We advise our NHS commissioner clients on a wide range of their commercial and contractual needs from standard NHS contracts to innovative procurements for integrated services.

We are market leaders on the procurement requirements for public sector collaborations and joint working arrangements. We advise on all aspects of options appraisals for integration, section 75 partnership agreements, alliance agreements and public sector collaboration agreements.

We ensure our clients understand the contracts that they are entering into and how they can appropriately performance manage their contractors to ensure that quality services and value for money are not just obtained at the outset, but through the life of the contract.

We advise on all aspects of the commissioning workforce (including terms of appointment for governing body members), the staffing issues arising from CCG mergers, whistleblowing and the raising of concerns, and the application of TUPE to commissioning decisions. Our employment law specialists provide a one-stop-shop for employment tribunal claims, working with our clients to prepare the case and representing them before the Tribunal.

We advise clients on the powers and duties of commissioners, arrangements for joint commissioning and delegation of functions, managing conflicts of interest, and the development of governance frameworks for integrated care systems and other system-wide collaborations.

We support CCG decision-making by reducing the risk of judicial review challenges and defending claims when issued. We have a strong track record in successfully defending judicial review applications in respect matters such as service changes; individual funding decisions; commissioning policies and CHC eligibility.

We advise on responsibility disputes, funding disputes, continuing healthcare (CHC) funding, Children and Young People's Continuing Care (CYPCC).

We support on all legal aspects of primary care commissioning including the award of contracts, contract management processes, terminations and the re-allocation of patient lists.

We regularly advise clients on all stages of the procurement process—from reviewing and amending adverts, preparing the procurement documentation, attending bidders’ days, contributing to evaluation reports to providing standard form rejection letters. We not only advise on the law, but also on how practical risks can be mitigated and managed.

Our team advises on commissioners’ legal duties in respect of consultation with local authorities on substantial service changes, and public involvement. Our support includes advising on option evaluation; reviewing pre-consultation business case (PCBC), consultation documents and decision-making business case (DMBC); and responding to referrals to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP).