Next Generation Partners

Health in North

DAC Beachcroft LLP

DAC Beachcroft LLP’s team of Newcastle-based specialists provides NHS and independent sector clients with a full range of support, from regulatory, commercial and employment issues, to real estate, litigation and public law. Gill Weatherill is notable for her work in the mental health care space, large-scale healthcare projects and representing clients in high profile proceedings. Weatherill leads the practice together with Sarah George, an employment lawyer who joined the partner ranks in May 2021. Katherine Calder covers public procurement matters while Anna Hart focuses on civil and criminal regulatory compliance issues, particularly regulatory enforcement actions.

Practice head(s):

Gill Weatherill; Sarah George

Other key lawyers:

Katherine Calder; Anna Hart; Louise Watson-Jones

Testimonials

‘Their strengths lie in the knowledge they have which they impart in a manner that does not baffle the clinician and brings the two separate worlds together of law and clinical practice, which is no mean feat.

‘Very sound advice, both technical and “real world likelihood” in terms of risk management in particular.

‘Superb personal values which marry with our own.’

Key clients

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Elysium Healthcare

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

NHS England/Improvement

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

North West Boroughs NHS Foundation Trust

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

City Hospitals Independent Enterprises Ltd

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

The Priory Group

Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

NHS Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

QE Facilities Ltd

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

Greensleeves

Elysium

Home Group

Cygnet Health Care

Barchester Healthcare

Department of Health and Social Care

Work highlights

  • Supported a mental health Trust in response to an urgent High Court application by a Local Authority attempting to compel the Trust to detain a child in hospital contrary to the clinical view that such detention was legally and clinically inappropriate.The High Court decision was that it had no power to oblige the Trust to detain the child in hospital.
  • Assisted Home Group together with other national and local charities who provide mental health services in their alliance contracting and in assessing options for risk sharing and governance. This included working with the Providers on the negotiations with the Commissioner and drafting the Alliance Agreement as well as advising on and drafting the Provider Collaboration Agreement.
  • Advised on the employment law and policy issues arising from the transfer of PHE from the Department of Health and Social Care to NHS England and Improvement. This included consideration of the implications of both TUPE and the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector for different groups of transferring staff.

Hempsons

With a client list that includes numerous NHS bodies, major health and care charities, as well as private sector health and care providers, the team at Hempsons ably supports a range of clients, bringing its multi-disciplinary expertise to bear. Head of the Newcastle-based team Crispin Pettifer supports clients with development projects and the management of their estates and facilities. Alison Oliver is an ‘expert in her field’ and key lawyer in primary care. Stephen Maratos focuses on contentious work, particularly clinical negligence claims. This side of the practice has been strengthened by new hire Gillian Muir who joined the team from Ward Hadaway LLP in September 2021.

Practice head(s):

Crispin Pettifer

Other key lawyers:

Stephen Maratos; Alison Oliver; Gillian Muir; Philippa Doyle

Testimonials

‘Expert knowledge and experience in Primary Care including GP practices and Dental practices.’

‘Alison Oliver has significant expertise in dealing with dentists and GPs in relation to partnership agreements, partnership disputes and Primary Care Network agreements.’

‘Hempsons industry specific knowledge of the healthcare sector is impossible to match. Their ability to unpick and offer comprehensive, pragmatic advice and solutions in the generally opaque area of Primary Care Networks sets them head and shoulders above other firms.’

Key clients

Collaborative Procurement Partnership LLP (CPP)

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Primary Care Sheffield (PCS)

NHS East Lancashire CCG

The Muswell Hill Practice

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Work highlights

    Sintons LLP

    Praised for its ‘outstanding’ support of clients, the Newcastle-based team at Sintons LLP is active on leading edge matters, be it advising on a collaboration for the provision of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, supporting the development of a national innovator portal, or advising on the provision of a digital outpatient service. Clients are not only NHS trusts and public sector bodies but also GP practices, dental practices and pharmacies. Amanda Maskery leads the practice with expertise in corporate and commercial issues in the healthcare sector. Victoria Armstrong  handles property issues, particularly for NHS Trusts across the country while senior associate Chloe Dinsdale focuses on commercial contracts in the public sector.

    Practice head(s):

    Amanda Maskery

    Other key lawyers:

    Victoria Armstrong; Karen Simms; Kathryn Riddell; Chloe Dinsdale

    Testimonials

    ‘I have a challenging time trying to push through the sale of the practice and Sintons have been on hand to help.I have been able to e mail with prompt replies coupled with great use of technology to conduct meetings to discuss the process. The zoom meetings have been particular useful to engage with the partners and discuss the selling of the practice. They are very knowledgeable regarding the dental sector and seem to know the solutions to hurdles which have been encountered. They seem to be ahead of the game when compared to the purchasers legal team which is a great strength of the team.’

    ‘Karen Simms has been my point of contact and she has been fantastic throughout the process. She has fantastic communication and organisational skills which assures me that my part of the process is being dealt with correctly and in an efficient manner. E-mails are replied to promptly with good solutions to any issues. I would not hesitate to recommend Karen for any dental legal work.’

    ‘I have worked with a handful of firms on contractual matters over several years and Sintons LLP stands out for numerous reasons. The engagement from the start, the approach that is taken and the ongoing support provided is outstanding. The particular project we worked on was multifaceted and the complexities were embraced by the Senior Associate with enthusiasm, hard work and a real dedication to achieve the right outcome for our organisation. When advice from other colleagues was required, they too provided guidance to our organisation in the same professional, timely and focused manner as our main legal contact at Sintons LLP.’

    ‘Chloe Dinsdale, Senior Associate at Sintons LLP was our main contact throughout a lengthy and complex project lasting several months. It was an absolute pleasure working with Chloe, who approached the project from the start with unrelenting enthusiasm and a consistent friendliness which immediately resulted in an excellent foundation for our project. Chloe always responded to queries, no matter how small, in a timely manner and ensured she was available to attend meetings, on occasion with very little notice. There was also a huge time difference due to the fact Chloe was based abroad, however this never hindered Chloe’s availability or her willingness to join meetings and assist with queries. Even in the early hours, Chloe would attend meetings with both her diligent and conscientious work ethic as well as a sense of humour! Chloe’s advice was always consistent, dependable and her level-headedness was welcomed during the process. Above all, the project was approached with the correct balance, resulting in client trust and faith in the right result being achieved.’

    Key clients

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Medway NHS Foundation Trust

    North East Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust (“NEAS”)

    QE Facilities Limited

    Intrahealth Limited

    The Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria (“AHSN”)

    Community Based Care Health Limited (GP Federation)

    Matrix Health Services UK Limited

    NEAS Unified Solutions Limited

    Healthcall Solutions Limited

    The Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (“SCST”)

    Work highlights

    • Advising the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria on the National Innovator Portal with NHS England.
    • Advised Community Based Care Health Limited on the provision of the Covid 19 Vaccination Programme 2020/21.
    • Advised Intrahealth Limited on a merger with a GP Partnership.

    Ward Hadaway LLP

    Ward Hadaway LLP’s Newcastle-based team acts for NHS foundation trust clients and healthcare organisations across the UK. The practice includes advice on PFI schemes, support with procurement challenges, employment tribunal claims as well as safeguarding issues. Nicola Richardson is head of the health and regulatory department, and is experienced in acting on behalf of NHS clients and with inquests. Key lawyer Melanie Pears is praised as ‘the doyenne of PFI and related public health legal disputes’. Stuart Craig handles employment healthcare matters while Saji Bratch covers public sector property transactions. Gillian Muir  departed for Hempsons in September 2021.

    Other key lawyers:

    Nicola Richardson; Melanie Pears; Stuart Craig; Saji Bratch

    Testimonials

    ‘Excellent lawyers who are also very down to earth’

    ‘The most knowledgeable on public health of any group of practitioners’

    ‘Melanie Pears is, par excellence, the doyenne of PFI and related public health legal disputes.’

    ‘Clear and understandable advice always accessible Stuart Craig’

     

    Key clients

    Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

    Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

    Royal Cornwall NHS Trust

    North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust

    Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

    Sunderland & South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

    County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

    Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust

    North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

    The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust

    Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

    Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

    Work highlights