Health - public sector

DAC Beachcroft is widely recognised as the leading legal adviser to the health and social care sector in the UK. We've advised the NHS in England and Wales since 1948 and act for a wide range of public sector and independent sector providers and commissioners in the UK and internationally.

Our long-standing sector knowledge means that we can give key strategic advice to clients on the challenges they face and the opportunities for them in the wake of the enormous upheaval within the NHS and the extraordinary financial and market pressures affecting health sector organisations around the world.

The UK coalition government has set out its plans for radical reform of the NHS in England in the Health and Social Care Bill 2011. The upcoming changes to the commissioning structure for NHS services present the NHS and those that work with the NHS with particular challenges. In light of our broad public and independent sector experience, we are well placed to assist.

Our clients within the NHS range from the NHS Litigation Authority and NHS Direct to leading foundation trusts and other providers across the acute, mental health and community services sectors, academic health and science centres, primary care trusts, strategic health authorities and special health authorities. Our clients rely on us to create proactive and pragmatic answers to meet the challenges of historic changes in the way healthcare is purchased and provided.

Incisive, strategic advice

We provide incisive analysis and strategic advice on key challenges, including changes to commissioning and provision. With regard to the NHS, we offer particular expertise in relation to the transfer of functions to commissioning consortia and the role of local authorities and Health and Wellbeing Boards.

We are at the forefront of developing new structures and initiatives, particularly for integrated care, private-public partnerships, workforce and the management of the NHS Estate and other real estate assets. Our hands-on experience is second to none and extends across all practice areas and to all parts of the sector.

Our legal teams are supported by our health advisory team. Giles Peel, Ray Tarling and George Alford have worked at the highest levels in the healthcare sector and other areas. The team provide strategic advice and training at board level to major clients, on key regulatory, governance and commercial issues.

Anticipating change

We work closely with clients to help them anticipate policy and regulatory challenges, identify risks and opportunities, structure complex transactions and ease the process of change. We advise clients in the sector on the full range of commercial, corporate, regulatory and contentious matters, in the UK and internationally, including:

• banking and finance
• capital projects
• clinical risk / negligence
• clinical product liability
• commercial contracts
• commercial property dispute resolution
• hr advice
• employment litigation
• governance, including board training
• health and safety
• immigration
• intellectual property / IT
• fundraisings, including IPOs
• joint ventures
• mergers and acquisitions
• pensions (including on Fair Deal)
• planning and environment
• private equity and other investments
• project finance including PFI
  property management and development
  public policy
• NHS Standard Contract and performance restructurings and organisational change
• tax
• TUPE

What our clients say

"Able to recognise problems before we even realise there are any."
Chambers UK 2011

"This distinguished national healthcare practice boasts an impressive client roster..."
Chambers UK 2011

"Their advice is pragmatic, timely and of a consistently high quality, giving clients another layer of security."
Chambers UK 2011