Pictured above: Berryman Healthcare's Roger Harcourt with Simon Hodgkinson at the Westcliffe Care Home in Radcliffe on Trent

Former England rugby international and Nottingham captain Simon Hodgkinson has successfully embarked on a new career as the owner of a care home, thanks to an integrated legal advisory service from the dedicated healthcare team at Nottingham law firm Berryman.

Simon is the new owner of the Westcliffe Care Home in Radcliffe on Trent, a purchase he has made with the support and guidance of Berryman Healthcare.

Head of Berryman Healthcare, Roger Harcourt, explains: "Simon met with one of our private client solicitors in the healthcare team to discuss his will. As part of the discussion, Simon explained he was considering purchasing a care home and embarking on a new career in the healthcare sector.

"The integrated approach of our healthcare team, our knowledge of and contacts within the healthcare sector, meant we were able to help Simon fulfil his ambition, and provide seamless advice in order to develop his ideas in consultation with our key sector specialists in the relevant areas of the law.  

"We worked with Simon to identify the type of care home business he was looking for, and through our contacts we found the right care home that was available for purchase. We also put him in touch with a specialist healthcare accountant, whilst our contacts with local financial institutions meant we were able to introduce him to three banks and work with him on negotiating favourable terms for the funding of the purchase. Berryman Healthcare's operational support since proved crucial in obtaining credit approval for the lending.

"The team also advised him on all commercial due diligence and legal acquisition documentation to ensure completion of the transaction.

"Now the purchase has completed, we are continuing to work with Simon and his wife as mentors to assist in 'upskilling' them to ensure the efficient running of the care home."

Roger adds: "This transaction is a great demonstration of the healthcare team's integrated service that enables us to utilise specialist sector knowledge to facilitate every step of the process, helping clients like Simon to turn ideas into results. Whilst the team acts for numerous healthcare clients on the individual components that made up this transaction, this is the first time we've handled the whole end-to-end service for a client new to the sector."

On working with the Berryman Healthcare team, Simon Hodgkinson said: "I have been really impressed with how the team has held my hand throughout the purchase process. I am not sure I would have been able to complete the deal without Berryman's professionalism, patience and knowledge of the care sector. If I ever look to buy another home, or the time comes to sell Westcliffe, I will not consider using anyone but the Berryman team."

Alongside Roger Harcourt, head of Berryman Healthcare and a healthcare corporate finance banking law specialist, the transaction team included the firm's Linda Richardson, John Roddy, David Sauvain and Guy Whitehead. Accountants on the deal were Colin Peacock and Simon Hopkin of Greenhalgh, and the purchase was funded by Lloyds TSB, whose team was led by its Senior Healthcare Business Consultant Jon Saltinstall.

Roger adds: "We are aware that the healthcare sector is unique, not least as it has to balance the need to deliver personalised care against economic viability, within a discrete regulatory regime that is constantly shifting. Driven by these key considerations we believe healthcare operators need a dedicated team, like that of Berryman Healthcare and by drawing together sector experts, Berryman Healthcare is able to deliver 'joined up' solutions, to help protect and develop clients businesses - characteristics that are typified by the transaction we have completed for Simon. " 

Colin Peacock of Greenhalgh adds: "It was really pleasing to work with fellow professionals on this deal to ensure that the whole process worked well to ensure that the clients expectations were met."

Nottingham firm Berryman merged with Midlands law firm Shakespeare Putsman in 2010, creating one of the Midlands' largest law firms. The firm advises businesses and individuals and provides a broad range of legal services.