Praised for its ‘deep understanding of the public sector landscape’, Burges Salmon LLP’s cross-departmental healthcare practice advises on public inquiries and sector-related procurement, dispute resolution, contractual, real estate, and regulatory matters. The Bristol-based practice is led by Patrick Parkin, recognised for his considerable experience advising the NHS, healthcare and healthtech businesses on contracts, public procurement and regulation. Richard Binns acts for bidders and purchasing authorities on procurement and commercial disputes, while Rory Trust advises on contract, procurement, and regulatory aspects of major projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Burges Salmon are a great team to work with. They are capable, friendly and efficient, and have extensive knowledge on a huge range of subjects. Work is always turned around promptly, with clear advice and thought put into the specific needs of the business.’
‘Patrick Parkin and Rory Trust are great. Both are always willing to help, are friendly, and are clear communicators. Advice is always accurate and useful, and everyone I have spoken with at Burges Salmon has been extremely knowledgeable. It is clear the team keeps up to date on recent developments and learning, and are willing to summarise and share their knowledge for our benefit.’
‘They have a broad breadth and depth of knowledge across healthcare and complementary areas such as procurement, innovation and IP, data protection, and construction. Their strengths are that they are extremely responsive and provide a personal service. They explain things clearly and concisely so that non-legal staff can understand. In comparison to other firms, I have also found them to be efficient, not looking to stretch work out to earn additional income. They provide free of charge and really focused and bespoke training to my team.’
‘Patrick Parkin is extremely knowledgeable with extensive healthcare experience. He is personable, approachable and will go the extra mile to support us. His training provision is first class. He has a good understanding of the challenges my trust and team are facing, alongside what is happening across healthcare.’
'Burges Salmon stands out for its consistently high-quality legal advice, delivered with a deep understanding of the public sector landscape. What makes the team unique is their ability to combine technical excellence with a collaborative, solutions-focused approach. We’ve found their strengths lie in their responsiveness, clarity of communication, and ability to navigate complex legal matters with confidence and care. Compared to other firms, Burges Salmon offers a particularly strong balance of commercial awareness and public sector sensitivity.'
'Patrick Parkin stands out for his calm professionalism, clarity of advice, and genuine commitment to supporting our objectives. What sets him apart is his ability to translate complex legal matters into practical, actionable guidance, always with our organisational context in mind. We’ve particularly valued his responsiveness, collaborative approach, and the way he builds trust across teams. Patrick is not only technically strong but also a pleasure to work with; he brings a reassuring presence to every interaction.'
Key clients
- UK Covid-19 Inquiry
- AOTI, INC
- UK Health Security Agency
- Somerset Care Limited
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
- Telstra Health UK
- Psychiatry UK
- NHS Shared Business Services
- Optegra Eye Healthcare
- Cobalt Health
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Work highlights
Advising on the UK Covid-19 Public Inquiry, which looks at all aspects of the handling of the pandemic across the UK.
Advised the UK Health Security Agency to establish a new dynamic purchasing system to enable UKHSA to choose from a selected group of vaccine manufacturers for the purchase of vaccines, and conduct the first competition for the Autumn 2025/Spring 2026 vaccine campaigns.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Patrick Parkin
Other key lawyers
Rory Trust; Richard Binns