Healthcare

The continued growth in the health and care sector generally in recent years, combined with the UK’s ageing population, a fragmented structure to the sector and its strong domestic earnings have helped maintain the growth and attractiveness of healthcare businesses to operators, investors and lenders alike. With growth has also come increased and ever more complex regulation, which has been constantly developing in recent years.

Health and social care is a primary sector for our firm and that is recognised by Legal 500 who note that Druces ‘…is known for its focus on the care sector‘.

Our healthcare group is made up of individuals from our Corporate & Commercial, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property and Turnaround, Restructuring and Insolvency teams. Our lawyers have acted for many years for a large number of operators, owners, investors, banks and other lenders in the health and care sectors. In particular our Corporate team have advised on a large number of matters in connection with the acquisition and disposal of healthcare businesses and interests.

Our clients include a number of banks and financial institutions, funds, corporate and commercial providers, medical charities, pharmaceuticals companies, medical suppliers and manufacturers, owners, investors and insolvency practitioners.

Recent work

• We advised OxStem Limited on its £16.9 million financing.  OxStem Limited is an Oxford University spin-out and this transaction is believed to be the largest known funding in the UK for a new University spin-out.
• We advised on the £35 million acquisition of a group of 12 care homes in the North East.
• We advised Pickstock Group on the £7.1million sale of 75-bed St Martin’s Grange Care Home to Blackrock, one of the world’s pre-eminent asset management firms.

• We acted for a medical healthcare diagnostics company in litigation and arbitration proceedings with one of its global distributors.
• We advised on the restructure of a portfolio of 24 leasehold care homes assets spread throughout England and Wales and their sale to a major national operator.
• We acted on the sale of a medical calibration and testing company.

• We acted for a healthcare group in connection with the restructuring of £30+ million of existing finance facilities, including a revolving credit facility, term loan, overdraft and hedging facilities.

• We regularly advise healthcare businesses across the full range of employment matters they face.