Healthcare
From buying & selling businesses to employee issues and property transactions
We act for treatment and care providers involved in all areas of the healthcare sector in every legal discipline. Whether you need us to buy or sell your healthcare business, assist with employment or HR issues or advise on your property requirements, we have the specialist knowledge and experience of all aspects of the law as it affects healthcare businesses and organisations. Our 36-strong Healthcare team knows the sector inside out, delivering a fast, efficient and high quality advice in all circumstances.
We advise on multiple transactions every year – over the past two years we have acted on just under 500 transactions in the sector with a combined value in excess of £115 million. In each case we advise not only on the traditional corporate and banking aspects of transactions but also on the specific regulatory aspects which affect these businesses.
We are able to project manage transactions on your behalf, engaging with other advisers and providing a one-stop shop for legal services.
We also have in-depth experience establishing, structuring and acting for international healthcare businesses.
Our knowledge of the sector means we can provide solution driven advice that takes account of key business and commercial considerations, as well as the regulatory environment our clients operate in. We are also connected to key industry stakeholders and intermediaries and can help to create networks which add value and help drive diverse businesses.
Our Clients include
- Care home owners
- Children’s nurseries
- Dentists
- GP practices
- Domiciliary care providers
- Leading banks and funders of healthcare businesses
- Opticians
- Other treatment and care providers
- Pharmacies
- Vets
Key contacts - get in touch
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Partner
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Senior Associate
Key healthcare services
Our team brings together practitioners with in-depth practical legal experience and expertise in key legal disciplines, which allows us to provide a complete service in the following areas:
- Buying and selling businesses
- Employment law queries
- Property & leases
- Dispute resolution (including partnership disputes, supplier disputes and debt recovery)
- Franchising
- Funding and refinancing
- Partnership agreements
- Personal legal services
- Regulatory matters (including dental, pharmacy and GP regulation)
- Succession planning - both business and personal
Work examples
Care homes
We have advised clients across the country on the disposal of care homes to a variety of purchasers ranging from existing regional operators to private equity backed new entrants to the market looking to create a national group. In addition to the traditional corporate aspects of each disposal we also advised on all regulatory aspects including: (i) the operation of change of control provisions in resident contracts and National Care Home Contracts and (ii) the Care Inspectorate’s notification requirements on the change of control of a care home operator.
Dental
Our healthcare team acts for some of the largest dental consolidators in Scotland acquiring practices across the country. As well as the traditional corporate aspects we also advise clients on regulatory matters including the transfer of NHS funded patients from one practice to another and the registration of dentists looking to carry out NHS funded work from new practice locations.
Pharmacies
We regularly act for clients in the acquisition and sale of pharmacies. Our banking team are also particularly active in advising funders to pharmacy operators across Scotland. As well as advising clients on the traditional corporate and banking aspects of each transaction, we also advise on all regulatory aspects
GPs
We regularly advise GP practices in relation to their partnership arrangements. As well as advising on the assumption and retiral of partners, our healthcare team are also active in advising practices looking to utilise the Scottish Government's GP Sustainability Loan Scheme
e to another and the registration of dentists looking to carry out NHS funded work from new practice locations.
I hadn’t appreciated just how detailed and protracted a deal of this nature could be. However, the team at Harper Macleod gave me great confidence that my best interests were always to the fore when advising me throughout the negotiations. This was the most important financial event of my life, and I know I chose the best legal team for the job.
Ronald Williamson, Gate Healthcare Limited
Thanks to the team at Harper Macleod, completing a series of transactions has been a positive and pleasantly pain-free experience. They’ve been on our team since the very start and have become integral to what we’re trying to achieve. Brite has benefited hugely from their knowledge of the sector and even more from their determination to get under the skin of our business and be just as enthusiastic and driven as us to make it a success.
Stuart Thomson Director Brite Holdings (Scotland) Limited
Harper Macleod’s team displays ‘superb professionalism’ when handling corporate, employment and dispute resolution matters for Scottish care home operators, primary care providers and veterinary practices.
Legal 500
Contact us
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below for legal advice or to arrange a call back.