Ross Clark

Ross is a partner and leads our GP team in the midlands and north of England. He is recognised nationally as one of the leading lawyers in GP work, having devised several of the models for GPs to work together at scale and integrate within Integrated Care Systems. Most notably, Ross devised the structure and drafted the partnership deed for Our Health Partnership, the largest single partnership in the UK combining 37 practices with over 175 Partners and serving around 358,000 patients.

Ross specialises in partnership dispute work and has recently handled several complex and high value disputes. He is an experienced negotiator, has represented his clients at several mediations and is recognised for his groundwork in considering the wide range of issues that can impact a dispute and then developing a strategy to achieve his client’s objectives.

Ross also works with several primary care networks (PCNs) and GP federations/provider companies to identify how they can work together to jointly deliver the Network Contract DES services, in particular to resolve the issues related to the employment of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme staff and, more recently, the COVID vaccination Collaboration Agreements.

Ross has also advised commissioners on key strategic issues such as the development and implementation of a Primary Care Resilience and Escalation Plan to address the COVID crisis and on their delegated primary care commissioning powers, including in particular compliance with NHS England’s Primary Medical Care Policy and Guidance Manual in relation to practice incorporations.

Prior to joining Hempsons, Ross was a corporate finance partner with an international firm and handled international acquisitions, predominantly for US organisations acquiring throughout Europe. As a result, Ross is an experienced negotiator and strategic advisor.

More about Ross

More than anything, I value the weekends I have with my wife and two children (when home from university) to explore the wonderful Yorkshire Dales, climbing a hill or following a river but invariably ending up at a nice spot for a coffee and a scone (and it is a skon and not a skown and it’s jam then cream on top!).

My other passion is cycling and find this the best antidote to the challenges of work. I have a road bike and, in 2023, completed The Fred Whitton Challenge (a 112 mile sportive over some of the Lake District’s toughest hills) and the NC500, a 500 mile circular route round the coast of the Highlands of Scotland (starting and finishing in my home town of Inverness). I also have a hybrid bike for total relaxation, packing a tent and everything else needed for a carbon free journey over a few days around some of the most beautiful parts of the UK.

I also use cycling sportives as an opportunity to raise funds for a range of charities and good causes and, at work, enjoy sharing my experience (ie age) to help develop the amazing young talent we have in Hempsons.

Main areas of expertise

• GP partner expulsions and disputes
• GP provider organisations / federations – corporate structuring and corporate finance
• GP practice mergers and acquisitions
• subcontracting
• practice incorporations

The clients he works with

• GP Partnerships and sole practitioners 
• Primary Care Networks
• GP provider organisations/federations 
• integrated care boards

Qualifications

• Admitted as a solicitor – England and Wales (1994), Scotland (1991)
• Diploma in Legal Practice (1989)
• LLB Law (1988)
• BA Business Studies (1985)

Memberships

• Law Society of Scotland
• Law Society of England and Wales

“I was very impressed with the knowledge, level of care and support I received from Ross.” (Chambers and Partners)

“Ross has an amazing knowledge of primary care, both strategically and in terms of what it’s like on the ground” (Chambers and Partners)

“Ross consistently provides a professional and timely service demonstrating real depth of sector knowledge.” (Chambers and Partners)

“He is extremely supportive and very collaborative.” (Chambers and Partners)

“Ross Clark. Extremely engaging, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. Really respectful and thoroughly decent. He has a good team around him who work very well – from my side he’s developed a good culture and leads a happy and very hard-working team. He has a happy knack of being able to distil and simplify very complex issues within healthcare.” (Legal 500)

“Ross Clark has “deep personal knowledge and expertise” in medical partnerships and dispute work” (Legal 500)

“The “pragmatic yet brilliant” Ross Clark and “first rate” Justin Cumberlege head the practice.” (Legal 500)