Health Care Law

The Health Care Team at Sydney Mitchell LLP is a growing part of our business and is led by Tony Harris. Tony has been involved in the health care sector with all types of legal issues for some 15 years and is well known as a specialist in this field.

We are able to assist practice managers, doctors, partners in GP practices or limited liability partnerships in any matters relating to care homes, nursing homes or the creation of new Primary Care Centres (PCCs). We have dealt with all legal aspects of the creation and development of new PCCs whether led by developers or LIFT projects, or where GP partners themselves develop their own new PCC, transferring into the GP pension fund. Our involvement from the initial stages of a project is essential as the commercial advice we can provide will reduce the time such a development takes and also reduce the costs involved.

The firm is also able to advise anyone working in the health care sector in relation to employment law matters including preparation of contracts of employment, disciplinary proceedings, equality and discrimination issues, termination and severance packages, unfair dismissal, redundancy and relief relating to restrictive covenants.

Tony Harris is experienced in dealing with Commissioning and Providing Agreements due to the current transfer of medical work from secondary to primary care. He also has expertise in the legal work involved in walk-in clinics and acting for surgeons and consultants in all aspects of legal matters, particularly at the present time by assisting in negotiating specific agreements with care trust and foundation hospitals.

The Health Care Team can further assist with any commercial property matters relating to existing surgery premises, lease renewals and disputes and updating, revising/drafting of any partnership agreements so as to comply with NHS requirements.

Working with polyclinics/general practitioner led health centres, dentists, pharmacies and nursing homes we understand the importance of “getting it right”. Our advice is both straightforward and commercially-aware.

With experience in dealing with these areas we are able to cover the following issues your practice may face.

Business issues including:

Partners and LLP members agreements and disputes
Disposing of the practice
Joint ventures
Corporate issues (service companies)
Lending and security documentation

Dispute Resolution and Employment including:

Preparation of contracts of employment and staff handbooks
Disciplinary proceedings and other employee related issues
Equality and discrimination issues
Termination and severance packages
Unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, redundancy
Injunctive relief relating to restrictive covenants

Commercial Property and Development including:

Purchase, sale and mortgage
Redevelopment and alterations
Sub-letting, sharing and other occupation by third parties
Landlord and tenant matters, including dilapidations, lease renewals and disputes

As a Partner led proactive firm, at Sydney Mitchell we take a holistic and team based approach with our clients and their businesses. We are efficient and effective, whilst remaining approachable and friendly. With all our clients, we know the importance of being transparent with regards to costs and are flexible on fee structures.

Please contact Tony Harris for further advice and assistance.