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Experienced Health and Social Care Lawyers

Market-leading legal advice to national and international healthcare organisations

Hill Dickinson health

Health and social care law experts

Health and social care law experts

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With a team of over 250 lawyers, we are one of the leading firms providing legal advice and support to national and international healthcare and life sciences organisations.

From NHS bodies to private providers and practitioners to insurance practices, our multi-disciplinary legal expertise covers the full spectrum of healthcare law including, litigation, commercial, regulatory, employment, investigations and inquests, real estate, disciplinary law and medtech, digital health and devices. As a full-service international law firm, we take a scalable approach to service delivery, providing immediate access to high-quality legal advice across the full spectrum.

We are committed to working in partnership with our clients, fostering philosophies that are mutually beneficial. Our expertise and experience mean that we understand the issues you face and the clear and practical advice that you require, especially as services and systems become more integrated. We can help you manage risk and obtain better value for money enabling you to improve services and outcomes.

You can also access our webinar resources that are designed specifically for our health clients - covering topics that may affect you.

We are appointed to the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Public Sector Legal Services framework. Please click here to access our CCS supplier prospectus.

How we can advise you

NHS services

Our NHS expertise is unparalleled - we are on all the national NHS framework agreements, NHS SBSNOE CPCHealthTrust EuropeNHS ResolutionNHS Commercial Alliance and CCS. Working for NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, NHS Bodies and Integrated Care Systems across the UK, we are at the heart of supporting NHS as it traverses change and challenges and adapting to become an even more effective and resilient service to public health. Including specialisms in Inquests, Mental Capacity, Commercial law, Regulatory law, Real Estate, Employment law, Clinical Negligence claims, and Public Law, our team cover the full spectrum of healthcare law.

Independent sector

Our experienced healthcare team works with providers from across the independent healthcare sector. As a full-service firm providing advice to national and international private hospitals, clinics, independent GPs and other providers, we are well-versed in the issues that health and care sector organisations face and can offer support on any issues arising. Our wider team’s work with the NHS provides unique insight into the opportunities and challenges faced by providers in working with the NHS.

Primary care

Independent practitioners across all Primary Care specialisms, including General Practitioners, Pharmacists, Opticians and Dentists, face multiple challenges to ensure their businesses remain sustainable and safe for their patients. Our primary care team specialises in their knowledge of the legal framework governing general practice and the wider healthcare landscape. We pride ourselves on being able to offer practitioners and practice managers a one stop shop for their legal needs. Within the primary care team, we offer a full service offering for clients: commercial, corporate, property, employment, litigation and claims, disputes, regulatory/compliance and public law.

Life sciences

Our life sciences team provides practical, commercial legal advice to companies at all stages of development, from start-up to established multinational. We support clients from an idea in a lab, to helping incorporate the company, raising capital, protecting and licensing intellectual property, signing strategic partnerships and, ultimately, commercialising life-changing treatments and technologies. We also help clients navigate a legal and regulatory landscape that is continuously evolving in response to innovation as well as societal and ethical challenges.

  • How our team will work with you

    We are committed to providing the highest quality service and will take the time to ensure we have a real understanding of your priorities and requirements.

    We have a common sense and commercial approach.

    Technical expertise is a given – the key to our success is in continually adding value to your business because of our in-depth sector knowledge across the country. We will do this through:

    • Working in partnership with you – you will have a dedicated relationship lead and teams who will ensure regular contact and communication.
    • Providing solutions not posing problems – we will provide you with pragmatic advice and an innovative, commercial approach.
    • Access to senior lawyers – you will always have direct access to partners and senior lawyers.
    • Proactivity – we want this to be an active partnership in which we take the initiative to become your trusted adviser and partner.
    • Resource – we have a large team so are able to provide sufficient assistance at all times.
    • International capability - we provide advice in both the UK and internationally (which may be relevant, for example, if you partner with international organisations for particular projects).

    In addition, we pride ourselves on our understanding of the sector in which you operate and our connections in that sector. We are always happy to introduce you to contacts where we can.

  • Our clients

    We are proud to represent some of the biggest names in healthcare provision both nationally and internationally, including but not limited to:

    • Representing NHS Resolution, University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS Trust and Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust in the landmark Court of Appeal case of Reaney concerning the effect of subsequent negligence on awards of compensation.
    • Advising alldayDR Ltd, an innovative health technology provider, on a software development and service agreement with the Priory Group for delivery of an online therapy tool.
    • Advising Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust on acquiring the formerly privately-run Rutherford Cancer Centre in Liverpool, providing the trust with additional state-of-the-art capacity and the local population with earlier access to vital diagnostic services.
    • Advising the senior executive team of a national health charity on the successful strategy for handling several serious allegations raised about executive level staff by a senior colleague, a detailed grievance and data subject access request.  We also secured the swift agreement of exit terms in which the employer took a robust financial position.
    • Advising Genflow Biosciences plc on its oversubscribed placing and admission to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.
    • Advising Bellevie Care, a fast-growing provider of in-home care services, on a £2.15 million fundraise. The combination of seed funding and grants will help facilitate the rollout of the company’s award-winning care model across the UK, starting with Northumberland and Oxfordshire.
    • Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration and regulatory action, acting for The Fertility Partnership in relation to a complex and novel breach of contract claim for the costs of raising an unwanted, healthy child (reported as ARB -v- IVF Hammersmith & R)
    • Advising EMMAC Life Sciences Limited on its US$345m acquisition by CuraLeaf.
  • Resources

    Our team regularly author insightful commentary on the latest legal issues that affect healthcare providers, commissioners, and suppliers, including videos, webinars and downloadable guides. Access them here.

Key contacts