Health & Social Care Sector
Corporate Law

Commercial corporate legal advice that helps health and social care organisations thrive.

Talk to our Health & Social Care Corporate Team.

The health and social care sector is one of the UK’s most dynamic and highly regulated environments. Providers face constant change, increasing demand, evolving regulatory expectations and commercial pressures, all while maintaining the highest standards of care. Against this backdrop, organisations need corporate legal advisers who understand not only the law, but who also have extensive knowledge and understanding of the sector.

At Acuity Law, our corporate team combines exceptional technical expertise with extensive experience of advising businesses and organisations throughout the health and social care sector. Not only are we market leaders when it comes to healthcare transactions, but we also have deep experience of acting for dental practices, care home operators, housing with care organisations, home care providers, pharmacies, vets, GPs and private hospitals and clinics.

We have a strong reputation for working with corporate providers and their owners, investors and funders on their buy and build strategies and day to day businesses.

We support our health and social care clients on a full spectrum of corporate matters and transactions. From start-ups and early-stage funding rounds to management buy outs, major acquisitions, joint ventures, re-organisations and eventual exits, we act on transactions at every stage of the business lifecycle.

We recognise that every business is different. That is why we work closely in partnership with our clients, often as an extension of their in-house team. We are proud of the long-standing relationships we have with our health and social care clients, which reflect the quality and commerciality of the advice we give, our understanding of the sector and our commitment to helping our clients build resilient, successful organisations that continue to deliver outstanding care.

Specialist Corporate Law Services for the Health and Social Care Sector

Our experience extends beyond corporate law. By working extensively with organisations across the health and social care sector, we have developed a detailed understanding of the commercial landscape, regulatory environment and operational challenges facing businesses operating in this sector. This enables us to deliver advice that is both legally robust and commercially relevant. Our services include:

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)

Growth through acquisition presents significant opportunities within the health and social care sector, but it also requires careful planning and expert legal support. Our Corporate team advises buyers, sellers, investors and management teams throughout every stage of the transaction process. We understand the regulatory, commercial and operational considerations unique to health and social care businesses, enabling us to structure transactions efficiently, manage risk and deliver successful outcomes that support long-term growth and continuity of care.

Business Disposals

Selling a health or social care business is often one of the most significant decisions an owner will make. We help clients prepare for disposal, maximise value and manage transactions with confidence. Our team provides practical legal advice throughout the process, from initial planning through to completion, ensuring regulatory requirements, contractual arrangements and commercial objectives remain aligned.

Corporate Governance

Strong governance is fundamental to successful organisations operating within the health and social care sector. Our Corporate team advises boards, directors and shareholders on governance frameworks that promote accountability, effective decision-making and regulatory compliance.

Shareholder & Partnership Agreements

Clear and well-drafted shareholder and partnership agreements provide certainty, protect relationships and support long-term business success. We advise health and social care providers on creating agreements that reflect the unique needs of their organisations, establishing clear governance, decision-making processes, ownership rights and exit provisions. By anticipating future challenges and providing practical solutions, we help minimise disputes, safeguard investments and create stable foundations that allow businesses to focus on delivering high-quality care.

Due Diligence

Comprehensive due diligence is essential when acquiring, investing in or restructuring health and social care businesses, and when preparing for sale. Our experienced team undertakes detailed legal due diligence that identifies commercial, contractual, regulatory and operational risks before transactions proceed. We understand the issues that are particularly important within the sector and provide clear, commercially focused reporting that supports informed decision-making.

Management Buyouts and Buy-Ins

Management buyouts and buy-ins are transformative moments for any business, reshaping the future ownership and direction of a business. Our corporate team has extensive experience advising vendors, management teams and investors on MBO and MBI transactions within the health and social care sector, providing clear advice on deal structure, funding arrangements and incentive packages to drive future growth.

Investment

We support founders, investors and businesses on the legal and commercial aspects of investment transactions at every stage of the funding journey from early-stage investment rounds through to later stage venture and growth capital and institutional funding rounds. We understand the commercial priorities of founders, investors and businesses in the health and social care sector so are able to provide pragmatic, commercially focussed guidance on investment structures, shareholder arrangements and governance in a way that supports our clients’ immediate objectives while laying the foundations for future growth and investment to support their long-term objectives.

Employee Share Schemes and Incentives

We advise businesses on the full range of share incentive arrangements, including Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) schemes, growth share plans and other equity-based incentive structures. Our corporate legal advice is practical and commercially focused, designed to help you implement schemes that work for your business and your people by reflecting commercial strategy, strengthening alignment between employees and shareholders, and supporting sustainable growth.

Restructuring and Re-organisations

Businesses often need to adapt their structures to support growth, improve efficiency or prepare for a significant transaction. Whether you are re-organising a corporate group, transferring a business, simplifying ownership structures or preparing for investment or sale, our corporate team provides clear, commercial advice tailored to your business goals to help you plan and implement restructurings and reorganisations to achieve the outcome you need.

Cygnet Health Care

We acted for Cygnet Health Care, part of Fortune 500 ranked UHS Group, on its acquisitions of Oakview Care Services and Stepping Stones Resettlement Unit, comprising a total of 9 specialist care settings supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that challenge, and individuals with mental health needs.

Choice Care Group

We have acted for Choice Care Group, a leading specialist provider of residential and supported living care services for people with learning disabilities, autism, mental health conditions and complex needs, for over 20 years. During that time, we have advised on multiple acquisitions to expand its national footprint, including its acquisitions of:

Care Without Compromise, a specialist care provider based in south-west Wales – representing Choice’s first foray into the Welsh care scene
Derbyshire- and Nottinghamshire-based QCH (Holdings) Limited and its subsidiary Quality Care (EM) Limited
Witham Valley Care Group, based in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire
Aspire (Swansea) Limited and its subsidiary, Aspire Support Options Limited
West Midlands based EL Marsh Care
Ariya Neuro Care, a specialist provider of transitional and residential rehabilitation for individuals with acquired brain injuries

Achieve Together

We advised Achieve Together, one of the UK’s leading providers of support for people with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, on multiple acquisitions to expand its national footprint including its acquisitions of United Health Limited, Sussex Empowered Living Limited, JS Care Limited, SG Care Group Limited and Arches Support Services Limited.

Consensus Support Services

We advised Consensus Support Services, a residential care home operator and provider of supported living services supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and other complex needs, on its acquisition of residential care and support provider Creative Care.

Hartford Care Group

We acted for Hartford Care Group, a leading provider of elderly care, on its acquisition of Four Marks Limited, adding Belford House, a 32-bed care home in Hampshire, to its regional portfolio.

Hanning Homes

We advised new market entrant Hanning Homes on its acquisition of a 52-bedroom residential and dementia care business in Oxfordshire from Friends of the Elderly.

Lakeside Care Home

We advised the founder of Lakeside Care Home, a substantial 65-bed purpose built care home located in the heart of Cardiff, on the successful sale of the business after 32 years of ownership.

PortmanDentex

We advised PortmanDentex in connection with its dental acquisition strategy across the UK, involving the acquisition of both NHS and private practices.

Envisage

Acting for Envisage Dental, a UK-based, patient-centred dental group, on its acquisition strategy.

DeNovo

Advising DeNovo Dental Partners on its journey from incorporation to acquisition, including DeNovo’s purchase of six dental practices in February 2025. In this time, we also advised DeNovo on its unique shared ownership model for dental practices which allows principals to sell their practice while remaining as minority shareholders.

Confidential Client

Advising on large dental group acquisitions and disposals, including the purchase of a 12-practice dental group and the sale of an 11-practice dental group by a large corporate provider.

Jon Lawley is our key client partner and has become a very trusted adviser to our firm. Jon knows what our business needs are and is always willing to advise and support on a wide range of issues. This collegiate approach is refreshing and helps us move quickly through challenging issues.

Amidst all the commercial changes that occurred throughout the process [Beverley] always offered a very thoughtful and reasoned approach to matters and that is very much appreciated at our end.

The best decision we ever made in selecting a legal partner was to appoint [Beverley Jones] as our legal adviser. It has been – by a country mile – our largest and most complex deal we have ever participated in. [She has] been at our side every step of the way and it has given us enormous comfort to know [she has] been our adviser. The quality of advice has been consistently out of the top drawer and whilst I know [she has] fielded a bigger team of widely talented colleagues along the way I recognise [she has] done some of the heaviest lifting by far.

We have been delighted with the support provided by Jon and the rest of the Acuity team over the years, with their commercial insight and ability to get deals done quickly proving invaluable to the ongoing success of Portman’s acquisition programme. We consider Acuity to be an extended part of the Portman team and find the Acuity Counsel service to be an effective tool by which Portman’s day-to-day legal needs can be met quickly and effectively.

Supporting You Through Trusted Partnerships

We believe the best corporate law advice comes from truly understanding the organisations we support and the sector in which they operate. That is why we work in genuine partnership with our clients, often as an extension of their in-house teams. By understanding how your organisation operates, we can provide commercially led advice that is practical, proportionate and supportive of your wider business aims.

With extensive sector experience, responsive legal support and a collaborative approach, our specialist corporate team is committed to helping health and social care providers build confident, resilient and successful organisations that continue to deliver exceptional care for the communities they serve.

Awards & Credentials

The Corporate Team is ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500

Legal 500

The Corporate Team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners

Chambers and Partners

Shortlisted finalists at Health Investor Awards

Health Investor Awards

Shortlisted finalist at Social Care Top 30 Premier Supplier Awards in the Legal Services Category 2025

Social Care Top 30 Premier Supplier Awards

Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards 2025 – Jenny Wylde and Beverley Jones

Social Care Awards 2025

NASDAL membership

NASDAL

ASPD membership

ASPD

ARCO affiliate membership

ARCO

Meet Our Health & Social Care Corporate Experts

Meet the wider team

Our Health & Social Care Corporate lawyers combine deep sector knowledge with extensive corporate legal experience. We work closely with providers and professionals across the sector, so we can deliver practical advice and effective solutions when it matters most.

Beverley Jones

Senior Partner

Banking & Finance Team Corporate Team Cardiff

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Jon Lawley

Senior Partner

Corporate Healthcare Team Cardiff

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Clare Emery

Partner

Corporate Healthcare Team Liverpool

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Holly Goacher

Partner

Corporate Healthcare Team London

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Our Expertise: We Also Advise On

Apart from supporting you and your business on a wide range of health and social care corporate issues, our specialist health and social care sector team offers a full range of legal services designed to support and protect our health and social care clients.

Full list of services

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Our expert litigation lawyers can assist businesses and organisations operating within the Health & Social Care Sector to resolve disputes quickly and effectively.

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Real Estate

Property due diligence, acquisition and disposal support for real estate transactions within the health and social care sector.

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Regulation

We can provide a full range of Health and Social Care regulatory law and compliance advice to support and protect your business or organisation.

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Employment & HR

With a full understanding of the Health & Social Care sector, our experienced employment team can provide advice and guidance from TUPE and tribunal defence to HR documentation.

Need a law firm on a retainer with preferable rates?

Our Acuity Counsel Service provides you with your own dedicated team, with the ability to manage budget and control costs.

Learn more

Latest Insights from Our Health & Social Care Law Team.

Learn more

Make sure your firm knows the new rules and guidance to help tackle non-financial misconduct (NFM).

Managing CQC Prosecution Risk: What Every Provider Should Know.

How to Build a Founders’ Agreement Without Ruining Your Friendship.

Acuity Law advises GRC shareholders on sale to Marlink.

Let’s Talk

General Enquiries

+44 (0)333 016 3553 [email protected] Connect on LinkedIn

Services

Solutions

Sectors

Health & Social Care SectorCorporate Law

Commercial corporate legal advice that helps health and social care organisations thrive.

Talk to our Health & Social Care Corporate Team.

Specialist Corporate Law Services for the Health and Social Care Sector

Work Highlights

We advised Consensus Support Services, a residential care home operator and provider of supported living services supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and other complex needs, on its acquisition of residential care and support provider Creative Care.

We acted for Hartford Care Group, a leading provider of elderly care, on its acquisition of Four Marks Limited, adding Belford House, a 32-bed care home in Hampshire, to its regional portfolio.

We advised new market entrant Hanning Homes on its acquisition of a 52-bedroom residential and dementia care business in Oxfordshire from Friends of the Elderly.

We advised the founder of Lakeside Care Home, a substantial 65-bed purpose built care home located in the heart of Cardiff, on the successful sale of the business after 32 years of ownership.

We advised PortmanDentex in connection with its dental acquisition strategy across the UK, involving the acquisition of both NHS and private practices.

Acting for Envisage Dental, a UK-based, patient-centred dental group, on its acquisition strategy.

Advising on large dental group acquisitions and disposals, including the purchase of a 12-practice dental group and the sale of an 11-practice dental group by a large corporate provider.

What Our Clients Say

Supporting You Through Trusted Partnerships

Awards & Credentials

The Corporate Team is ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500

The Corporate Team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners

Shortlisted finalists at Health Investor Awards

Shortlisted finalist at Social Care Top 30 Premier Supplier Awards in the Legal Services Category 2025

Women Achieving Greatness in Social Care Awards 2025 – Jenny Wylde and Beverley Jones

NASDAL membership

ASPD membership

ARCO affiliate membership

Meet Our Health & Social Care Corporate Experts

Beverley Jones

Jon Lawley

Clare Emery

Holly Goacher

Our Expertise: We Also Advise On

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Real Estate

Regulation

Employment & HR

Need a law firm on a retainer with preferable rates?

Latest Insights from Our Health & Social Care Law Team.

Make sure your firm knows the new rules and guidance to help tackle non-financial misconduct (NFM).

Managing CQC Prosecution Risk: What Every Provider Should Know.

How to Build a Founders’ Agreement Without Ruining Your Friendship.

Acuity Law advises GRC shareholders on sale to Marlink.

Let’s Talk

Health & Social Care Sector
Corporate Law