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Social care

Expert legal services for the social care sector. We provide tailored, proactive advice and comprehensive support for investors, operators and funders.

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Overview Services Our work Our team What others say Insights

The social care sector in the UK is undergoing significant transformation, driven by evolving regulations, funding challenges and an ageing population.

Providers must navigate complex legislative frameworks, manage workforce issues and ensure the delivery of high-quality care. We understand these challenges and offer expert legal advice to help organisations adapt to the changing landscape.

Our health and social care lawyers have over 20 years’ experience in the sector, acting for investors, operators and funders. We take the time to work with our clients to understand the particular challenges that the sector faces so that we can provide proactive, practical advice. The importance of trusted legal advisers has never been greater, especially in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Collaboration is at the heart of our service. We work closely with specialist health and social care lawyers from across our firm, drawing on expertise in areas including banking, corporate, commercial, construction, employment, planning, real estate and regulatory law. This enables us to provide a complete legal service across the full spectrum of social care matters.

In addition, our team includes English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish qualified lawyers, allowing us to support clients with transactional and operational matters throughout the UK.

Our social care services encompass a wide range of solutions designed to address your unique challenges. From advising on regulatory compliance to supporting complex transactions, we ensure comprehensive support and guidance for every aspect of your operations.

Services

Corporate governance and reorganisations

Expertise in corporate governance and group reorganisations for social care providers and investors.

Care home transactions

Significant experience in care home and specialist care consolidations, acquisitions and disposals.

Development of care homes and retirement communities

Legal support for the development of care homes and retirement communities, from planning to completion.

Banking and finance

Advising lenders and borrowers on acquisition, development and working capital funding.

Real estate portfolio management

Specialist advice on managing real estate portfolios, including leasing, acquisitions and disposals.

Restructuring and recovery

Expertise in restructuring and recovery, with significant experience advising on distressed care home loans.

Regulatory matters

Expert guidance on navigating the complex regulatory framework governing the social care sector.

Employment and pensions

Tailored advice on employment and pensions services, including workforce management and dispute resolution.

Examples of our work

Somerset Care

Advised on its leasehold and freehold portfolio including advising on acquiring care home businesses, disposals of operational and closed homes, developing new care homes, lease negotiations with private and public landlords, and assisting the company to develop its extra care living offering.

Larchwood care home portfolio

Advising the property-owning entities on the management and disposal of its 74 care home national portfolio (includes homes across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland).

HSBC Bank and Bank Leumi

Advised HSBC Bank and Bank Leumi on a £125 million revolving credit facility to finance the development and refurbishment of retirement villages.

Bridges Fund Management

Advised on a £6 million investment into New Reflexions, supporting its expansion in the specialist children’s residential care sector.

Specialist care provider shareholders

Advised on the sale of a best-in-class provider of specialist care, education and treatment services to individuals with complex mental health needs.

Bradbury House

Guided through the regulatory requirements for registering new developments in the specialist learning disability and autism care market.

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Our team

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What others say

“The team are approachable, take the time to explain their advice and deliver swift turnaround times, along with excellent negotiation skills.”

Chambers UK 2025

“Working with Burges Salmon was a pleasure. They were extremely hard working to meet some very challenging deadlines, while also dealing with some challenging stakeholders. The key take away from the team that impressed me the most was their patience working with myself and other colleagues who were unfamiliar with this process and the complex terminology, and they always ensured that we were able to understand the next steps.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

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Insights

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