DAC Beachcroft strengthened its position as the leading strategic, commercial and regulatory legal adviser to health and social care organisations in both the public and private sectors by picking up two trophies at the HealthInvestor Awards 2023.

The firm was named ‘Legal Advisors of the Year – Public’ for the third successive year, acknowledging the high-quality legal support it provides to the NHS, local authorities, regulators and other public sector organisations.

In recognition of its work for independent health and social care clients, DACB also collected the ‘Legal Advisors of the Year – Private’ award for the second time in three years.

Supporting the NHS

Over the past 12 months, DACB has extended its 75-year partnership with the NHS by offering innovative solutions to novel and complex legal issues and helping it negotiate one of the most challenging periods in its history.

The firm has continued working on high-profile projects and NHS judicial reviews – including advising NHS England (NHSE) in the case of R (Gardner) v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which examined the government’s response to the pandemic and its impact on care home residents, and was one of the most significant public law and human rights claims of the year.

DACB also acted on behalf of England’s only NHS gender identity service for children and young people, and advised NHSE on fast-changing legal and policy developments in relation to the aftermath of the Covid pandemic (including the Covid Inquiry).

DACB puts its vast experience in the health sector to good use by advising over 300 health sector providers and commissioners – including more than 50% of NHS hospitals in England – and providing unrivalled insight into the issues faced by public sector health clients.

Working with the independent health sector

Set apart by the scale, breadth and strength in depth of its health and social care team, DACB also prides itself on supporting independent clients to deliver improved patient outcomes. The firm’s work covers the full breadth of legal services, including corporate, commercial, regulatory, claims, employment, real estate, public law, governance and tax.

An unparalleled understanding of the private health and social care sector, combined with an outstanding client service and an ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with clients has undoubtedly enabled DACB to strengthen the quality of its independent client base – which includes major flagship health and social care operators – and win work from both new and long-standing clients.

DACB also works at the cutting edge of medtech and digital health, advising established medical devices manufacturers, digital health innovators and healthtech scale-ups which are bringing technology and novel models of healthcare delivery to the wider healthcare sector.

Making a difference

To ensure it remains at the forefront of the market with the capacity, capability and agility to deliver its clients’ ambitions, DACB has continued to invest in its health business over the past year, with three partner lateral hires and 10 internal promotions to partner, legal director and senior associate level. In May 2023, partner Hamza Drabu was appointed as DACB’s head of health to oversee the continued growth of its international, national and regional health business.

During 2022, DACB also continued to make a difference beyond its traditional work as legal advisors. To keep clients one step ahead of key issues and impending legislative changes, the firm hosted events with keynote speeches from frontbench politicians, formed strategic alliances and partnerships with influential industry bodies, and published industry reports which help inform clients’ thinking about the future of the sector.

Hamza Drabu says, “Every year the HealthInvestor Awards attract entries from the very best organisations operating, investing or advising in health and social care. To win in both categories endorses the strength, depth and breadth of the work of our DACB health and social care team.

“We are enormously grateful for the trust of our clients as we continue to support them through strategically significant challenges to provide safe and high-quality care.”