Ward Hadaway LLP fields a sizeable healthcare team with ‘a wide range of expertise’ across the full spectrum of relevant issues. Acting for NHS trusts and hospitals, the group has particular strength in advising on inquests, employment issues, PFI work, and transactional mandates. Melanie Pears leads the firm’s overall public sector offering and is a key member of the healthcare team. Pears works alongside property expert Saji Bratch, who advises on public sector property transactions, including PFI and PPP transactions, acting for NHS trusts and local authorities; and Lisa Evans, who takes point on Court of Protection matters, inquests, and defendant clinical negligence claims. Pears, Bratch, and Evans jointly oversee the Newcastle offering. The ’meticulous‘ James Donnelly regularly represents healthcare organisations in inquests and criminal police investigations, while Mark McKeever handles employment-related matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They get to know what matters to you and get straight to work on what is important.’

  • ‘The team has a wide range of expertise in healthcare law.’

  • ‘The Ward Hadaway team are friendly, efficient, responsive and effective.’

  • ‘Mark McKeever is very approachable, knowledgeable and can adapt his language well to his audience.’

  • ‘James Donnelly is meticulous in getting cases trial ready.’

  • ‘Really good service to clients. Very knowledgeable team, who are thorough and considered and on top of every case they do.’

  • ‘Saji Bratch provides expert analysis and execution of our property related matters. Efficient and with attention to detail.’

Key clients

  • Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy
  • Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  • County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
  • Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust
  • Cumbria, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
  • East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
  • Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • General Optical Council
  • General Osteopathic Council
  • General Pharmaceutical Council
  • Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
  • Hull University NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust
  • IfM Bolton Limited
  • Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
  • Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
  • Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service
  • Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
  • NHS South Central Commissioning Support Unit
  • North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
  • North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
  • North East and North Cumbria ICB
  • Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust
  • Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Royal United Hospital Bath
  • Salisbury Foundation Trust
  • Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
  • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
  • St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  • Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
  • The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospital of Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospital of Liverpool
  • Wye Valley NHS Trust

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Melanie Pears, Lisa Evans, Saji Bratch

Other key lawyers

Mark McKeever, James Donnelly