Welcome to Clarkson Wright & Jakes LLP (“CWJ”) Medical Partnerships team. Although we are all experts in our respective fields, we have combined our expertise to provide a comprehensive specialist service to medical practitioners.

We have many GP clients in Kent, the South East and elsewhere. Our specialisation is, in fact, recognised on a nationwide basis as Michael North and William Addis, respectively experts in partnership and employment law are both featured in the Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession.

Michael works closely with Nicky Androsov who is an expert in settling and advising on commercial contracts while Deepak Gupta is able to deal with the many and varied property arrangements associated with the ownership and occupation of surgeries. Deepak has recently been selected as a “leader in his field” by Chambers and will feature in the 2011 directory.

It has been said of Michael North, who has for some time been regarded as a leading practitioner in this field, that he is “one of the few practitioners who understands medical practices as being distinct from other property”. It is important for the legal position with regard to the ownership and occupational arrangements to be accurately recorded in partnership agreements. Ideally practices should structure their partnerships to enable agreements to record surgeries as being the assets of the practice; alternatively the appropriate licence arrangements should be incorporated.

The BMA in fact advises that all practices enter into written partnership agreements and for very good reasons which include the potential loss of your NHS Contract. You can read more about this on our Partnership Agreements page.

We have adopted an established procedure to prepare partnership agreements based on the completion of a questionnaire. On receipt of a completed questionnaire, we will give a firm estimate of the fees involved to prepare a draft agreement.

We always advocate taking the advice of other relevant professional experts and in particular practice accountants and surveyors experienced in this field. We can assist you in finding an appropriately qualified adviser.

Unavoidably, there will from time to time be disputes and in this respect Amanda Mehlin, a litigation partner, will be able to help you, while William Addis and his team will be able to offer their particular expertise in related aspects of employment law.

For more information about our medical partnerships services or to make an appointment, please contact Linda Chadwick on 01689 887853 or email her at linda.chadwick@cwj.co.uk