We use Bird & Bird’s expertise in IT, IP and strategic partnerships to help our clients deliver smarter healthcare for the 21st century.
Our focus on ehealth projects, strategic partnerships, outsourcings and large-scale networked IT is complemented by the ecommerce, data protection compliance and regulatory work that Bird & Bird undertakes for clients operating in the healthcare sector, as well as its medical devices work and its world-renowned life-sciences and pharmaceuticals work.
Our clients - which include hospitals, financial institutions, government bodies and their suppliers - choose us for our expertise in the key technologies, processes and regulatory frameworks needed to deliver more intelligent healthcare.
Our group is based across Europe, the Middle East and Asia and has a real understanding of the sector acquired through decades of experience.
We also have exceptional insight into the challenges of delivering transformational projects and major programmes, gained through hands on support of such projects and programmes. Some of our team members are also Associate Fellows at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford where they teach on aspects of major programmes.
And our work makes a difference. In 2012 alone, we were involved with transactions which are estimated to save the English NHS over £1 billion and collaborations which will improve access to cutting-edge medical care in the Middle East.
Head of Group: Dominic Cook
Recent highlights of work
● Advising CSC on the renegotiation of contracts worth £3.3 billion – from formulating and implementing a high-level negotiation strategy to assisting with the drafting of technical materials required to underpin deployment methodologies and complex product categories.
● Advising Guy’s and St Thomas’ on a contract to provide healthcare for British forces based in Germany (as well as Holland and Belgium) – from initial tender through to signing, and on partnering with SSAFFA Forces Help.
● Advising King's College Hospital on generating independent income streams, including through the establishment of collaboration arrangements in the Middle East. For example, the negotiation of a 10 year agreement with the King Fahd Medical City in Saudi Arabia to train Saudi nurses to BSc level.
● Advising 7 NHS trusts on the extension and renegotiation of complex IT hosting and support contracts regarding patient and clinical management systems.
● Advising an NHS Foundation Trust on a complex renegotiation of PFI arrangements. As well as developing a practical approach for the renegotiation and advising on the commercial and public procurement law aspects, we advised on and assisted with real estate and employment law issues.
Advising BT on its £1.2bn healthcare contract re-set for the NHS in London.
Testimonials and Accolades
“For complex healthcare programmes, Bird & Bird has the truly rare skill for a law firm of combining a genuine understanding of programme mechanics with stakeholder engagement and effective contracting.”
Regional Commercial Director, International US Software and Application Company
“The Bird & Bird Healthcare team led by Dominic Cook always delivers. It combines genuine Health sector knowledge, great commercial acumen and an overall savoir faire that is all too rare in many lawyers and their teams nowadays. I recommend them without reservation.”
Patrick O’Connell, Chairman, Advisory Board and Practitioner Director,
BT Centre for Major Programme Management, University of Oxford
“Superb quality...produced great work, gave sound advice and supported negotiations…in a manner that was consistently professional and very effective.”
Regional Commercial Director, International US Software and Application Company
"Bird & Bird really add value when it comes to our strategic partnerships work demonstrating knowledge both in the UK and of key overseas markets. Bird & Bird worked in partnership with a great blend of core legal expertise, broader commercial and negotiation skills, deep relevant knowledge of the sector and market and delivered with excellent leadership and stakeholder management capabilities to ensure that we get a deal that works.”
David Wilson, Vice-President Global Defence & Security, BT Global Services and former general manager at BT Health