Firm Profile > Bevan Brittan LLP > Birmingham, England

Clinical negligence: defendant Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP handles the full gamut of clinical negligence matters for NHS trusts. It is representing a number of health providers in various group actions involving single practitioners and organisations where systemic issues have arisen. It also demonstrates specialist expertise in complex Human Rights Act cases involving issues such as ‘Do Not Resuscitate Orders’, among others. Adrian Dagnall and Tim Hodgetts are names to note in Birmingham.

Health and safety Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP, which is particularly recognised for its public sector expertise, excels in advising clients on investigations by the police and other regulatory authorities (such as the Care Quality Commission and the Health and Safety Executive). It also represents clients in inquests. It receives a steady flow of work from NHS Trusts and ambulance trusts, local authorities and some of the country’s largest housing associations and charities. It is also increasingly working for private sector clients. Adam Kendall is the name to note.

Immigration Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP is renowned for its public and third sector focus. Its specialist business immigration team works closely with clients such as universities, local authorities and NHS trusts. The practice is also diversifying into other areas, and is increasingly generating work from housing associations, international corporations, SMEs and charities. Ashley Norman, who is the main partner in Birmingham, has recently been active in a significant number of Brexit-related queries.

Local government Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP is regularly involved in real estate matters such as procurement, transactions, public-private partnerships and redevelopment. Dispute resolution is another area of expertise for the firm, whic, handles cases relating to development projects, lease renewals, professional liability, outsourcing and employment claims. Litigator Adam Kendall, property development lawyer Rebecca Pendlebury and employment associate Ashley Norman are the key members of the local government practice.

Commercial litigation: Birmingham Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP primarily focuses on disputes concerning public infrastructure. The Birmingham-based Adam Kendall heads up the the firm's national litigation team, with sector specialities including central government, healthcare and housing.

Employment Tier 4

In the healthcare sector, Bevan Brittan LLP regularly acts for NHS trusts in challenging employment tribunal claims. The local government arena is another notable area of activity, with the firm being sought out to advise on the exit arrangements for very senior officers. The higher education sector is another strong suit of the practice. Also notable is that the firm has recently won key new clients in other areas, such as travel and leisure. Ashley Norman is a name to note.

Clinical negligence: defendant Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP acts for key clients such as NHS Resolution in test cases such as those involving Do Not Resuscitate Orders, establishing remit of victim status and successfully challenging attempt to establish systematic failure as a ground for recovery. Practice head Joanna Lloyd has a particular emphasis on brain injury cases as well as on group and cohort action. The firm also handles historic abuse claims.

Employment: Bristol Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP  has a standout capability handling employment law matters for clients in the local government arena; its team acts for over 100 local authorities. The scope of the work includes advice on staffing models, senior-level disputes and departures, and redundancy programmes. The healthcare sector is another area of strength; the firm acts for private and third sector clients, as well as NHS providers and commissioners. Sarah Lamont has expertise in restructurings, changes to terms & conditions, redundancy programmes, Employment Tribunal claims, discrimination claims and TUPE . Julian Hoskins is another name to note.

Clinical negligence: claimant

Health Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP’s ‘excellent’ market-leading health practice stands out for its assistance to an impressive number of NHS providers and commissioners, as well as other clients, such as independent health sector organisations and community health partnerships. The team advises on regulation, commissioning, integrated care systems and accountable care organisation, partnering arrangements, PFI variations and disputes, and business development strategies abroad. As head of the commercial health practice, Sharon Renouf handles procurements of outsourced services, and assists trusts with establishing internal subsidiaries and shared service arrangements. Rosemary Jago’s practice focuses on public private partnership (PPP) procurements. Vincent Buscemi advises on primary, community and secondary care, as well as pharmaceutical services.

Healthcare Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP is particularly well known for advising the NHS on a number of innovative income generation commercial activities and international ventures, strategic estates partnerships, and complex corporate, commercial and regulatory matters, among others. Key partners in the sizeable team include Vincent Buscemi and Carly Caton for commercial projects and transactional matters; Sharon Renouf for procurements; and Rosemary Jago for healthcare infrastructure PPPs and  joint venture arrangements. Hannah Taylor is particularly recommended for serious medical treatment cases, deprivation of liberty matters and applications to the Court of Protection.  Recent hire Monica Macheng adds complementary expertise in advising care homes, dental practices, pharmacies, GP surgeries and healthcare professionals.

Local government Tier 1

Local government Tier 1

The Bevan Brittan LLP team is rated by the market for the breadth of its practice; it has worked with over 300 local authorities around the country. It advises on a comprehensive range of work from regeneration and procurement to assisting on new ways to raise finance in order to provide key services. It also assists on local government governance and reorganisations, often in cases where the authority is in financial distress. The team, which is led by David Hutton in Bristol, includes Steven Smith, Virginia Cooper and Judith Barnes, who is based in Leeds. 'Strong negotiator' Nadeem Arshad is also a key member of the team and is especially noted for his expertise in the waste industries.

Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire

Social housing Tier 1

Bevan Brittan LLP's dedicated housing practice focuses on property and development work with a substantial housing association and local authority client base. The group also handles social housing finance and governance work, property sales and resales, and housing management issues. Richard Stirk leads the Leeds-based security, property development and sales team alongside Julie Cowan-Clark, who focuses on housing association clients. Hugo Stephens is a key contact for finance work, and John Cox handles housing management work.

Administrative and public law Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP has a strong presence in the healthcare field of public law, with a number of key NHS bodies and clinical commissioning groups counted on the client list. Typical instructions in this field include defending clients against mistreatment claims by patients (including a recent case concerning a trans patient in Broadmoor Hospital) and challenges to planning and funding decisions, and advisory work concerning policy, decision making and the statutory remit of ombudsman clients. Practice head Virginia Cooper and Olivia Carter also have expertise in representing both claimants and defendants in judicial review challenges to procurement decisions. Other public bodies on the client list include local authorities, policing commissioners and councils. Regular mandates include defending challenges to redevelopment plans, restitution claims pursuant to the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 and alleged breaches of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Clinical negligence: defendant Tier 2

The clinical risk team at Bevan Brittan LLP has a strong track record in multi-party actions, as well as providing specialist support to clients on quantum issues. The NHS and an increasing number of private medical malpractice insurers and healthcare providers instruct the team, which has experience across the complete range of complex and high-value cases resulting from the provision of medical care. Department head Joanne Easterbrook's expertise covers group actions and claims arising out of fertility treatment; while cases involving the Human Rights Act and mental health are some of Julie Charlton's special areas of interest. Standout work saw Dan Morris lead advice to the defendants in the important public policy case of XX v Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, concerning the recoverability of damages for commercial surrogacy costs in California.

Commercial property: Bristol Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP is a first port of call for many housing associations, health organisations and local authorities in complex development and regeneration projects. It also generates work from private sector entities. The team is led by Mark Calverley, who has an outstanding track record advising on major regeneration and development projects nationwide. Illustrative of its excellent reputation, the group advises on some of the biggest disposals and redevelopments of hospital sites in London. Another key figure in the team is Alison Buckingham, who leads the social housing practice in the South West region. Rob Harrison is noted for his work in the health property space.

Construction Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP is widely recognised for its work for public sector clients, and it advises a number of local authorities on construction-related issues. It also has a growing private sector client base, which turns to the firm for advice on complex projects. The firm's construction work spans a broad cross-section of areas, including urban regeneration, healthcare, urban regeneration, education, social housing, waste and energy projects. Louise Robling, who heads up the department in Bristol, has expertise in complex private finance initiative (PFI) contracts, and advises on related renegotiations and disputes. Jonathan Turner is knowledgeable about construction issues in the housing sector. Senior associate Jessica Evans moved to Burges Salmon LLP.

Health Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP is a key name for NHS clients, and regularly acts for NHS trusts, public healthcare providers and government departments as well as private sector organisations. The practice is particularly active in healthcare-related property transactions and handles a wide range of patient matters including inquests, investigations and prosecutions. Michael Boyd and James Atkins jointly lead the group; Boyd focuses on commercial, capital and governance issues, and Atkins leads the healthcare property team.

Health and safety Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP predominantly acts for public sector clients, including NHS trusts, ambulance trusts, local authorities and housing associations. Simon Lindsay is the key name in the Bristol office.

Local government Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP handles the full range of local government work including governance issues, reorganisations, property matters and employment issues. Team head Judith Barnes also leads the firm's national governance group and Julie Cowan-Clark handles property developments for local authorities and housing associations. The practice was recently expanded with the hire of litigator Judith Hopper, who joined as a partner from DLA Piper UK LLP.

Personal injury: defendant Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP handles cases involving fractures as well as spinal, head and shoulder injuries arising from road traffic and workplace accidents. The practice is also experienced in handling public liability and contractual indemnity claims. Practice head Paul Taverner also advises on claims arising from diseases and accidents in the construction sector, which includes illnesses caused by dangerous building materials such as asbestos.

Project finance and PFI Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP provides advice on new PPP projects and delivery models, as well as on PFI and PPP variations, refinancing and disputes. The team has recognised expertise in the field of waste management, which is an area of specialism for department head Nadeem Arshad. Other sectors of focus include energy, health, education, leisure, rail, property regeneration and university accommodation. On the private sector side, the team acts for clients such as project developers, sub-contractors, and fund managers. It also generates work from public sector entities, such as local authorities, NHS trusts and government agencies.

Property litigation Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP’s practice is led nationally by Bristol-based Steve Eccles. Its team specialises in acting for public sector organisations in fields such as health, local government and social housing. Areas of expertise include contentious matters involving telecoms masts, commercial landlord and tenant disputes, development risk advice, housing litigation and dilapidations disputes.

Social housing Tier 2

Bevan Brittan LLP combines skillsets across multiple disciplines to provide a comprehensive range of services. Its acts for over 70 housing associations and also generates work from local authorities, developers and funders. The firm is well-known for its strengths in property and development work, which includes assisting housing associations with site acquisitions (for development) and joint ventures. It also has a strong capability in social housing corporate and finance matters; areas of expertise in this space include bond finance, development finance, corporate acquisitions and disposals and housing association mergers. Elsewhere, the firm excels in construction, planning and housing management. Alison Buckingham, who leads the social housing team in the South West, is the key contact among housing providers for advice on high-value and complex development schemes. Jonathan Turner is the overall head of the housing group nationally.

Commercial litigation: Bristol Tier 3

Bevan Brittan LLP is best known for handling disputes arising from the delivery of public infrastructure, which encompasses the IT, technology and energy issues associated with such projects. Its key clients include healthcare sector manufacturers, large purchasers of outsourcing services and energy and waste companies. Department head Emily Heard is recognised for her expertise in procurement litigation and judicial review.

Court of protection Tier 3

Bevan Brittan LLP operates nationally out of its four offices and advises mental health, social and community care providers on mental capacity and other key issues such as best interest cases. The team provides specialist Court of Protection advice with considerable experience on mental capacity and health issues as well as human rights and equality issues. It frequently advises on significant medical treatment cases ranging from disputes over end-of-life care through to withdrawal of treatment for neonates and children. Joanne Easterbrook, Stuart Marchant, Simon Lindsay, newly promoted partner Hannah Taylor and Julia Jones are the names to note.

Energy Tier 3

Bevan Brittan LLP's Bristol office leads the firm's national energy practice, which has standout capabilities in energy-from-waste, energy innovation and renewable energy. District energy is another bedrock of the firm's work. The client base is varied and includes generation plants as well as property developers, banks and equity funders, and public sector organisations. Nadeem Arshad, who heads up the practice, has a strong track-record acting for public and private sector clients. Nathan Bradberry’s practice focuses on infrastructure projects in the energy, environment and waste sectors.

Planning Tier 3

Bevan Brittan LLP acts for a growing client base of housing associations, health organisations and local authorities. Led by practice head Kathryn Lawrance, the team focuses on non-contentious work, which includes advising clients on complex development and regeneration projects (often involving joint venture structures). Although the group is based in Bristol, it regularly operates in all four of the firm's offices nationwide.

Professional discipline Tier 3

Bevan Brittan LLP's practice includes advising professional regulatory bodies in relation to the Bar Standards Board, SRA, ARB, Insolvency Practitioners Association and the FRC. It has led numerous inquiries and investigations into the conduct of local authority officers and councillors. Birmingham-based Adam Kendall heads the litigation, advisory and regulatory department; and Virginia Cooper in London acts for a large number of public bodies, including local authorities, regulators, NHS Trusts and Ombudsmen. London’s Amy Tschobotko is a key senior associate.

Commercial property: development Tier 4

At Bevan Brittan LLP, Mark Calverley heads the team which possesses specialist expertise in representing public bodies, most notably the NHS, as well as local government on a broad range of development and regeneration projects across London and the UK. In a standout case highlight, the group has been advising the London Borough of Ealing in relation to the £1bn Southall Gateway mixed-use development which is set to create 4,000 new homes. Numerous registered providers of social housing also regularly engage the practice which has recently been bolstered through the arrivals of Wendy Wilks and Fiona McDonald from Dentons.

Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP has a growing real estate team covering both the private and public sectors. The firm's specialisms include advising secured lending clients,  as well as private sector commercial developers, pension schemes, charities, industrial companies and education clients. Deborah Powell and Lyndon Campbell are two key partners who lead the private sector work, while Julie Cowan-Clark, who plays an important role in the firm's work in the social housing and residential development spheres, is also recommended.

Health and safety Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP has a strong reputation in the public sector and is a popular choice for NHS trusts and housing associations. Stuart Marchant is one of three practice heads and primarily focuses on health and social care issues. Fellow practice head Adam Kendall, who is based in Birmingham, is an expert in advising on health and safety issues involving healthcare and housing. Also leading the team is Bristol-based Hannah Taylor, who predominantly works on health and safety matters concerning mental health.

Infrastructure (including PFI and PPP) Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP is well versed in assisting clients from the public and private sector alike and has particular industry expertise in waste, energy, health and property regeneration infrastructure. The team's workload mostly comprises advising on infrastructure/ PPP projects and delivery models as well as advising on the contract management of these and related disputes matters.  Practice head Nadeem Arshad is regularly instructed by international contractors and project developers in relation to his experience in the waste and energy sectors. Sharon Renouf is the firm's health PFI/PPP expert, and Louise Robling is the key contact for contentious matters. The team is based in Bristol.

Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP 's national power practice, which is led from the firm's Bristol base, handles power and energy mandates across England, Scotland and Wales. The group advises clients on developing and financing assets as well as on a broad range of legal issues including planning, property, construction, corporate, regulatory, funding and disputes issues. Nadeem Arshad s group has a strong track record on regulatory work, as well as the retail sector.

Social housing: finance Tier 4

In 2018, Bevan Brittan LLP hired a team of social housing lawyers from Dentons, which included Wendy Wilks and senior associate Fiona McDonald. Their arrivals have added particular depth to the firm's offering in property charging matters, with Richard Stirk and Julie Cowan-Clark also having experience of this type of work. Elsewhere, the firm's recent mandates included the structuring and management of loans to local authority/housing association joint ventures, loan refinancings, derivatives transactions, public bond issues and development finance matters. In 2018, Stirk worked with Hugo Stephens and David Moore to assist Together Housing Group with negotiating the refinancing of a £210m loan facility with Dexia and increase of facilities from four other lenders. The firm also acted for Ledden Estates Limited on the provision of a £1.8m loan from the Homes and Community Agency to build new homes for sale. Jonathan Turner is another notable individual.

Social housing: local authorities and registered providers Tier 4

Bevan Brittan LLP's social housing practice is gaining momentum, with the firm strengthening its offering in 2018 by hiring Wendy Wilks and senior associate Fiona McDonald from Dentons. In addition, Sarah Greenhalgh joined the Birmingham office from Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP and Kate O’Brien was promoted to senior associate. The firm has also picked up a string of new clients, including London & Quadrant Housing Trust, Home Group and Network Homes. It acts for more than 70 housing associations, and also advises local authorities in London and further afield throughout England. The London practice is particularly well known for its strengths in property and development, corporate and finance, and housing management. In addition, the firm is also able to offer clients the expertise of practitioners who are knowledgeable in niche areas, such as social housing insurance, fraud, health and safety, and procurement. Steven Smith, Andrew Shaw and David Wardle are advising London Borough of Ealing on its £1bn Southall Gateway mixed-use development, which is set to create 4,000 new homes and significant new infrastructure. In 2018, Chris Harper, senior associate Andrew Spicer, and others assisted PFP Capital (part of the Places for People Housing Group) with the acquisition of the national assets of the Igloo Regeneration Fund (managed by Aviva Investors), which includes a number of large ongoing developments for both social and private housing, and other land for future residential development. Jonathan Turner is the overall head of the social housing practice. Neil Brand, Matthew Waters and planning head Kathryn Lawrance are also recommended.

Contruction: non-contentious Tier 5

Bevan Brittan LLP , which has a particular specialism in advising public sector clients, also works with business across the urban regeneration, housing and waste-from-energy sectors. The practice is led by Andrew Tobin, whose notable recent work has included advising the Department for Education on the implementation of a construction framework delivering £8bn worth of school building projects. Jonathan Turner is a specialist in housing-led regeneration, while Pippa Beesley focuses on projects in the development and social housing markets.

Education: schools Tier 5

Bevan Brittan LLP is experienced in handling large construction and development projects for its education sector clients. Led by head of commercial and infrastructure Andrew Tobin, the team undertakes advisory work for schools, academies, colleges and universities. Bristol-based David Hutton has experience in academy conversions and development projects.

Employment: employers Tier 6

Jodie Sinclair leads the employment practice at Bevan Brittan LLP, which acts for an extensive list of healthcare employers in the private sector, third sector and NHS spheres. The team has recently advised on the employment aspects of complex mergers of healthcare bodies, the provision of medical consultants in private patient units, TUPE consultations and workforce reorganisations. Operational advice typically involves senior executive conduct and performance issues, workforce implications of CQC inspections, responding to whistleblower complaints and other highly sensitive internal investigations. The team often represents clients in the Employment Tribunal and upper courts on disputes involving unfair dismissal claims, discrimination claims and breach of contract disputes.

Commercial litigation