Pictured above: Berryman Healthcare has boosted its sector-specific expertise with the hire of Linda Richardson (right), pictured with (L to R) Amanda Gale (mental health solicitor), John Roddy (former Regional Director of RBS Healthcare) and Roger Harcourt (partner and head of Berryman Healthcare).

Two key hires by Midlands law firm Berryman have strengthened its dedicated Healthcare team, considered by the firm to be 'unique amongst law firms in the region in its holistic approach, structure and specialist legal and non-legal expertise'.

Linda Richardson, previously Operations Director in high-end national care home group Majesticare, and Amanda Gale, a solicitor recognised locally as proactively driving the mental health and dignity agenda, have joined Berryman Healthcare.

Roger Harcourt, who leads the team, comments: "Linda's involvement in the team enables us to provide a truly holistic service to care providers and their funders alike. She has extensive experience of operating residential, nursing, EMI and YPD care homes.

"Amanda Gale, recently hired into our private client team, is Chairperson and director of the charity Radford Care Group, a local charity working hard to assist with the care of elderly people both directly and indirectly by facilitating vital knowledge sharing and signposting for healthcare professionals and advisors. Amanda is recognised for her expertise in advising elderly clients and those who care for them, particularly in relation to mental incapacity and deprivation of liberties issues."

The latest hires bolster Berryman Healthcare's legal and non-legal expertise to fulfil its objective of delivering a unique and holistic solution for businesses operating in the healthcare sector. 

The team also recently appointed John Roddy, former Regional Director of Healthcare at RBS Bank plc, and boasts legal expertise in each of the key business and operational areas affecting healthcare businesses. 

"The healthcare sector is unique, having to balance the need to deliver personalised care against economic viability, within a discrete regulatory regime that is constantly shifting, whilst dealing with specific human resources issues and service users whose status and needs can change quickly and repeatedly," says Roger. "Healthcare operators therefore need a dedicated team, like Berryman Healthcare, that draws together sector experts, who can deliver 'joined up' solutions, to help protect and develop their businesses.  

"This was the main driver in creating Berryman Healthcare. It breaks the mould of the majority of law firms, by stepping outside of the usual structure defined by legal specialism and gathering together experts on legal, operational and funding issues, to deliver a one-stop-shop from which our clients can pick and choose the scope and level of support they require. There can be a fine line separating a healthcare business which is simply ticking over from one which is flying, or even between success and failure. We aim to help our healthcare clients achieve more."

Berryman Healthcare will be launched at an event dedicated to informing healthcare businesses, their funders and advisers about the team and its services - with some ideas on how to boost profits by recovering training costs. For more information about the lunchtime event at Berryman on Thursday 3rd December 2009, or to reserve a place, contact: Sue Carr at Berryman, T: 0845 310 7200.

The Berryman Healthcare team also includes:

• Roger Harcourt - who helps care businesses to grow through acquisition and operators to exit their businesses, when the time is right.  

• Alan Millband - a business defence expert who both defends operators who fall foul of the ever increasing regulatory burden and implements risk analysis and auditing systems to prevent them from doing so.  

• Ian Cranefield - who specialises in advising care businesses on how best to protect themselves against neglect and financial abuse claims.  

• Ginny Hallam - assists healthcare businesses to recruit and retain appropriately qualified staff and negotiate the many pitfalls in employment law. 

• Richard Brackenbury - a construction specialist who advises operators on developing new premises.

• Andrew Beattie - advises numerous care operators on purchasing or selling premises.