Operating out of London and Bristol, Bevan Brittan LLP houses a team of ‘hardworking, extremely knowledgeable, specialists in the field‘. The team assists an array of NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICB). Sharon Renouf leads the team and is renowned for advising on procurement issues and matters involving private finance initiative (PFI) schemes. Rosemary Jago‘s primary area of focus is the procurement and funding of health facilities through NHS contracting with the private sector. Vincent Buscemi is known for his extensive knowledge of the senior living, social care, and health sectors, routinely acting for investors, funders, and providers. Letitia Winterflood-Blood is an expert in handling the commercial aspects of partnering projects within the health sector. Joanna Lloyd is a key name for inquests concerning patient safety issues.

Gerard Hanratty, Clare Auty, Victoria Thourgood, and Rebecca Fitzpatrick all jointly lead the team at Browne Jacobson LLP, which is well-known for handling matters involving the withdrawal of life-sustaining medical treatment, the dissolution of NHS trusts, and integrated care board governance. Hanratty is a regulatory expert who often assists with inquiries, Auty is a commercial health specialist, Thourgood is noted for her distinctive focus on health and social care real estate, and Fitzpatrick is well-versed in mental health and capacity issues. Christian Dingwall has longstanding expertise in NHS mergers, while Charlotte Harpin is known for her vast knowledge of clinical commissioning group governance. Carly Caton routinely assists primary care organisations, suppliers, and social care entities with the full range of commercial issues.

Praised for its ‘excellent‘ industry knowledge, the team at DAC Beachcroft LLP handles a myriad of healthcare issues relating to changes to maternity services, IT system procurement processes, and transactional issues surrounding managed equipment services projects. Practice head Hamza Drabu is an expert in commercial transactions within the healthcare space, assisting a range of investors, NHS clients, and medtech companies. Udara Ranasinghe leads on the employment side of the team, maintaining her distinctive focus on whistleblowing cases and exits involving both doctors and executives, and judicial review specialist Alistair Robertson regularly assists with public inquiries and appeals. Gemma Brannigan is particularly adept at acting in medical treatment cases before the Court of Protection and in coroner’s inquests, while Darryn Hale is well-known for his expertise in health information, with his primary areas of focus being the digitisation of the NHS and information sharing between organisations. Jacques Howell left the firm in 2023.

Acting for a varied client base of integrated care boards (ICB), NHS trusts, and health insurers, Hill Dickinson LLP maintains its stellar reputation for handling the full range of public law matters within the healthcare space. Kiran Bhogal is renowned for her expertise in judicial reviews, particularly in relation to major service reconfigurations, and Ros Foster joined the team from Browne Jacobson LLP in May 2023, bringing her expansive expertise in disciplinary investigations and healthcare regulatory litigation. Emma Galland leads the health insurance group, often advising on clinical governance, and Jamie Foster is particularly adept at advising NHS organisations and healthtech start-ups on commercial issues. Liverpool’s Emma Stockwell is noted for her expertise in public inquiries, often appearing before the High Court in judicial review proceedings. In Manchester, Michael Wright leads the firm’s national employment group, Joanna Trewin acts as the deputy head of the healthcare and public law team, and Richard Parker routinely acts for public authorities in the healthcare space in public procurement disputes and judicial reviews.

Mills & Reeve LLP is known for its handling the full range of mandates concerning supply chains, procurement, and digital transformation programmes. Jill Mason leads the national team from Birmingham and is noted for her longstanding experience in assisting both public and private providers with judicial reviews and inquests, in addition to mental health law matters. Rob Day is a key name within the London group for primary care and NHS governance issues, and Shailee Howard is an expert in public procurement, often advising bidders. Cambridge’s Sophie Burton-Jones was promoted to partner in June 2023, standing out for her handling of electronic patient record, and laboratory information management system projects for NHS trusts and ICBs. Charlotte Lewis works out of the Manchester office, with her workload consisting of health and social care tech projects involving digital health platforms.

Bindmans LLP stands out for its specialism in mental health-related matters, acting in an array of cases concerning Articles 2 and 8 of the ECHR, advanced directives, and disputes concerning funding for care. Laura Hobey-Hamsher heads the practice and is well-known for her standout knowledge of cases concerning vulnerable individuals who lack mental capacity or experience ill mental or physical health. The ‘capable and creative‘ Basmah Sahib maintains a mental health-focused practice, routinely handling forensic cases, repatriation matters to ensure access to treatment, and inquests for psychiatric patients. Georgina Byrne joined the group in October 2023, bringing her vast experience in representing vulnerable adults before the Court of Protection, in addition to advising on access to community care services. Elizabeth Cleaver left the firm in January 2024.

Acting for a broad array of regulatory authorities, Blake Morgan LLP acts in judicial reviews, public inquiries, and mental health-related issues. Practice co-head Bruce Potter is noted for his longstanding experience in major public procurement projects, and his knowledge of commercial drug access issues and medicines logistics. Eve Piffaretti works out of the Cardiff office and is well-known for her strong regulatory knowledge. Piffaretti is particularly adept at handling social care matters, often advising on safeguarding and human rights issues. Co-head David Hill joined the group in September 2023 from DAC Beachcroft LLP, contributing his distinctive focus on NHS governance and medicine supply chain mandates.

Andrew Rowland and Mary Mundy jointly lead the team at Capsticks LLP from London and Leeds respectively. The group is particularly adept at representing NHS trusts in inquests, judicial reviews, and industrial action. Rowland is recommended for his expansive expertise in healthcare-related employment issues, including whistleblowing and discrimination claims before the Employment Tribunal, while Peter Edwards is an expert in judicial review proceedings concerning NHS service reconfigurations, and governance issues relating to the Health and Care Act 2022. Stephen Tainsh leads the firm’s corporate and commercial and medical technology groups.

The ‘wonderful‘ team at Clyde & Co acts for a diverse client roster of NHS trusts and insurance companies, often assisting with inquests concerning maternity units. ‘Truly outstanding‘ practice head Claire Petts has longstanding knowledge of coronial law, and medical treatment cases in the Court of Protection, while David Hansom is well-known for his procurement expertise, often advising on electronic patient records systems. Noted for his standout regulatory expertise, Adam Weston is particularly adept at acting for healthcare professionals in inquests and disciplinary cases, in addition to focusing on optical regulatory matters. Sam Holden is an expert in defending NHS trusts and private medical malpractice insurers in clinical negligence claims and before the Court of Protection.

Kennedys is recommended for its handling of inquests, judicial reviews, and discharge planning mandates. Rob Tobin leads the team and is well-known for his vast knowledge of medical law, often advising on end-of-life decisions, mental health law, and serious medical treatment applications. Tobin is also recognised for his specialism in Court of Protection cases. Indi Kaur stands out due to her specialism in matters involving eating disorders and capacity-related obstetric issues, often appearing before the Court of Protection. Daniel Freeman is particularly adept at assisting mental health provider clients with emergency declarations and the detention of patients.

The ‘trusted, insightful‘ Patrick Parkin leads the Bristol-based group at Burges Salmon LLP, which handles all manner of NHS procurement matters, civil and administrative healthcare disputes, and regulatory issues within the healthcare and life sciences sector. Parkin primarily acts for health tech companies and healthcare industry bodies, and Richard Binns is a key name for both government and private health and social care providers in both procurement and commercial cases. Lucy Pegler is well-known for her strong focus on tech within healthcare, advising on a range of outsourcings, software licensing, and tech procurement, while Rory Trust handles a broad range of contractual and regulatory issues within healthcare projects.

Fieldfisher houses a broad group known for its handling of public inquiries, public law and licensing issues, and mandates involving health services contracts. Sarah Ellson heads the practice, routinely assisting optical providers, well-being companies, and pharma companies with compliance projects, and regulatory issues concerning staff and premises. Ellson is particularly well-known for acting for life sciences start-ups. Noted for his strong focus on corporate and commercial law, Neil Palmer routinely assists regulators and NHS bodies.

Irwin Mitchell stands out for its distinctive focus on cases against NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups, typically involving ECHR and Human Rights Act 1998 principles. Yogi Amin acts as the firm’s national head of public law, and is known for handling end-of-life cases, challenges to government budget cuts, and judicial reviews concerning NHS and social care. Mathieu Culverhouse is an expert in community care, patient rights, and mental capacity law, primarily representing clients in applications for judicial review of healthcare decisions relating to fertility and lifesaving treatment. Mental capacity, education, and human rights specialist Angela Jackman routinely acts in deprivation of liberty cases, while Oliver Studdert is known for representing vulnerable clients in Court of Protection proceedings, utilising his extensive knowledge of children’s rights and community care.

Rook Irwin Sweeney LLP is known for its strength in public law and human rights-focused work. The group is known for advising on judicial reviews and challenges. Practice co-lead Anne-Marie Irwin specialises in medical treatment cases, particularly in relation to gender-affirming care and end-of-life. Co-head Polly Sweeney is noted for her deep knowledge of mandates involving access to health and social care, routinely advising on personal health budgets and care package disputes, while co-head Caroline Barrett is well-versed in community care and welfare matters, often appearing before the Court of Protection in matters concerning children’s social care.

The ‘absolutely resolute, kind and understanding’ Ben Willis and Rachel Crean jointly lead the team at VWV, which is spread between London and Bristol. Crean is recommended for her strong focus on NHS GP partnership disputes, often advising dental practices and NHS contractors. Willis is an expert in property issues, particularly in relation to the development and funding of GP practices, while Oliver Pool specialises in partnership issues and contractual arrangements between GP practices and the NHS. Adam Siwak has since left the firm.

Weightmans LLP is known for its ‘exceptional‘ knowledge of the health sector, assisting a broad client base of NHS trusts and private providers. Andrew Parsons is a mental health law and clinical negligence specialist, while Simon Gomersall focuses on representing healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings concerning performance and conduct. Rachel Kneale leads the firm’s clinical negligence group, and Michael Clifford is known for his handling of corporate and commercial healthcare issues.