Blog

By Sajjid Kurmani, Consultant Solicitor at BMA Law

GP partnership disputes rarely arise from one isolated event. More often, they develop gradually through a combination of governance gaps, communication breakdowns, historical decisions, and personal dynamics. When matters finally tip over the line into an open dispute, partners often feel pressure to act quickly. But acting without fully understanding the landscape can create significant risk.

Over the years, I’ve seen how easily disputes escalate when partners take steps before they have a clear grasp of the legal, factual and procedural issues. That’s why my usual approach is to offer a Stage 1 diagnostic before taking any further action — a structured, front-loaded assessment designed specifically for GP partners and medical practices.

What the diagnostic involves

My diagnostic is a focused review of the key materials and events that underpin the dispute. It typically includes reviewing and considering:

• The partnership agreement and any amendments
• The chronology of events and internal communications
• How concerns or complaints have been raised and handled
• Any regulatory or governance implications
• The legal issues and potential claims on both sides

The output is a clear, practical analysis that sets out the real issues, the strengths and weaknesses of each position, and the options available.

Why I believe this step is essential

GP partnerships are unique. They combine clinical responsibilities, business ownership, regulatory oversight and a mix of long standing and new personal relationships. When disputes arise, partners often underestimate how many different strands are in play.

Without a structured diagnostic, partners can:

• Misjudge the strength of their position
• Rely on assumptions rather than evidence
• Take steps that inadvertently breach the partnership agreement
• Trigger regulatory consequences without realising
• Commit to litigation without understanding the risks
• Lose credibility later if the factual basis shifts

Parties ultimately lose at trial or are forced into poor settlements, not because their argument was weak, but because they didn’t fully understand and analyse the issues at the outset. A properly informed diagnostic helps prevent that.

Protecting the practice, not just the partners

A partnership dispute affects far more than the individuals involved. It impacts:

• staff morale
• patient continuity
• financial stability
• CQC and GMC risk
• the reputation of the practice

A diagnostic gives partners clarity early on, reduces uncertainty, and helps prevent reactive decisions that escalate matters unnecessarily.

A calmer, more strategic approach

Not every dispute needs to become adversarial. Often, once partners understand the full picture, they choose:

• a negotiated exit
• a governance reset
• mediation
• a managed performance process
• to agree to change the way they work going forwards to prevent similar disputes arising in the future

The diagnostic helps partners choose the right path — not the quickest or loudest one.

My philosophy

My approach is simple: If you don’t understand the dispute properly at the start, you can’t resolve it properly at the end.

The Stage 1 diagnostic is designed to give GP partners the clarity they need to make informed, confident decisions — and to protect both the partnership and the practice.

How we can help

We help GP partners and medical practices assess partnership disputes early, identify key risks, and decide on the right next steps. For support with partnership disputes or practice governance, please contact us on 0300 123 2014 or complete our referral form here.