Healthcare

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Christian Dingwall

Christian Dingwall

Hall of fameBrowne Jacobson LLP

Christian qualified as a solicitor in 1986 and joined Browne Jacobson in 2019 as a partner in its Commercial Health team.  He advises health and social care clients, including many NHS trusts, foundation trusts, commissioners and other bodies, about commercial and corporate law, governance, compliance and regulation. Christian specialises in organisational and service transformation in the NHS and wider health sector, including, mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, integrated care partnerships and reconfiguration.   Legal directories rate him as a top lawyer for health transactions.

Peter Edwards

Hall of fameCapsticks LLP

ExperiencePeter has 30 years’ experience of advising healthcare and other organisations on their governance, legal powers and decision-making. During this time he has been involved in some of the most complex and sensitive employment and public law cases in the public sector. He is also an experienced trainer who delivers a wide range of workshops and seminars to our clients, and is currently a tutor on the online Diploma in Advanced Primary Care Management that Capsticks is delivering in conjunction with the National Association of Primary Care and the Healthcare Finance Management Association. Expertise• Governance, structures, powers and duties of public bodies;• Public involvement and consultation on healthcare service changes;• Contentious and non-contentious employment law including major organisational changes, service transfers and TUPE; executive appointments and terminations and the development and implementation of new workforce models.CSR activityPeter volunteered in the South London Law Centre for more than 10 years. He also plays a lead role in our partnership with the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability and has led a number of fundraising events for the hospital. PublicationsService Reconfiguration, Consultation and Judicial Review - CapsticksManaging conflicts of interest in clinical commissioning groups – NHS Confederation/RCGP (2011)

Andrew Parsons

Hall of fameWeightmans LLP

Andrew specialises in medical law and all areas of health and social care law. He acts for a large number of private sector healthcare providers, care home operators and the NHS. Andrew regularly advises on care home law, mental health law, public law and judicial review and all operational legal issues that affect health and social care providers. He has been involved in many important mental health cases in recent years and is seen as a leading practitioner in this field. Andrew has extensive advocacy experience, including attending inquests on behalf of healthcare clients, and has significant experience in the Court of Protection. Andrew acts as an adviser on regulatory matters involving the CQC and the HSE/police. Andrew is a regular lecturer and contributor of articles to the health and legal press. He provides an educational programme to clients and others in the healthcare sector, especially relating to mental health, care homes and human rights.

Bruce Potter

Hall of fameBlake Morgan LLP

Bruce advises both private and public organisations on all aspects of commercial, corporate policy and governance advice. Bruce deals with corporate work, especially spin outs, acquisitions and disposals and management buy-outs as well as extensive advisory work on business recovery and insolvency across receivership, administrations and complex partnership and public and treaty body insolvency and transfers. Bruce also deals with commercial work, especially in IT and information security, developing new legal models and mixed legal/advisory/educational approaches to new legal risks. Bruce supports organisational development and governance development across health and social care often working with multi-disciplinary teams from other professional disciplines. The hallmark of his advice has been the combination of legal excellence with commercial acumen to deliver effective practical solutions for clients.

Ian Hempseed

Hall of fameHempsons

Ian is a charity and corporate lawyer who has a wide range of experience in the field of commercial, constitutional and governance law. He heads up the Charities and Social Enterprise team at Hempsons – and our Practitioner team. His broad expertise in advising charities, social enterprises and other not for profit organisations enables us to provide pragmatic and proactive advice to the sector as a whole. He also works closely with organisations, public sector staff and entrepreneurs in developing appropriate legal structures for social enterprises. GPs, private consultants and other health professionals call upon Ian’s help to create appropriate corporate vehicles, particularly for consortium working. Ian is regularly invited by external organisations to run workshops and training sessions on a wide range of topics affecting charities and social enterprises. Ian Hempseed is also a Mutuals Ambassador for the Mutuals Programme run by the Cabinet Office. One of the aims of the Mutuals Programme is to drive the creation of new public service mutuals across public service. Ian is a trustee of Power to Change.

John Holmes

Hall of fameHempsons

John’s team specialises in providing advice on patient-related issues to a range of healthcare providers. Many problems he deals with relate to mental health, and this can range from helping trusts with issues about detention, across to inquests and related clinical claims. Often advice is needed quickly, and the strength of John’s team is that they understand client’s needs to know their position straight away when problems come to light. They also have the back up of a national advisory team, and that is key when they are so often dealing with changing legislation. The DOLs procedures and the recent Rabone Supreme Court decision are good examples where the team has been at the forefront of providing seminars and other learning opportunities. Inquests and related clinical governance issues are also important, and other areas like information governance are also a major part of what John does. In terms of well-known cases John was involved in the Bournewood and Clunis cases, and in a number of group actions such as Ledward and RAGE. Over recent years a lot of time has been spent working on homicide inquiries and other investigations for trusts with a number of these cases being reported extensively in the media. John also provides clients and others with training, and for a number of years he chaired the Butterworths/ Lexis Nexis national healthcare law conference, and have spoken at their Adult Safeguarding Conference on mental health issues.

Rising stars

Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.

Next Generation Partners

Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Richard Binns

Richard Binns

Burges Salmon LLP

Richard is a Dispute Resolution Partner specialising in complex commercial disputes and public procurement litigation across various sectors with a particular focus on Healthcare.

Elizabeth Cleaver

Elizabeth Cleaver

Bindmans LLP

Solicitor, Public Law and Human Rights Elizabeth’s areas of practice include mental health, Court of Protection, and inquests. She obtained higher rights of audience in 2016 and regularly conducts her own advocacy before tribunals and the Court of Protection. Elizabeth has extensive experience of representing vulnerable adults and their families. Her practice has included welfare matters, as well as cases involving deprivation of liberty and property and affairs. Elizabeth is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor to represent protected parties. As an Accredited Legal Representative, she is also appointed to act for vulnerable adults directly in welfare cases before the Court of Protection. Elizabeth has in-depth experience of representing those detained under the Mental Health Act at all levels of security. She has a particular interest in forensic cases, and is regularly instructed by those detained under forensic sections, including in high profile matters. Elizabeth seeks to develop long-term relationships with clients and is known for her attention to detail and her persistence in obtaining evidence in support of her clients’ discharge. Besides representing mental health patients themselves, Elizabeth has advised parents, spouses, partners and other family members on their relatives’ rights when detained under the act or voluntarily admitted for care. Elizabeth has acted for patients in civil matters involving unlawful detention and displacement of nearest relatives, and has advised on aftercare issues (such as the adequacy of services offered under section 117 of the Mental Health Act). She is developing a practice in inquests, where her mental health experience is particularly valued in cases involving the death of psychiatric patients. Elizabeth regularly delivers training to lawyers and other professionals on mental health law and the Mental Capacity Act. She also assists in delivering the Mental Health Panel course run by the Mental Health Lawyers Association for prospective members of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme.  

Mathieu Culverhouse

Mathieu Culverhouse

Irwin Mitchell

With over 15 years of experience in the legal field, Mathieu Culverhouse is a seasoned professional specializing in community care, healthcare, and mental capacity law. As a Partner at Irwin Mitchell, Mathieu's expertise lies in advocating for clients who face ongoing challenges with social services, the NHS, and other public bodies. Throughout his career, Mathieu has been at the forefront of numerous landmark cases, including the cases of Cheshire West, Briggs v Briggs and Tafida Raqeeb, where he successfully represented clients seeking appropriate provision from local authority social services and the NHS. Additionally, he has been instrumental in defending the rights of clients opposing the closure of care homes, day centres, and NHS services, as well as challenging government funding cuts in health and social care using judicial review and human rights law. Mathieu's commitment to his clients extends to vulnerable populations, such as disabled refugees, for whom he secured accommodation from local authorities under their community care duties. He is also sought after for his expertise in advising clients on healthcare rights, medical treatment, and clinical disputes, which often involve complex medical ethics and legal arguments relating to dignity, the right to life, or the right to healthcare. Mathieu also takes on cases representing the Official Solicitor, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates (IMCAs), and the families of vulnerable adults in the Court of Protection under the Mental Capacity Act. These cases involve matters concerning mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, health, and welfare. Mathieu is a founding member and national committee member of the Court of Protection Practitioners Association (CoPPA). Within the firm, he jointly leads the Public Law & Human Rights department's Court of Protection special interest group. With a track record of success and a reputation for delivering results, Mathieu Culverhouse is a prominent figure in the field of health and social care law, making him an invaluable asset to clients seeking expert counsel and representation in community care, healthcare, and mental capacity matters.

Leading individuals

The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Gerard Hanratty

Browne Jacobson LLP

Gerard heads Browne Jacobson’s Health Sector and continues to be at the forefront of advising the NHS nationally and health sector overall on the development of Integrated Care Systems and major service reconfiguration projects. He is regularly sought for advice on all matters relating to public law, especially when public bodies face challenging decisions and he has successfully defended many judicial reviews. His expertise and pragmatic approach helps clients deliver on their plans and understand how to deal with challenges. The coming year will bring further work on the developing health and social care system, as well as advice on how to meet the challenges of introducing digital technology into the sector.

Jill Mason

Mills & Reeve LLP

Jill is Head of our Health and Care Sector – a growing and dynamic sector with over 200 lawyers working across a wide range of clients. She has over 25 years’ experience in healthcare law – the law relating to patients. As Head of the Healthcare and Mental Health law team nationally she also advises on a wide range of both contentious and non-contentious matters for clients in both the NHS and private sector. This includes inquests, judicial reviews, Mental Health Act advice, Mental Capacity Act advice, support and training around investigations, risk management, duty of candour, NHS Continuing Healthcare and consultation issues. Jill has also handled clinical negligence claims particularly complex, sensitive and high-value matters for NHS clients.  Jill is client relationship partner for many of the sectors key clients. Jill sits on the firm’s Audit Governance and Oversight Panel, is on the Governance Board of the Zero Suicide Alliance and is a Trustee of The Lucy Faithfull Foundation.

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