James Atkins

Partner | Head of Health Real Estate

Leeds

About me

I lead Hill Dickinson’s Health Real Estate team and specialise in advising clients across the health and social care sector. My work spans the development and funding of new healthcare facilities, complex estate reconfigurations, and the property elements of M&A deals. I also regularly advise NHS bodies, care providers, lenders and developers on major infrastructure and disposal projects.

Clients value my deep understanding of the sector, my practical approach to complex challenges, and the clarity I bring to fast-paced transactions. I also contribute nationally to healthcare property guidance, having authored standard legal documents used across the NHS.

When I’m not advising clients or contributing to sector guidance, I might be spending time with my kids, reading a book, or planning my next mountain trip, ideally to somewhere with big views.

My experience

  • Leading the Health Real Estate team on a wide range of care home M&A transactions ranging in value between £2m and £220m.
  • Advising the NHS stakeholders on the £110m development of the Catterick Integrated Care Centre, a unique NHS and MOD joint venture.
  • Leading the real estate team acting for the lender in the provision of a £10m facility to a national care home operator.
  • Acting for NHS Frimley ICB on a portfolio of development projects, including the development of a new health centre at Bracknell, Berkshire.
  • Advising the NHS stakeholders on the development of numerous integrated health and wellbeing facilities, delivered in conjunction with local Councils, including the Southborough Hub in Kent and the Kidbrooke Village Health Centre in Greenwich.
  • Advising on the real estate aspects of health PPP (public private partnership projects) including the development of the Tessa Jowell Health Centre in Dulwich and Barrow Health Centre under the NHS LIFT model.
  • Member of the British Property Federation Healthcare Committee.

More about me