Resources

Putting your partnership property in good order So, why should you formalise your real estate requirements? Every day at BMA Law we see first-hand the issues caused where GP partnerships have not correctly formalised their real estate options and documentation. It is highly recommended that you formalise your partnership property documentation to: correctly mirror the way property assets are held within the partnership agreement; comply…

Brexit and GP commercial contracts: what should you be thinking about now? It’s more important than ever for GP practices to think ahead about the potential impact Brexit has on commercial contracts. You need to be considering your portfolio of commercial contracts to work out whether you’ll have to re-negotiate, or have the right to terminate, contracts, as a result of Brexit. This is particularly…

Safeguarding your business assets: How can GP practices protect their intellectual property? People often get confused between the different ways that you can protect your intellectual property: trademarks, copyrights and patents. An easy way to think of it is that trademarks help define and protect unique aspects of your business’ brand, like your name, logo or strapline – whereas copyright and patents apply to things…

A partnership dispute with premise issues A real-life example of the struggles when a partnership turns sour The issue BMA Law were instructed on behalf of a GP who was one of two partners left in a London practice. At the time, three retired partners were threatening proceedings for payment of their share of the premises which were held in a separate deed. To make…

The following briefing has been created in partnership with our expert legal partner Mills & Reeve. Primary Care Networks: What you need to know GP contractors across England have been holding their breath awaiting the launch of the Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Service contract (DES) following the announcement of the 2019/20 GP contract changes in January. With the launch of the DES, the required…

Service Charges: when are they payable? Understanding when your landlord can and cannot charge you service charges. Landlords will often seek to recover their costs associated with a let property from tenants by way of service charge payments. As a tenant, it is important to be aware what costs can and cannot be recovered by the landlord through service charge demands. General position Generally, no…

Super partnerships: could they benefit you? The key things to explore before entering into a super partnership With the drive to encourage GP Practices to work more collaboratively, we have seen the emergence of so-called ‘super partnerships’. As a business model, a super partnership describes a situation where multiple practices have agreed to merge and/or work together whilst retaining the traditional partnership model.   If…

NHSPS template lease update Achievements so far, and what's to come. Since the release of the new NHSPS template lease in 2016, the BMA – alongside BMA Law – have been working to address the key residual issues that have prevented many GP tenants from signing up to the lease. As you will no doubt be aware, these issues primarily concerned the lack of clarity…

Practice Merger Guidance This comprehensive guidance document advises on the key aspects to take into account when considering or undertaking a practice merger. It outlines the advantages and disadvantages of merging, as well as how to manage the contractual and regulatory aspects. If you are considering a practice merger, it is essential that you seek expert legal advice from the outset. BMA Law can provide…

Practice Mergers - Practical Considerations This short guidance document focuses on the specific practical aspects involved in a merger. It outlines the top five six things you should consider when embarking on a practice merger. If you are considering a practice merger, it is essential that you seek expert legal advice from the outset. BMA Law can provide a full range of follow-up services, such…