Legal500

Hempsons

HEMPSONS HOUSE, 40 VILLIERS STREET, LONDON, WC2N 6NJ, ENGLAND

Tel:: Work 020 7839 0278
Fax:: Fax 020 7839 8212
DX:: 138411 CHARING CROSS-1

Web:: www.hempsons.co.uk
Email:

Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester, London, Harrogate

What we say about the firm's legal practice in London

Corporate and commercial

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.

Crime, fraud and licensing

Within Crime Crime

Dispute resolution

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.

Human resources

Within Employment, tier 8

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

Insurance

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.

Private client

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.

Public sector

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.

Real estate

Within Commercial property Commercial property

Further information on Hempsons

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Hempsons in other jurisdictions.

London

Offices in London

North

Offices in Newcastle upon Tyne

North West

Offices in Manchester

Yorkshire and the Humber

Offices in Harrogate

Search News and Articles

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:

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP
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.

- Penningtons Solicitors LLP