Health in West Midlands

Capsticks LLP

A team of the ‘highest calibre’, Capsticks LLP fields practitioners who are ‘leaders in the healthcare sector’. It undertakes a substantial array of matters in the healthcare field, ranging from new hospital developments to inquests and clinical negligence claims, as well as corporate acquisitions and disposals. The team is led by Henry Matveieff, who possesses vast experience regarding real estate matters, with the capacity to handle multi-site rationalisations, hospital redevelopments and pharmacy work, among other areas. Strengthening the practice is Amy Holden, who has experience of all aspects of healthcare law, including best interest decisions around medical treatment and treatment withdrawal, while Charlotte Rathbone routinely handles claims that involve severe neurological injuries and is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Practice head(s):

Henry Matveieff


Other key lawyers:

Amy Holden; Charlotte Rathbone


Testimonials

‘Leaders in health sector work.’

‘My experience with Capsticks has been very positive. They are organised, responsive and on top of their cases. I have found the Capsticks solicitors to be calm under pressure, and able to work in a pragmatic and effective manner to secure the best outcome for the client.’

‘Specialist practitioners of the highest calibre.’

‘They really are true experts in this field. They are also approachable, personable and down to earth, which means that they really strike strong client relationships and rapport with witnesses in the litigation (and often in extremely difficult cases).’

‘What this team don’t know about healthcare isn’t worth knowing… They provide pragmatic, proportionate, responsive reassuring support.’

‘Capsticks are different, they combine expertise in the health sector with a bespoke approach and their client care is genuine.’

‘Each member of the team is known to me – I value their willingness to provide client support, not simply impart legal advice.’

‘There is always good communication between the team working on a particular case, with both partners and more junior members working together seamlessly. They work well with clients and listen to and act upon advice given.’

Key clients

Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust


NHS England


Worcester Acute Hospitals NHS Trust


NHS Resolution


Department of Health and Social Care


Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust


Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust


Arden & GEM CSU


The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust


Leicester Partnership NHS Trust


West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust


Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB


General Dental Council


Nursing and Midwifery Council


Milton Keynes University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust


Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust


GenesisCare


Derby and Derbyshire ICB


Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust


Gloucester Health and Care NHS Trust


Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust


University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust


Work highlights


  • Advising Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in relation to a £700m redevelopment of its hospital as part of the Government’s flagship New Hospital Programme.
  • Advising NHS Resolution and the Trust in connection with a claim for fundamental dishonesty. The underlying claim related to an alleged delay in diagnosis and treatment of cauda equina syndrome, causing a severe restriction in mobility. Successfully defended the multi-million pound claim and no damages were paid.
  • Advising NHS England on the parameters for spending £900m allocated as part of the Estates and Transformation Fund, the biggest public sector investment in GP premises for the past 20 years, and in particular, the provisions of financial grants to GPs to improve their surgery premises and develop new surgery premises.

Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP’s healthcare practice acts for a broad range of clients, including, but not limited to, national bodies, commissioners and care homes. The team is run by Jill Mason, who has considerable experience of advising public and private sector providers on various healthcare matters, such as inquests and judicial review. Jog Hundle advises on various issues, ranging from disputes with medical staff and senior managers, to whistleblowing, while Neil Ward is experienced in Court of Protection applications for serious medical treatment cases, among other areas. Julian Smith handles strategic acquisition, disposal and joint venture projects, while Helen Tringham’s capabilities include contentious data protection matters.

Practice head(s):

Jill Mason


Other key lawyers:

Jog Hundle; Neil Ward; Helen Tringham; Julian Smith


Testimonials

‘Broad breadth of traditional experience across the NHS, as well as working on and advising independent investigations.’

‘There are a limited number of firms who have this additional actual experience rather than theoretical knowledge base.’

‘The partners are well networked and facilitate learning and development opportunities for their clients.’

‘Jill Mason has a healthy balance of positivity and can-do attitude.’

‘Very responsive and excellent at pointing the right talent at the problem.’

‘Thorough and competent and create confidence with us as customers.’

‘They work hard to understand our business and the sorts of niche issues we face. This means that even if we haven’t been in regular contact, we can get to the point quickly.’

‘A cohesive team with a clear and shared ethos who communicate about cases with each other, so there is always someone who can help you if the solicitor you want is not available.’

Key clients

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust


Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board


Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust


BMA Law


Cleveland Clinic


NHS England


The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust


Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust


Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust


Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust


Elysium Healthcare


South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust


Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust


West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust


Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust


University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust


South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust


Medipass


NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board


NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care|Board


NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board


South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust


Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust


NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board


NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board


Work highlights


  • Supporting the UK Health Security Agency as one of the Core Participants in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.
  • Advising NHS England in connection with the procurement and regulatory permissibility of digital providers being appointed under the Digital First Online Consultation and Video Consultation.
  • Supporting NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board on a high-profile inquest into the tragic death of a young man following receipt of the Astra Zeneca vaccination.

Bevan Brittan LLP

A ‘responsive and pragmatic’ team, Bevan Brittan LLP‘s healthcare practice has particular expertise regarding health infrastructure transactions and PFI schemes. Furthermore, the team covers matters involving patient safety, estates developments and workforce issues for a range of clients. Key contact Monica Macheng handles corporate, investment and transactional matters, with vast experience in M&A, and wider legal issues in independent health and social care. Julia Jones, who was promoted to partner in May 2022, strengthens the practice with her experience of serious medical treatment cases in the Court of Protection, Court of Appeal and those which have been referred to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), while senior associate Peter Francis is experienced in handling acquisitions and disposals.

Practice head(s):

Sharon Renouf (Bristol); Vincent Buscemi (Bristol/London)


Other key lawyers:

Monica Macheng; Julia Jones; Peter Francis


Testimonials

‘The team are responsive, pragmatic, easy to get hold of and nice to work with.’

Key clients

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust


Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust


Lone Star Europe Acquisitions Limited


Barts Health NHS Trust


NHS Property Services Limited


Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust


King Edward VII Hospital (KEVII)


Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust


University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust


The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust


Work highlights


  • Acting for Eleanor Healthcare in connection with the purchase of a care home for £19m, including associated banking and real estate work.
  • Advising Anavo Capital on its partnership with Octopus Real Estate for the development & operation of elderly care homes across the UK and on multiple development schemes with a total GDV of £100m+.
  • Advising University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust on the redevelopment of the Outwoods site, including procurement and contractual arrangements with private sector providers for the delivery of a health care campus, including new clinical and non-clinical facilities, new build and refurbishment works.

Browne Jacobson LLP

Handling matters for a broad array of clients, Browne Jacobson LLP‘s ‘well-networked, highly knowledgeable, and respected’ healthcare team is experienced in numerous areas, including clinical negligence, NHS policy and health-tech matters. The team is jointly spearheaded by the ‘strong but approachable’ Clare Auty, who has notable strength in relation to the disposal and acquisition of health and social care businesses, advising health-tech start-ups and a number of other clients, and Jacqui Atkinson, who is particularly experienced in regulatory issues pertaining to the NHS. Further bolstering the team is Jonathan Hayden, who advises clients on commercial contracts and projects, and Mark Barnett, who brings considerable litigation experience to the team and often handles cases against mental health providers. Sarah White is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Jacqui Atkinson; Clare Auty


Other key lawyers:

Jonathan Hayden; Mark Barnett; Sarah White


Testimonials

‘Very strong in the healthcare sector, across both public and private arenas, allowing good collaboration between providers. Very commercial in their approach.’

‘Very experienced healthcare practitioners. Very commercially focused.’

‘Good cross-section of expertise, especially regarding NHS legislation and contracting.’

‘Good level of expertise of individuals and responsiveness to the client.’

‘Clare Auty is simply amazing. Deep practical experience in healthcare and health tech agreements of various kinds, which has been central to our work. We couldn’t have done it without them.’

‘This team is deeply embedded in its sector – well-networked, highly knowledgeable, and respected. They are also a very pleasant group of people to work with on a personal basis.’

‘Clare Auty is very knowledgeable about the sector and key developments in the sector, as well as all the salient points of law. She takes a practical approach and understands our requirements well to provide a good service.’

‘Clare Auty has worked in-house in the past, which provides her with some unusual experience, insight, and a good network.’

Key clients

Birmingham & Solihull ICB


East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust


Lincolnshire ICB


Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust


Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust


University Hospitals of Derby & Burton NHS Foundation Trust


University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust


University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust


Towerview Healthcare Group


Avery Healthcare Group


Nuffield Health


Alliance Medical


Sygnature Discovery


St Andrews Healthcare


General Practice Alliance


Keys Group UK


Work highlights


  • Advising the Welsh Government Primary Care Health Division on the reform of the provision of primary care health services in Wales.
  • Representing EPUT during the independent inquiry into in-patient mental health deaths in Essex between 2000 and 2020.

Pinsent Masons LLP

A firm that handles matters with ‘calmness and wisdom’, Pinsent Masons LLP offers a specialist regulatory due diligence product, as well as advising on matters that include, but are not limited to, PPP/PFI hospitals, joint ventures and dental practice refinancings. Practice head Joanne Ellis possesses significant expertise in the social care, fertility and dental fields, and also works to improve the accessibility of affordable healthcare. Tom Eastwood strengthens the practice with considerable transactional experience, while David Doogan’s involvement in medtech, elderly care and supported living matters adds further depth to the team.

Practice head(s):

Joanne Ellis


Other key lawyers:

Tom Eastwood; David Doogan


Testimonials

‘A very effective, capable team who took us through an extremely challenging process with calmness and wisdom.’

‘I felt they had our best interests at heart, were very conscious of our costs, and they felt very much like part of our team.’

‘The team is very experienced, has depth to support broadly on the preparation phase for a divestment, is capable of running with the transaction quite independently and engages in both technical and pragmatic discussions equally.’

Key clients

Exemplar Healthcare


Porthaven Properties No.3 Limited


Rodericks Dental


Nutratech Limited


Conegate Limited and Premium Care Group


embla ApS


Keys Group Holdings Limited


Elevation Advisors


Work highlights


  • Advised the shareholders of Nutratech Limited on the sale of a majority interest to Immediate Media Company London Limited.
  • Acting for a market-leading specialist care operator, Exemplar Healthcare, on its development pipeline. The work in the last 12 months has included the acquisition of existing homes in Liverpool, Leicester and Sunderland for refurbishment/redevelopment, and 11 development sites to be acquired subject to planning across the Midlands and the North of England.
  • Advised Rodericks Dental Limited on the acquisition of Eastgate Dental Centre Limited and Eastgate Orthodontics Limited; and the acquisition of NAMTA Limited; as well as acting for the management team on the sale of the business to CapVest (a Private Equity investment fund).

Weightmans LLP

Weightmans LLP, a firm that goes ‘above and beyond for clients’, undertakes work relating to public inquiries and strategic, regulatory and construction issues in the healthcare sector. Its client roster includes NHS providers, emergency services and local authorities. Mike Clifford possesses strength in handling corporate and commercial matters for healthcare organisations, while Jill Weston joined the team from Mills & Reeve LLP in October 2022, bringing with her experience in personal health budgets, for both adults and young children, as well as in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act. Adding further strength to the team is the ‘invaluable’ Jasmine Armstrong, whose broad experience encompasses clinical negligence, discrimination and inquests, among other areas. Other key practitioners include Deborah Bannister, Daniel Barchet (who joined the practice from Harrison Clark Rickerbys in December 2022),  Sarah Jane Knight, Sarah Hopwood and Tony Yeaman.

Practice head(s):

Mike Clifford; Deborah Bannister; Jasmine Armstrong; Jill Weston; Daniel Barchet; Sarah Knight; Sarah Hopwood; Tony Yeaman


Testimonials

‘The service received from Weightmans is courteous, professional and always on point. The Weightmans team are able to provide broad support across all areas of need, providing support and timely advice to inform important decisions.’

‘Jasmine Armstrong has excellent knowledge and experience. Jasmine is a first point of contact and is invaluable in connecting me to the right member of the wider team.

‘Sarah Knight is very knowledgeable, sensible and delivers well-considered views and advice appropriate to the client.

‘Sarah Hopwood is an excellent lawyer who is willing to work with the client to find the right solution, not just offer advice.’

‘I have been very happy with Weightmans, they have provided excellent legal advice and a professional service. They also go above and beyond for clients, including he training opportunities they provide.’

‘Weightmans have been extremely responsive. I have on multiple occasions contacted them and been assigned someone to help within a matter of an hour. As a client you feel valued.’

Key clients

Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust


Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital NHS FT


University Hospitals of Birmingham NHS FT


University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS FT


Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHST


Integra Supported Housing


Norse Care


Hereford and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS T


Weight to Go Ltd


Community Integrated Care


Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust


Work highlights


  • Advised a hospital regarding a best interest case involving a patient with a rare terminal neuro degenerative condition required invasive treatment to maintain their airway. Following consideration of factual evidence from family members, clinical staff together with expert opinion the Court made the declaration sought.
  • Advised upon a £multi-million acquisition of Rodericks Dental Group, one of the UK’s biggest providers of dental care. Together with the acquisition of Dental Partners the combined group is the UK’s 3rd largest dental provider group. Advising on the material sale and purchase documentation, management warranty deed and disclosure schedules.
  • Advised on an NHS trust merger under Schedule 4 of the NHS Act 2006, undertaking substantial due diligence and advising on deal critical UK care regulatory and HSE regulatory aspects of the proposed acquisition.