The Legal 500

Within Partnership, Hempsons is a third tier firm,

Lynne Abbess’ partnership practice at Hempsons is ‘highly recommended for any individual who is considering setting up a medical partnership’, and is consistently rated for its ‘top-class service’. Her team advises both private and public third-sector clients on a range of contentious and non-contentious partnership matters, and also advises individual solicitors and architects.

Within Crime Crime

Within Professional discipline, Hempsons is a second tier firm,

Hempsons fields an ‘excellent’ team headed by the ‘exceptional’ Chris Morris, whose ‘attention to detail’ is ‘first class’. It is experienced in defending general medical practitioners, dental practitioners and optometrists through all stages of the General Medical Council’s, General Dental Council’s and General Optical Council’s procedures. It also represented the Dental Defence Union in a professional conduct committee case before the General Dental Council.

Within Employment, tier 8

Hempsons advises the NHS nationally on matters including consultants’ and directors’ employment; equal pay; tribunals; and restructuring.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant Leading individuals

Within Clinical negligence: defendant , Hempsons is a first tier firm,

‘A traditional force’ in the market, Hempsons is an ‘amazing firm’ with a clinical negligence team that has a ‘superb level of knowledge and wisdom’. ‘Highly impressive’ practice head Bertie Leigh’s ‘swift analysis of any scenario, and wisdom in how to tackle it effectively, is masterly and a pleasure to observe’. Rachel Kneale is ‘particularly good at reassuring clinicians’, and ‘negotiates effectively’. John Holmes and Nadya Wolferstan ‘provide timely and constructive advice’. Christian Dingwall, Julie Austin, Chris Morris, Zoë Harvey and Janice Barber are also recommended. The team is regularly instructed by the NHSLA, including defending clinical negligence and breach of human rights claims brought by 400 prisoners alleging they were forced into detoxification programmes and given inadequate treatment for withdrawal symptoms.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 4

The ‘positive, calm and knowledgeable’ Ian Hempseed heads the third sector team at Hempsons, which can draw on 16 partners nationally. The team has a strong reputation and gained a number of new clients in 2010, including the Royal British Legion, National Childbirth Trust, and the Royal Commonwealth Society. Other standout practitioners include Fiona Wilson, who has particular expertise in legacies; and Jean Sapeta, who advises NHS trusts, local housing associations and charities on all aspects of employment law.

Within Healthcare, Hempsons is a first tier firm,

Bertie Leigh’s well-respected team at Hempsons remains at the forefront of policy change in the NHS. In 2010 the team completed 14 TCS transactions; represented the Department of Health and the National Patient Safety Agency in the high-profile Mid Staffordshire Public Inquiry; and was appointed to all seven health and social care legal services panels across England. The team now acts for 189 NHS organisations, including over 50% of all PCTs. Christian Dingwall, Jamie Foster, Lynne Abbess and Janice Barber are all recommended.

Within Commercial property Commercial property