Bevan Brittan shortlisted for ‘legal adviser of the year’ in the Partnerships Awards

Bevan Brittan has been shortlisted for ‘legal adviser of the year’ at the 2017 Partnerships Awards.  Now in its 19^th year, the Partnerships Awards is the largest event recognising and rewarding the best in PPP (public-private partnerships).

Bevan Brittan has worked extensively in recent years on a range of innovative partnership models between the NHS and private providers. Most recently, the firm has led on supporting a new business model, as one option to transform hospitals and other NHS facilities to make them work better in the interests of patients. The Strategic Estate Partnership (‘SEP’) model maximises value and benefits from declining infrastructure by aligning it more closely with modern clinical strategy and integrated health and social care objectives.

The SEP model encompasses whole estate solutions, involving the procurement of partners to enable access to capital markets – and harness the capacity and capability of the private sector to maximise the value from the estate through innovative commercial, revenue or capital solutions.

Examples of Bevan Brittan’s recent work include Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where the firm continues to advise the Trust on developing innovative new models of care and ACO model. This includes entering into a Joint Venture (JV) with an elective care partner to improve efficiencies in its day case operations.  The JV will provide day-case surgery from a new specialist facility, delivered through the SEP, that will allow a high turnover of simple standardised surgical treatments providing a faster, better patient experience and drive financial efficiencies for the Trust, freeing up space in acute and emergency facilities.  The firm is also advising Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust in Cambridgeshire on the establishment of a long-term partnership with the private sector to deliver an ambitious estate strategy and development masterplan for its 40-acre site, which includes plans to create a sustainable health campus, combining living, care and education facilities.

Commenting on the shortlisting, Duncan Weir, managing partner at Bevan Brittan, said: “We are delighted to make the shortlist for this highly prized award.  Our work in the health sector is a key part of what we do as a firm.  We are proud of the pioneering role we have played in developing new and innovative models to facilitate better partnerships between NHS organisations and private providers.”

Rosemary Jago, partner at Bevan Brittan and overall health infrastructure lead, said: “We are continuing to invest in our multi-disciplinary SEP team because we see the huge value the model can bring to the health sector, as one option a Trust may wish to consider for delivering its infrastructure requirements.  We have advised on all six SEPs established to-date nationally, developing the suite of legal documentation that has formed the basis for all subsequent SEPs – including five currently in procurement.  We have first-hand experience of what makes joint ventures become successful, through ‘living and breathing’ the PPP projects we advise on, SEP being just one option.  We look forward to the awards night in May!”

More information on the Partnerships Awards can be found at http://partnershipsawards.partnershipsevents.com/