Health law firm Hill Dickinson has announced the lateral hire of healthcare partner Alison Oliver as it continues to build the firm’s presence in Newcastle and its national primary care team.

Alison Oliver joins the firm’s recently opened office in Rotterdam House, Newcastle Quayside, adding further senior level capacity to an existing, locally based, team of six health lawyers under head of office, Andrea Proudlock.

Previously a partner with Hempsons, Alison has over 15 years’ experience in advising healthcare businesses, with particular expertise in areas including partnership and company law, NHS contracts and regulations, corporate and unincorporated joint ventures, organisational governance, pre-litigation dispute resolution and practice sales, mergers and acquisitions.

Her work includes advising GPs, dental practices and multi-practice healthcare organisations – including GP federations and primary care networks – on finding practical solutions to the unique and complex challenges that they face.

Andrew Craggs, head of Hill Dickinson’s national health team, has welcomed Alison to the firm, saying: “Alison joins us at a very exciting time in the growth of our Health team and of our firm overall. Her particular areas of specialism add further breadth and depth to our primary care team and to our Newcastle offering, backed by a 240-strong national team of healthcare lawyers. I am delighted to have Alison on board and we look forward to introducing her to key clients across our growing North East client portfolio.”

Andrea Proudlock, health partner and head of office, Newcastle, added: “Opening our first office in Newcastle in July this year means that we can now provide a local service to our many clients who are already based in the region. This investment into the local economy, is something that our clients very much appreciate and we really value. The addition of Alison to the team is a key part of our Newcastle office growth strategy, giving us additional resource and expertise to build on as we look to emulate the rapid growth trajectory and expansion of our Leeds office. We are really excited to see what the next few years will hold.”

Hill Dickinson opened its Newcastle office in July 2022 marking the firm’s sixth UK office and its tenth office overall, following a period of sustained growth over the past five years, in particular for the firm’s Health Business Group.

The firm already has a number of major health sector clients in Newcastle and the surrounding region and plans to use its health offering to pave the way for a full service offering as it has successfully rolled out most recently in Leeds.

Recent recruits to the team in Newcastle include Real Estate Health specialists Andrea Proudlock (partner and head of office) and Richard Hartis (senior associate), both formerly with DAC Beachcroft; and Commercial Health specialists Lucy Probert from Ward Hadaway, and Jenny Wade and Sophie Robertson from Hempsons.