Leading Individuals

Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Health in Scotland

CMS

CMS’ health sector practice leverages the firm’s wider capabilities to assist public and private sector clients with the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious healthcare matters. Amanda Methven heads the practice and has particular experience advising on litigation concerning major acute healthcare facilities, while the overall team is best known for its strong track record advising on large-scale projects, including high-value developments, construction projects and associated financing. Christine Worthington, Shona Frame and Ailsa Ritchie are key names in this space.

Practice head(s):

Amanda Methven


Other key lawyers:

Ailsa Ritchie; Christine Worthington; Shona Frame


Testimonials

‘CMS’ strength in depth across multiple disciplines has enabled them to provide a comprehensive, responsive and much valued service that has contributed immensely to our work.’

‘The CMS team has impressed in challenging circumstances with its flexibility, responsiveness and customer focus.’

‘They have an impressive depth of specialist resources to immediately call upon where required.’

Key clients

National Services Scotland (NHS)


NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde (NHS GG)


Unity Trust Bank PLC


Assura PLC


NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde


University of Glasgow


University College of London


Marie Curie


Kadans Science Partner


Work highlights


  • Advising National Services Scotland (NHS), the central procurement body for the NHS in Scotland, on the Future of the SWAN procurement project. SWAN is the Scottish Wide Area Network, a technology solution to connect more than 6,000 public sector sites in Scotland.
  • Advising the University of Glasgow on the development of its Health Innovation Hub, including a nanofabrication centre and a precision medicine living laboratory as well as a technology accelerator hub.
  • Advising NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde on the design and construction of the North East Glasgow hub Health Centre, including advice on the design, financing, construction and maintenance of new health centres at Greenock and Clydebank and new mental health wards at Stobhill.

Brodies LLP

Brodies LLP's healthcare practice demonstrates considerable expertise across the full spectrum of healthcare-related matters with particular strength in handling complex regulatory work and major national inquiries. This leads to regular high-profile instructions, covering contentious and non-contentious issues, from a wide range of clients, including governmental bodies and local authorities. The ‘exceptional’ practice is led by public law specialist Jackie McGuire, who advises clients on various healthcare issues; former co-head David Gallagher (sector-specific regulatory and commercial work) left the firm in April 2023 to work independently. Other key individuals include experienced litigator Christine O’Neill and Stuart Murray, who routinely handles healthcare-related infrastructure work.

Practice head(s):

Jackie McGuire


Other key lawyers:

Stuart Murray; Christine O’Neill; Jamie Dunn; Laura Macmillan; Kate Donachie


Testimonials

‘Having dealt with Brodies LLP on a number of matters, what makes us return to them for health procurement is the exceptional understanding of the specialist segment they are working within and as such, advice relating to our queries or concerns is first class. Not being legal nor procurement law experts means we have to turn to those that are, and they make the complicated legal language easy for everyone to understand, enabling us to digest the information and take the appropriate course of action through an informed process.’

‘Jamie Dunn is outstanding to deal with. Always very clear and articulate in his advice, sees our point of view and helps us navigate the procurement regulations. It may seem small but attention to detail and hitting timelines are key for us, he always delivers and we never have to chase him for follow-up meetings or agreed actions.’

‘A team of very able and focused individuals. The service is outstanding; they are skilled at identifying key issues, diligent in pursuing those (for example by identifying leading experts and instructing expert evidence) and give measured and robust advice to clients about their options.’

‘Laura Macmillan and Kate Donachie are both exceptional in the amount of effort they put into case preparation, in their grasp of detail, both factual and legal, attention to clients’ needs, and in having a common-sense approach to resolving problems.’

‘Strong cross-functional teams of experts to deliver on complex transactions – knowledgeable, balancing risks and commercial requirements – responsive and adaptable to emerging issues.’

‘All individuals have been professional, responsive and experts in their field.’

‘The team acts in a very professional way and has a high level of expertise. Their understanding and recognition of commercial challenges is largely unmatched by other firms therefore solutions are found quickly.’

‘Stuart Murray is our lead contact within Brodies. We have worked with him for a number of years and his good-natured approach coupled with his expertise and sector knowledge means that he is our automatic “go-to” for advice.’

Key clients

Scottish Government – Infected Blood Inquiry


Nord LB, Bank of Ireland, European Investment Bank


University of St Andrews


Professional Standards Authority (PSA)


TC BioPharm Limited


Scottish Qualifications Authority, Scottish Care and others (Covid-19 public inquiries)


Leucid Bio Limited


Robertson Facilities Management Limited


University of Swansea


EquiSisk Consortium


Work highlights


  • Advised Nord LB, Bank of Ireland and European Investment Bank on a €250m community nursing unit PPP project.
  • Instructed by the Scottish Government to act on its behalf in relation to the Infected Blood Inquiry. The inquiry is important to the Scottish Government because it is a core participant, and the inquiry will examine the role of government in setting standards for and overseeing the work of the NHS.
  • Acting for Leucid Bio in drafting and negotiating commercial terms relating to the manufacture and supply of a clinical stage cell engineered cell therapy product for its clinical trials.

Burness Paull LLP

The healthcare team at Burness Paull LLP acts for public and private sector clients, including NHS entities, on transactional, corporate and construction law matters. Chris Horsley and Fiona Nicolson now co-lead the practice following the departure of former practice head Chris Mackay in January 2023. Horsley assists clients with major projects, while the dual qualified Nicolson specialises in English and Scots IP and commercial law. Joanna Fulton routinely handles high-profile medtech product litigation cases, which reflects the team's growing profile in sector-specific product liability.

Practice head(s):

Chris Horsley; Fiona Nicolson


Other key lawyers:

Joanna Fulton


Testimonials

‘What I think stands out about Burness is the excellence of its individuals.’

It is a proud Scottish independent firm and projects a clear message about itself.

‘I work with Joanna Fulton and she is my go-to Scottish lawyer on pharmaceutical and medical device issues. She is bright, considered, hard-working and conscientious and very good at putting a team in place and managing it. She has great contacts with other lawyers, which is key when working on significant litigation. Joanna has also now built up significant experience in medical device claims.’

Key clients

NHS Lothian


Hub West Scotland Limited


American Healthcare REIT, Inc


Smith & Nephew


Hamberley Care Homes


Medtronic


Cello Health


Merck


Sanctuary Group


Impact Healthcare


Work highlights


  • Providing Scots law advice in the £200m acquisition of a UK care home operator.
  • Advising hub West Scotland on multiple health centres in the Greater Glasgow area.
  • Acting for Scottish Enterprise on a range of transactions in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

MacRoberts LLP

MacRoberts LLP is noted for its track record advising NHS bodies, private sector clients and Scottish health boards on healthcare infrastructure projects. Team head and corporate law expert David Wylie routinely takes the lead on financing matters, acquisitions and joint venture agreements in the care home sector, while Rod Munro is well versed in PFI/PPP transactions. Contentious instructions are typically handled by Jennifer McKay and Julie Hamilton.

Practice head(s):

David Wylie


Other key lawyers:

Rod Munro; Jennifer McKay; Julie Hamilton


Key clients

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde


NHS Lothian


Vascutek Limited


The Care Inspectorate


NHS Monklands


NHS Highland


The Renaissance Care Group


The Coalition of Care Providers


HSBC UK Bank plc


Castle View Group/Everyone Health


Work highlights


  • Acting for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in relation to multiple disputes with Multiplex, Currie & Brown and Capita pertaining to the construction of the new Queen Elizabeth University hospital and Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.
  • Acting for NHS Lothian in ongoing disputes with Consort Healthcare pertaining to its performance of the provision of facilities services at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Acted successfully in two adjudications to date, and further disputes are anticipated as the project heads towards handover. This will be the first major Scottish PFI healthcare project to return to the private sector.
  • Advised on a total of 30 sales of a wide variety of dental practices across Scotland to corporate consolidators with a total deal value of circa £70m.

Davidson Chalmers Stewart

Davidson Chalmers Stewart is best known for its general medical and dental practice work with an emphasis on related transactional, corporate and commercial issues, most notably sales and acquisitions. Practice co-head Andy Drane has particular experience advising primary care medical operators on property law and regulatory issues, while co-head Craig Stirling leads on corporate and commercial work.

Practice head(s):

Andy Drane; Craig Stirling


Testimonials

‘The support and camaraderie are important to me. I get on well with the team and we have great teamwork to achieve the ultimate goal.’

‘Their specialisms – very experienced in the healthcare sector and they know the issues that the sector is facing.’

‘Their knowledge and professionalism. Andy Drane in particular is very well known in the sector.’

Key clients

AcalisCare


Clyde Munro Group Limited


Portman Dental Group


Gavin Caves Orthodontics Limited


Goldenacre Dental Practice


Neilston Medical Centre (Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board)


Meadows Dental Clinic


Kelso Medical Practice (Borders Health Board)


Newbyres Medical Group (Lothian Health Board)


Riverside Highland Medical Group


Work highlights


  • Acted for international care home operator AcalisCare on its acquisition of the Balhousie Care Group, Scotland’s largest care home group. This was the largest acquisition of its kind in the residential care sector in Scotland in 2022.
  • Acted for Clyde Munro, who continues to be the most active dental corporate in Scotland, on ten practice acquisitions over the last twelve months.
  • Consulted by approximately two thirds of all GP practices in Scotland requiring assistance with the implementation of the Scottish Government flagship sustainability loan policy.

Thorntons Law LLP

With a particularly strong presence in Dundee, the healthcare team at Thorntons Law LLP advises clients in the care home, veterinary and dental sectors on regulatory issues alongside corporate and transactional matters, and demonstrates particular strength in dental sector work. The practice is jointly led by Michael Royden and Ewan Miller, who are supported by newly promoted partners Kim Campbell and Amy Jones as well as associate Nina SinclairAimee Gibbons is a key contact for sector-specific commercial property work and construction transactions

Practice head(s):

Michael Royden; Ewan Miller


Other key lawyers:

Kim Campbell; Amy Jones; Nina Sinclair; Aimee Gibbons


Testimonials

‘Michael Royden has vast experience of healthcare transactions.’

‘I mainly dealt with Kim Campbell, who led the team and navigated the sale of the practice superbly. Kim was freely available to offer me support and reassurance. HR and employment was dealt with by Amy Jones, who demonstrated excellent subject knowledge, and we were able to complete this area of the sale with minimal issues. Nina Sinclair dealt with property and lease and again communicated very well to ensure a smooth passage in this area.’

‘They were highly knowledgeable in the field of dentistry and very approachable, which I felt was very important as I felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole process of buying my first dental practice. They provided very good advice, kept on top of every step, and the whole process ran very smoothly.’

Key clients

Iriston House Dental Practice Limited


Bellevue Dental


Walter Davidson & Sons Limited


Armitage Dental Group Limited


Aultbea & Gairloch Medical Practice


Abbey Orthodontics


DFB Dentistry Ltd


Campbell & Gibson Limited


Bathgate Smile Centre Limited


121 Dental


Work highlights


  • Advised Walter Davidson & Sons Limited on its acquisition of St Mary’s Pharmacy in Dundee.
  • Advised two individuals on their disposal of Bellevue Dental Practice, one of Edinburgh’s oldest dental practices.
  • Advised Aultbea & Gairloch Medical Practice on changes to their Partnership Agreement.