Healthcare

Our specialist Healthcare team is fully tuned into the pressures, opportunities and innovations affecting health and social care providers, and the challenges brought about by significant changes in the healthcare sector in recent years.

We provide the full range of legal advice and guidance to help you understand and navigate ongoing changes, and act for a wide range of clients. This includes GP practices and Primary Care Networks (PCNs), health tech companies, care home groups, social enterprises, pharmacies, dental and veterinary practices, NHS Trusts and other providers of healthcare services.

Approachable experts on hand for any healthcare-related legal advice and support

We can advise you on matters such as:

• collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions
• governance and succession
• property acquisitions and disposals and estate management
• construction
• recruitment and employment law
• professional disciplinary representation
• data protection and cybersecurity
• Intellectual Property (IP)
• reputation management and brand protection
• commercial agreements, procurement and state aid
• CQC inspections
• HSE investigations and prosecutions
• Coroner’s investigations and Inquests
• Regulatory compliance and risk management advice – occupational health, fire safety and wider premises safety

Our in-depth health sector experience includes:

• acting for Phoenix Learning & Care Group on a major refinancing project and on various acquisitions
• acting for sellers on the £2,650,000 sale of their care home
• advising Stonehaven Healthcare in its acquisition of Woodhayes Nursing Home in St Leonards, Exeter
• advising Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust on matters including property, employment, commercial contracts and charity law advice
• advising an NHS trust on a number of senior exits
• advising various providers of primary care out of hours services on a wide range of different matters
• advising PCNs on their network agreement and their structure
• advising on GP practice mergers
• acting for health tech start-up companies on collaboration agreements, registering IP and protecting their brand
• acting on care home group, veterinary practice, dental practice and pharmacy acquisitions and sales
• challenging CQC inspection reports on behalf of clients and disputing fines issued by the CQC for breach of regulations
• acting for hospices on various commercial agreements
• representing a leading UK care home group in connection with an inquest into the death of a resident and linked Safeguarding investigation.
• representing a senior manager of a healthcare organisation in connection with a police-led, multi-agency, investigation in the deaths of a number of former patients
• advising a provider of registered care services on a range of fire safety and wider premises safety-related issues

And here is what some of our clients say:

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to express our appreciation of the Stephens Scown team for their services to us in the recent sale of our care home. The team was led by Jade Kent, ably assisted by Paige Prideaux, Eliot Quevedo and Laura MacFadyen. We quickly realized that the process of selling the care home was a lot more complex than we had envisioned. We also realized that we were in very competent and efficient hands with each member of Jade’s team having expertise in a particular aspect of the sale. When complications arose, the team members gave clear explanations of the way to tackle these difficulties. They kept us informed at every step, responded quickly to phone calls and emails and gave us reassurance when we needed it! We would wholeheartedly recommend Stephens Scown to prospective buyers and sellers in the care home sector.”

Barry Shears, Denise Shears (former owners) and Joanna Foulstone (former director), Hillbrow Residential Care Home Ltd, April 2024

“On receiving a buyer for our Care Home, we required a confidential solicitor to facilitate the sale. Not having any knowledge who to engage we approached our accountant who recommended Stephens Scown of Exeter. Jade Kent was assigned to be our lead solicitor. She along with Laura McFadyen whose focus was employment issues, other solicitors in the practice with needed skills and expertise all supported us and steered us through the sale from the beginning, to exchange and finally completion. What we appreciated was as a team they had a total understanding of the care field, worked brilliantly as a team, demonstrating not only excellent legal advice but always showed us a human side. During the complex process which could at times be stressful Jade remained calm, clear, approachable, and available throughout. We put our complete trust in her as she worked and negotiated to ensure our deal was successful and we achieved the best result.”

Gina Kerler-Lovegrove, Manor Lodge Care Home, January 2023

“Businesses, especially SMEs, need very capable hands in legal processes and the healthcare team at Stephens Scown have them in abundance!’ ” 

Legal 500 (2023)

“We really value the relationship we have with Stephens Scown.  We know we can discuss any issue with them.”

Paula Martin, Chief Executive of Cornwall Air Ambulance

“Stephens Scown has been a ray of sunshine, helping us to navigate the legal concerns and giving practical advice on the wider issues.  The speed of response has also been key. We know we can pick up the phone and speak with our solicitor and get an answer when we need it.”

Trevor Chalker, Treasurer of Cornwall Animal Hospital

“The team at Stephens Scown have provided robust, effective and timely legal advice in all corporate, property and employment aspects of our business. A trusted partner for a number of years, I have been impressed and comforted by the depth of experience and knowledge that has allowed us to navigate what  at times has been complex and challenging legal landscape; pragmatic, creative and informed, Stephens Scown have been able to both focus on the finer detail of specific legal matters but have also been able to provide guidance on achieving our key strategic aims.”

Francois Delbaere, Financial Director of Phoenix Learning and Care Group

Our Healthcare team produce a regular newsletter to share their insights and industry updates, you can find the latest edition here: Healthcare Newsletter July 2024

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