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Dickinson Dees LLP advises Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust on major PFI project

leading law firm has provided full legal counsel on project to develop new hospitals at Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield and Pontefract General Infirmary

August 03, 2007

Dickinson Dees has advised the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust on a circa £300m PFI project, which has just completed.

The project has successfully funded two new hospitals in Wakefield and Pontefract. The funding for the project came through a public bond issue and the European Investment Bank. Dickinson Dees’ 7-strong team provided full legal advice to the Trust throughout the project on the procurement and contract documents. This included specialist advice on commercial, funding, employment, property and construction issues.

The firm’s property specialists had to resolve historical land ownership issues, some of which dated back nearly three centuries. The team were then able to regulate the sites for development by the Trust.

Throughout the development, the team also worked closely with utility companies to ensure safe access across the site and minimum disruption to the existing hospital site.

“The sites for the scheme are nearly 300 years old so before any work could start, the property team was faced with a considerable amount of work piecing together ownership of the sites, parcels of which had reverted to the Crown, and ensuring that the client was making properly informed decisions on title and other issues as the project progressed,” said Mitch Brown, partner and Head of Housing Investment at Dickinson Dees. “Without this vital preparation work and practical strategic advice on delivery of the scheme, the development simply could not have progressed, wasting considerable work and public funds”

Myles McQuade, the Mid Yorkshire NHS Trust’s project director for the PFI scheme commented, “Dickinson Dees’ approach to this project was both professional and diligent at all times. Its experience in the PFI / PPP market place has enabled the Trust to execute a streamlined procurement, which will deliver the best standards of healthcare to local residents.”

Executive quote

“The fact that this project covered the construction of two new hospitals marks this as a major success for UK PFI projects,” said Tim Care, partner, Dickinson Dees. “A careful and considered approach is vital to projects of this scale to ensure an effective completion. The Trust should be recognised for this outstanding achievement.

Customer quote

” Myles McQuade, the Trust’s Project Director for the PFI scheme commented, “Dickinson Dees’ approach to this project was both professional and diligent at all times. Its experience in the PFI / PPP market place played a major role in the Trust’s ability to secure a robust deal. The team became an integral part of the Trust’s Project Management group and added value through out the period of the procurement process to the point of closing the deal.”

About the company

Dickinson Dees is one of the UK’s leading law firms. Based in the North East of England, with 78 partners and 925 people in all, the firm provides legal services to corporate, commercial, public sector and private clients across the UK.

Dickinson Dees prides itself on the high quality and personal service it offers clients, providing complete transparency from pitch to proposal to project. Its stable partnership and high growth rate make it one of the most successful law firms in the UK today.

The firm counts some of the UK’s largest organisations amongst its clients including major banks, industry and retailers. It also supports some of Britain’s fastest growing dynamic young businesses. Recent multimillion pound deals have included work for major national plcs. It also has a large public sector client base including local authorities across the country from London to the North East, major health and other public service institutions as well as national and regional government departments and organisations.

A national business with strong regional roots, Dickinson Dees attracts legal talent locally and from across the nation to join its five offices across Newcastle, Tees Valley, Yorkshire and London. Its partners sit on some of the UK’s most important public and private sector bodies including Family Law Association, Royal Town Planning Institute, STEP - Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners and The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

Contact details

For more information or photography please contact:

Patrick Hussey at LEWIS PR:

Phone: 0161 601 7740

Fax: 0161 601 7741

Email: dickinsondees@lewispr.com

Web: www.lewispr.com

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