This dedicated healthcare team comprises 70 cross-firm specialists in commissioning, outsourcing, employment, pensions, regulatory, banking and procurement law. Led by sector specialists David Hamlett and Bleddyn Rees, the team draws on commercial expertise from around the firm to deliver a bespoke service to private and public sector clients. Underpinning this service is a clear understanding of the commercial priorities and practical requirements of the sector.

Chambers UK cites the team as a 'knowledgeable outfit whose clients enthused about the lawyers' ability to work with business challenges'.

With substantial in-house experience, the team has a real understanding of the pressures that affect clients and their business. Bleddyn Rees spent four years as General Counsel to the Commercial Directorate at the Department of Health. Associate Mark Checketts was seconded to the CD-CCPP team and Kevin Jones spent six months working in the legal team of a large UK private healthcare provider.

The team has a number of 'firsts' to its name. David Hamlett spent the last three years advising the Department of Health and over 120 trusts on the ground-breaking Independent Sector Treatment Centre (ISTC) programme. The team advised on a strategic level and on a wide variety of sub-contracts, leases and employment-related matters.

From strategic advice through to joint ventures and social enterprises, the team has advised on a wide range of programmes and structures both in the UK and internationally. This includes setting up Central Surrey Health, the first social enterprise of its kind in the UK, and working with the Abu Dhabi government to structure the outsourcing of two major hospitals.

Jane Pittaway led the Fairness in Primary Care Contracting programme and advised the Department of Health and Specialised Commissioning Team West Midlands on a pathfinder mental healthcare project. Andrew Hodge was responsible for developing the retention of the employment model which allowed the ISTC programme to proceed without NHS staff transferring to the private sector.

Private sector clients commend the team's 'industry knowledge, international connections and firmwide support'. It has acted for a leading private healthcare provider on the £85 million sale of nine UK hospitals, advised on the £322 million sale of Paragon Healthcare and on the £116 million disposal of the Bettercare Group.

Clients include the Department of Health, Paragon Healthcare, the Wellcome Trust, North East Essex Primary Care Trust, Specialised Commissioning Team West Midlands, Ashford and St Peters NHS Trust.

For more information on healthcare, contact david_hamlett@wragge.com.