on entrepreneurial projects and partnership agreements.

Crutes Law Firm broke into the sector with the hire of health sector specialist Alison Oliver from Lockharts.

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Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to