Jacqui Atkinson

Business and Professional Risk

Jacqui joined us as our national Head of Employment Healthcare in June 2018. She joined the firm having previously spent 10 years establishing and heading up the Capsticks employment team in Birmingham. Jacqui has 20 years’ experience in advising Trust Boards and senior NHS managers on employment issues in the health and care sector. Her appointment also bolsters the firm’s healthcare practice. She is a member of the Browne Jacobson Health Sector Board.

The expanding employment healthcare practice comprises a client base which ranges from CCGs, Provider organisations, care homes, dental and GP practices and independent healthcare hospitals. This enables us to provide employment expertise, policy advice and thought leadership reflecting our thorough understanding of the whole healthcare system.

Jacqui has built up a strong reputation for her strategic advice, tactics and expertise in advising Trusts on managing Doctors performance, conduct and capability issues. She has led multi-disciplinary lawyer teams supporting clients facing serious investigations involving the Police, GMC, NMC and the Coroner. She has also advised NHS Trusts on regulatory issues such as fitness to practice and duty of candour.

Her wider employment practice includes advising on whistleblowing, cultural reviews, complex disciplinary/grievance cases, discrimination, TUPE, redundancy, organisational change and mergers. She is a highly experienced litigator and regularly advises clients on the strategy and management of defending ET claims. She is also a robust litigator. She was the lawyer who successfully led at all stages from ET to the Court of Appeal on the age discrimination case of Woodcock v Cumbria PCT. She also plays a major role in client training and development across the healthcare sector.