Budget pressures, regulation, policy, patient demands – looking for lawyers with a practical understanding of the commercial priorities, regulatory backdrop and strategic challenges that face the healthcare sector?
Wragge & Co's dedicated healthcare practice, led by Bleddyn Rees, comprises 70 cross-firm specialists in commissioning, outsourcing, employment, pensions, regulatory, banking and procurement law. The team draws on commercial expertise from around the firm to deliver a bespoke service to public and private sector clients.
Public sector
Market-leading experience is acknowledged by Chambers UK, which praises the team's 'outstanding insight into the inner workings of the Department of Health'. Public sector understanding is boosted by substantial in-house experience. Bleddyn spent four years as general counsel to the Commercial Directorate of the Department of Health.
From strategic advice through to joint ventures, social enterprises and employment-related advice, the team is helping the UK Government offer greater choice and flexibility in the provision of healthcare. Internationally, it is advising on a wide range of programmes and structures.
David Hamlett led a team advising the DoH and more than 120 trusts on the innovative Independent Sector Treatment (ISTC) programme. As well as providing strategic input, the team advised on contracts, leases and employment matters. Now policy has evolved, its lawyers continue to advise on innovations in primary care contracting and approaches to integrated care.
On an international scale, the team provides commercial and outsourcing advice to the departments of health of two Middle Eastern countries. Experience includes advising the Abu Dhabi government on the outsourcing of two major hospitals and reviewing and redrafting all of its healthcare laws.
Andrew Hodge developed a retention of employment model which allowed the ISTC programme to proceed without NHS staff transferring to the private sector. The same innovative thinking helped Wragge & Co scoop Employment Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2009.
It helped Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital and Serco launch a £250 million, 10-year joint venture aimed at overhauling NHS pathology services. According to the judges, the team's lawyers 'have emerged as forces to be reckoned with in the health employment sector.'
Jane Pittaway led the Innovation in Primary Care Contracting programme and advised the DoH and Specialised Commissioning Team West Midlands on a pathfinder mental healthcare project.
Private sector
In the private sector, the team boasts industry knowledge and technical expertise. Maurice Dwyer acts for leading private healthcare providers and investors in life sciences on M&A, private equity transactions and management buy-outs.
Providing more than just legal advice, venture capital specialist Ian Piggin and corporate partner Kevin Jones have connections to help healthcare clients access funding and secure collaboration agreements. Experience includes advising Abingworth LLP, MDY Healthcare plc and Ivy Capital Partners on the institutional buy-out of Stanmore Implants Worldwide Limited.
Kevin also spent six months working for the in-house legal team of a large UK private healthcare provider and has advised on a £85 million sale of nine UK hospitals.
Clients include the DoH, Paragon Healthcare, the Wellcome Trust, South West Essex Primary Care Trust, BUPA, Commissioning Business Services (a unit of the Association of Greater Manchester), Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust, Abingworth LLP, Inverness Medical Innovations, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.
For more on healthcare, contact Bleddyn Rees (bleddyn_rees@wragge.com).
