Independent sector health and care

Whether you’re a large provider, a smaller operator or a multinational looking to enter the UK independent sector health and care market, we can help you navigate its complexities.

We live and breathe health and care.

Our specialist lawyers have exceptional in-depth knowledge of every aspect of the sector. We’re committed to driving growth in the sector and are members of key industry networks.

This means our clients get commercial, business-savvy advice from a team who are specialist solicitors in supporting our clients as they grow and overcome challenges.

Clients tell us they value our understanding of the health economy. We understand the operational challenges, regulatory backdrop and sector specific issues. In addition, our clients benefit from introductions into our networks and our thought leadership events.

Our experience

We’re one of the most active firms in the UK health & care sector.

Our work includes deals supporting strategic/platform or bolt-on acquisitions for UK and international clients, sales mandates, joint ventures and groundbreaking partnerships between the NHS and independent sector providers.

Our independent healthcare experience includes advising:

ARCHIMED on the sale of Vita Health Group to Spire Healthcare Group for £74m
a high-profile US hospital group on data protection issues
Four Seasons on the sale of its care home portfolio
A medical device manufacturer in navigating data privacy requirements in connection with a collaborative study with an NHS Trust
Operose Health and Centene on the acquisition of AT Medics, one of the largest primary groups in the UK
The owners of Psicon on its sale to Onebright mental health
On strategic commercial agreements and major partnerships with NHS bodies includes advising Synlab on a long-term pathology supply deal with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
A Healthtech company on strategic investments with innovation in primary care

Did you know?

LaingBuisson award winner

Our team won the Legal Advisor Independent sector award from LaingBuisson in 2022.

Transactions completed

Our four most senior M&A lawyers completed nearly 30 transactions in the care sector in 2022/2023.

World class team

Our Health & Care M&A team includes three full time corporate partners making it one of the most experienced in the UK.

Our clients

Advising 600+ clients nationally, we act for an extraordinary number of clients in every legal specialism and in every part of the sector:

Care homes
Specialist care
Mental health
Children’s care and SEN
Dental
MSK
Digital health
Health tech
Diagnostic
Primary care

As well as many others in the sector, such as:

Banks
Investors/PE houses
Major health charities

Our lawyers

Our large multi-disciplinary team supports our private and wider independent sector clients across a range of matters including corporate, commercial, CQC, health & safety, inquests, procurement, prosecutions, competition and regulation.

What our clients say about us

“A great team to work with... very respectful of their client and work hard to ensure we had excellent advice delivered after listening to their clients' requirements. They are the best legal team I have worked with over the last 10 years. They are also very nice people.”

Sue Ryder

“Exactly fulfilling the brief and... exceeded my expectations. I also found everyone I met to be exceptionally personable, professional and lovely to work with.”

Client feedback

“All advisers at M&R are extremely knowledgeable about the sector enabling them to give practical advice, and often feel like an extension of our Legal team.”

Client feedback

Legal resources you might find useful

Insight on the latest legal, policy and commercial issues affecting the NHS and the independent health sector: Health and care blog
Our Procurement portal aims to provide a "one stop shop" for procurement law queries and advice
Follow our LinkedIn Showcase page for more legal updates and insights.