Sintons LLP has a longstanding reputation as the firm of choice for other professionals and specifically those in the healthcare sector. There are specialists accessible within Sintons LLP to service all the needs of a dental practitioner from will drafting and residential purchases and a dental practice in relation to employment, commercial property, commercial disputes, partnership agreements and corporate finance.
Our aim is always to work in a pragmatic, professional manner coupling legal advice with common sense and commerciality, in order to achieve the best results for our clients.
Clients include prominent companies, organisations and private individuals. Sintons LLP is one of the North East's leading law firms, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. We are a 21 partner, 160 employee firm with a strong track record of growth. The firm is structured into main practice groups – Commercial, Private Client and Personal Injury, making us one of the broadest firms of this size in the region.
The expertise of Amanda Maskery, and the firm generally, in the healthcare sector has been wide ranging. In the last 12 months alone we have advised on over 20 transactions involving sales and purchases of dental practices, a number of incorporations of dental practices, warranty claims in respect of practice sales and formation of partnerships.
The Lawyer magazine recently described Sintons as 'one of the real stars of the region.' The firm has been an Investor in People for over 10 years and is renowned for its excellent approach to its staff and clients. In 2008, Sintons joined the International Jurists, a network of commercial law firms in 25 countries across the world. These are examples of the firm's continued development and commitment to its breadth and depth of service.
Lockharts are experts in providing specialist dental advice. Andrew Lockhart-Mirams is also a member of NASDA, is top ranked in Chambers and recommended by Legal 500 and the BDA.
Our areas include: NHS Regulatory law, NHS contract reviews, Practice Sale/Purchases, Partnership and Expense Sharing, Dispute resolution, Judicial Review, Company, Property, Employment, Disciplinary and Fitness to Practise, Wills and Trademarks.
We specialise in advising dental partnerships, sole practitioners, companies and professional bodies located throughout England and Wales.
By focusing on work in the healthcare sector, we have developed an excellent understanding of the range of issues affecting healthcare professionals and gained considerable expertise in creating practical solutions.
Andrew Lockhart-Mirams, the Senior Partner at Lockharts, is also a member the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants (NASDA) and is ranked number one in Chambers 2008 and 2009 for his work and is recommended by the Legal 500.
We have comprehensive knowledge of the legislative and regulatory framework for dentistry and healthcare generally. We provide expert advice and professional support in the areas of GDS and PDS contracts, drafting and interpretation of healthcare provider contract terms, Pension Scheme Regulations, contract variations, and negotiations with Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
New GDS Contract Reviews
Where PCTs are carrying out mid-year reviews relating to performance of contracts, we are able to advise on the legal issues leading to such reviews and on any action the PCT takes following a review.
Lockharts is top-ranked for Partnership work in Chambers UK 2008 and 2009 Legal Directory. Leading the field in partnership work, our firm's expertise encompasses: creation of tailored agree-ments for partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs); interpretation and advice on existing partnership terms; expense sharing agreements; variation of partnerships and terms; advice on changes in partnership law; property matters; dispute resolution; fitness-to-practise matters; and employment issues.
Expense Sharing
We advise on drawing up expense sharing arrangements and the suitability of this
arrangement in respect of alternatives such as setting up a full partnership. We are experienced in tailoring expense sharing agreements to the specific needs and requirements of our clients.
Dispute Resolution
We always encourage our clients to take appropriate measures to limit the likelihood of disputes arising. However, invariably some practices will at some point find themselves faced with a dispute involving partners and/or employees.
We can help with: negotiations and settlements when partners retire voluntarily or compulsorily; advice on internal partnership disputes, dissolutions and expulsion of partners; acting on behalf of partnerships and individual partners in ADR, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings; and advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants, including acting to obtain injunction applica-tions.
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PRACTICE PURCHASES & MERGERS
The firm assists with practice mergers and acquisitions, including advising on the due diligence process as it relates to healthcare practices, regulatory notice and consent requirements, staff transfers, property transfers and the regulations relating to sale of goodwill.
Forming Companies or LLPs
Dentists may wish to provide dental services through a company or LLP. Our commercial team are experienced in setting up companies and LLPs and tailoring documentation for existing companies and LLPs to meet the particular requirements of the sector.
Shareholder Agreements
As part of setting up company arrangements, shareholders often enter into a shareholders' agree-ment by which they agree on specific issues relating to the management of the company and on how disputes and 'dead-locks' between the shareholders can be resolved.
They are designed to ensure that companies achieve the objectives for which they are established by avoiding uncertainty and consequential disputes. They are also often used to protect minority shareholders against oppression by the majority.
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PREMISES
Combining our intimate knowledge of dental and medical partnerships with our commercial property expertise, we can give unique specialist advice to dental professionals in all matters relating to their premises.
We give advice and support in respect of any property transaction, including: leases; commercial property sales & acquisitions; re-mortgaging; transfers of partnership property; co-ownership arrangements; stamp duty land tax returns; disputes and property litigation; and, premises devel-opments & finance.
We take a practical and commercial approach aimed at completing property transactions quickly, thoroughly and with confidence.
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EMPLOYMENT LAW
Our extensive experience of working with professionals has equipped us to provide employment advice tailored to the particular needs of healthcare practitioners. As with so many areas of law, properly drafted policies, procedures and contracts will go a long way to helping to avoid dis-putes. Specialist advice at the right time will save money in the longer term.
We can give practical and informed advice in the following areas: employment contracts; statutory employment rights; data protection; disciplinary and grievance procedures; equal opportunities and discrimination law; health and safety; employment tribunal claims;
redundancy and dismissal; restrictive covenants; and employment aspects of practice takeovers and mergers.
Associate & Hygienist Agreements
In addition to the services we provide on Employment Law, our Employment and Regulatory Teams are happy to advise on Associate and Hygienist Agreements and the legal issues surrounding them.
Disciplinary & Fitness-to-Practise
Lockharts have membership of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Solicitors. In the unfortunate event that a dental practitioner is the subject of investigation or charged with a discipli-nary offence by their regulatory and professional body, we can provide advice and, if required, representation where a disciplinary hearing is unavoidable.
Again, our solicitors bring the advantages of having worked almost exclusively with healthcare professionals along with their marked expertise in partnership law, regulatory law and litigation.
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CHAMBERS AND PARTNERS 2009 ENTRY
Offering a 'much wider breadth of knowledge and expertise' than many of its competitors, the firm comes highly recommended and gives clients 'very little reason to shop around.'
Maxwell Hodge Solicitors is recommended as having appropriate expertise in the legal requirements of the dental profession.
Maxwell Hodge are legal members of the Association of Specialist Providers to Dentists (ASPD) and the National Association of Specialist Dental Accountants (Solicitors Section) (NASDA). The Firm is recommended as having appropriate expertise in the legal requirements of the dental profession including :-
Expense sharing agreements
Such agreements offer the ability to share practice premises, equipment, employees and/or other expenses with fellow practitioners whilst keeping personal income, expenses and assets separate. The details of the expense sharing agreement should be set out appropriately to avoid disputes and provide certainty particularly at a time when practitioners choose to go their separate ways. Maxwell Hodge can help with putting in place an agreement tailored to the needs of the individual practitioner.
Partnership agreements
Rights and responsibilities of partners are governed by the agreement which exists between them and/or the Partnership Act 1890. A written partnership agreement is recommended to deal with issues such as arrangements for profit sharing, how decisions are to be made for the running of the partnership business and what happens if a partner dies or retires from the business for any reason. Every partner is an agent of the others and may, on behalf of the partnership, enter contracts, incur debts and dispose of partnership property in the ordinary course of the partnership business and it is important these matters are dealt with in a formal partnership agreement. We will discuss with you the requirements for your partnership and draft an appropriate agreement specific to your needs and requirements.
Associate agreements
An Associates Agreement governs the relationship between two dentists who areindependent contractors but who are neither partners nor expense sharing principals. Issues covered by such an agreement may include ownership of goodwill, financial arrangements, fee assignments, bad debts, termination, non-competition and dispute resolution. Maxwell Hodge can assist in ensuring that an appropriate agreement is drafted on your behalf.
Buying and selling dental practices
We have extensive experience in the purchase and sale of practices and the practical steps surrounding practice retirement procedures.
Premises issues
Maxwell Hodge are able to provide assistance with the purchase and/or renting of commercial premises and have extensive experience in this field.
Employment advice
Maxwell Hodge have a dedicated employment team able to provide a range of advice on employment issues including contracts of employment, disciplinary and termination procedures, discrimination law and other intricate problems occurring during the employment relationship. Where a dispute arises we can help resolve it. Failing this Maxwell Hodge will provide representation in Employment Tribunals and court.
Restrictive covenants
In principle, restrictive covenants which seek to prevent Associates and other senior employees from engaging in their profession after termination of employment are anti-competitive, in restraint of trade and potentially void. However, an appropriately drafted restrictive covenant contained within a suitable agreement and freely entered into will normally be enforced provided such covenants do no more than is reasonable to protect the legitimate business interests of the ex-employer. We can draft suitable covenants which will normally relate to patients with whom the ex-Associate/employee has had contact within the recent past.
Dispute resolution
Everyone hopes that their working relationships will run smoothly.Occasionally, however, disputes will arise and it is vital that you are armed with the best possible legal advice. Maxwell Hodge will assist in setting out options and answers which may enable the problem to be resolved at an early stage. If not, however, we can assist at all levels up to arbitration and court/tribunal proceedings.
NHS Issues
The new contracts introduced for NHS dentistry in April 2006 raise important issues.
All practices doing NHS work must now consider how units of dental activity are to be delivered by principals and associates alike to avoid the consequences that might result from under performance. All practice agreements and, particularly, associates agreements should be reviewed to ensure that they take full account of those changes.
Goodman Legal are the experts in professional legal services for dental practices. Our professional team includes qualified medical staff as well as specialist lawyers, selected for their ability and expertise.
Goodman Legal are the experts in professional legal services for dental practices.
Our professional team includes qualified medical staff as well as specialist lawyers, selected for their ability and expertise. As a dental client, you will be represented by a dedicated partner who understands your commercial and professional objectives as well as your legal requirements.
We understand that not all businesses are the same. Goodman Legal offer a portfolio of specialist legal services carefully tailored to the needs of dental practices, operating in today's environment.
As well as a swift and robust response where problems or opportunities arise, we can help you interpret new and existing regulations in the most beneficial way for your practice.
We can advise on the legal issues you should be aware of and put safeguards in place to protect your practice for the future as well as optimising your business for today.
Dental Practice sale and purchase
Practice merger and acquisition
Contracts
Partnership agreements
Partnership dissolution
Expense Sharing agreements
Associate and hygienist agreements
Dispute resolution
Employment matters
Sale and purchase of premises
Freehold and leasehold property
Commercial debt recovery
While you are busy caring for your patients, you can be confident that your interests are being looked after by our expert lawyers.
Our professional team will provide the most considered legal advice available and will make sure that your interests are protected.
Gordons Solicitors specialist dental services include the acquisition/disposal of dental practices throughout the UK and the preparation of expense sharing/partnership/associate and hygienist agreements and all other dental related contractual agreements.
Mark Santa-Olalla has for a number of years provided legal services to the dental profession.
These services include the acquisition/disposal of dental practices throughout the UK. The preparation of expense sharing/partnership/associate and hygienist agreements and all other dental related contractual agreements. He has been on the list of recommended solicitors issued by the British Dental Association for over 15 years and is a member of the Association of Service Providers to Dentists.
The rhw Dental Law Team is primarily involved in the sale and purchase of dental practices and advises clients on expense-sharing agreements and employment matters. Recently we have expanded our team of lawyers to cover partnership disputes and to deal with the incorporation of practices.
As it has done so for many years, our Dental Law team, now headed up by Chris Pomfret, continues to advise members of the dental profession in regard to a wide range of matters concerning dental practices.
Some of the areas where we can assist and advise are as follows:
Practice Purchase
Preparing the Heads of Terms, negotiating the contract, dealing with staff and property matters, transferring the NHS contract and generally handling all the legal aspects of purchasing a dental practice and the surgery premises.
Practice Sale
How to prepare for the sale of your practice, keeping information about your practice confidential, limiting your liability, granting a lease, and generally dealing with all the legal aspects of selling your dental practice and the surgery premises.
Setting up a Squat
Dealing with the purchase of premises, whether freehold or leasehold, and assisting with planning applications.
Expense Sharing and Partnership Agreements
Preparing agreements to deal with partnership and expense sharing arrangements and advising on buy-out provisions.
Employment Contracts and Associate Agreements
Advising on the statutory requirements for employment contracts, drafting contracts and employment policies, advising on associate agreements and drafting effective binding-out provisions.
Binding-out Provisions
Advising on the effectiveness of binding-out provisions and enforcement of their terms.
Regulatory Matters
Advising you on issues arising under your NHS contract and dealing with appropriate procedures necessary to transfer your NHS contract on sale.
Contact Persons
Chris Pomfret, Martyn Whiteman or Mark Waterfield
Edwin Ross gives a nationwide personal service and caters for the legal needs of Dentists, including: practice sales and purchases; pct problems; partnership agreements; expense sharing agreements; practice finance; agreements for associates & hygienists and Wills Tax and Trusts for Dentists.
Edwin Ross gives a nationwide personal service and caters for the legal needs of Dentists, including:
practice sales and purchases;
pct problems;
partnership agreements;
expense sharing agreements;
practice finance;
agreements for associates & hygienists and
Wills Tax and Trusts for Dentists
John Grant is the Head of the Dental Division at Cohen Cramer whose lawyers have been providing legal advice to dentists for over 20 years.
Reduce your blood pressure, choose Cohen Cramer for all your legal requirements.
Cohen Cramer is a Leeds based national law firm formed as a result of the merger of Howard Cohen & Co and Cramer Richards.
Lawyers – comprising qualified Solicitors and Barristers - in the Dental Division have the combined specialist knowledge and experience enabling the Division to offer a comprehensive range of bespoke services to Dentists.
“I found John Grant to be very impressive. The murky world of law tends to raise my blood pressure but we live in a legal world we can’t avoid and I would prefer John Grant on my side”
Michael Oliver , Dental Practice Owner ,Newcastle.
Providing a service of integrity and care ensuring that your best interests are protected now and in the future, recognised by the BDA, based on over 15 years specialist representation of clients in the dental sector for all their legal advice requirements.
With specialist legal services for Dentists and the dental industry, QualitySolicitors Burn & Company provide legal services in respect of:
the acquisition and sale of dental practices or interests in dental practices;
contractual 'partnership' matters or Expense Sharing Agreements;
advice upon negotiations with PCTs;
employment problems or issues as well as consultations for estate planning and asset protection.
Providing a service of integrity and care ensuring that your best interests are protected now and in the future, recognised by the BDA, based on over 15 years specialist representation of clients in the dental sector for all their legal advice requirements.
QualitySolicitors Burn & Company aim to take away as much as possible of any hassle that you might otherwise experience elsewhere when employing our specialist, confidential and responsive advice and assistance, allowing you to concentrate on your overall goals for work or life.
