Justin Cumberlege

Justin Cumberlege leads the firm’s healthcare law team, acting for GPs, companies and NHS bodies which are breaking the mould for NHS primary healthcare provision. With an established background in property developments, Justin’s healthcare and public sector focus encompasses housing association and charity work, often related to the healthcare sector.

Career highlights include:

· Mapping the introduction of the provision of private primary healthcare for a prospective provider which was a multi-national company, and advising on the valuing of goodwill with GMS Contracts.

· Pioneering a route for mixed private/public finance before the introduction of PFI to build a polyclinic, using a charitable vehicle.  

· Achieving first registration of the NHS estate on establishment of NHS trusts, involving the investigation of complex titles.

Since the introduction of GMS and APMS contracts in the provision of NHS services, contractual primary healthcare law issues have been a growing part of Justin’s practice. Helping clients get the flexibility and opportunity for innovation that they are seeking within the multitude of guidelines and regulations within the NHS system is his greatest challenge. A clear understanding of GMS, APMS and now the NHS Contract for Community Services is the key to how Justin rises to that challenge.

Current work being undertaken by Justin’s team includes a major redevelopment and portfolio re-financing for a housing association, negotiation of sub-contracts to a NHS Contract for Community Services, the merger of several charities through a Scheme negotiated with the Charity Commission and the incorporation of a charity.

Before becoming a solicitor, Justin graduated in History and English and gained useful work experience in three different continents. In Kenya he worked for the Church in the development of new housing technology for its farm and on publicity material for the Cathedral. In Germany Justin worked in a factory making spanners for Porsche and for oil rigs. In India he lectured in English at Voorhees College, Madras University, in Vellore and wrote publicity material for CMC Hospital, Vellore.

Justin has, throughout his career, worked in the legal centre of London close to the Royal Courts of Justice before moving into the heart of the City of London.  For five years he ran the London office of a provincial firm. Having acted predominantly for National Health Service clients when he qualified in 1991, Justin has continued his strong links with the health service acting for NHS bodies through various transitions, as well as for GPs and private sector developers in their property and contractual matters.  Justin was instructed on a number of projects grant aided by the public sector, negotiating the quasi-joint venturing documentation and overage provisions to secure the public funding.

In his work, Justin always aims, “not to say something cannot be done without offering a way to achieve the same objective”, whether it be in the NHS primary healthcare work, acting for charities or in commercial property transactions.

Justin has recently had a series of articles published in GP Magazine’s Medeconomics section about primary healthcare contracts and has led seminars for clients and contacts. He has spoken publicly on commercial property matters.

Outside the office, Justin has a full and active life too, furiously cycling to and from work and enjoying riding horses in beautiful countryside in Sussex and various parts of Europe. He is active in his local church, less active in his garden, and relaxes at the opera and cinema and outings with his wife on their tandem.