Mills & Reeve have advised an independent sector pathology provider on its successful bid to partner with world renowned cancer specialist trust The Christie.

Synlab, a leading provider of pathology services across Europe, has entered into partnership with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. The Christie is a leading expert in cancer treatment and research and the agreement will see a new jointly owned venture provide pathology services to The Christie.

Hugh Risebrow, Managing Director of Synlab, said: “These types of NHS/private joint ventures are still relatively new, and the Mills & Reeve team helped us to develop a number of innovative solutions to the challenges which can occur when partnerships are formed between organisations with different cultures and governance arrangements."

Julian Smith, corporate partner at Mills & Reeve and the firm’s independent health sector lead said: “We are seeing more joint ventures between the NHS and independent sector providers. We were delighted to advise Synlab on this partnership with the Christie, which we believe holds enormous opportunities for both parties, patients and commissioners.”

The Mills & Reeve team led by partner Julian Smith included corporate and commercial lawyers, Richard Lobban, Junaid Haroon and Nicola Savery as well as Anna Young (employment), Chloe Bucktin (real estate) and Will Roles (banking and finance).