GP Mergers & Acquisitions

Looking for a solicitor to help with a practice merger or takeover? 

GP practice mergers and acquisitions are becoming increasingly common. Whether it’s two neighbouring practices combining forces, a larger practice absorbing a smaller one, or a third party looking to invest in primary care, the legal work needs to be handled by someone who understands both M&A and the NHS regulatory environment.

I’m Steven Mather, and I act for GP practices on mergers and acquisitions across the UK. I combine genuine M&A expertise – I handle business sales and purchases worth up to £20m as a core part of my practice – with specialist knowledge of GMS contracts, CQC registration and NHS regulations.

How GP practice mergers work

A GP practice merger typically involves two or more practices coming together to form a single entity. This might mean merging the partnerships, creating a new partnership that holds all the GMS contracts, or one practice effectively absorbing the other.

The legal work involves reviewing and aligning the existing partnership agreements, dealing with the GMS contract implications – including engaging with the ICB about the merger – ensuring TUPE compliance for staff transferring between practices, handling property issues if the merged practice will operate from one or both sites, and drafting a new partnership agreement for the combined practice.

One of the key things I bring to this is an understanding of the commercial dynamics as well as the legal technicalities. Merging two GP practices isn’t just a legal exercise – it involves partners from different practices learning to work together, aligning different cultures and ways of doing things, and making sure the financial arrangements are fair to everyone.

Buying or selling a GP practice

GP practice acquisitions work differently from standard business sales because of the rules around NHS goodwill. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, it is a criminal offence to buy or sell goodwill in a GP practice. That means the traditional model of valuing a business based on its turnover and profit doesn’t apply in the same way.

However, there are still legitimate ways in which GP practices change hands. Asset transfers, partnership buy-ins, and practice contracts being awarded to new providers are all common. I’ll make sure the legal structure is compliant with NHS regulations while still protecting your commercial interests.

When you’re acquiring a GP practice, I’ll handle due diligence to make sure you know exactly what you’re taking on, draft or review the asset purchase agreement or business transfer agreement, deal with restrictive covenants and confidentiality provisions, and manage the completion process including any ICB approvals needed.

Third party investment in GP practices

I’m also seeing growing interest from third parties looking to invest in or partner with GP practices. This might involve private healthcare companies, property investors, or other organisations looking to support primary care delivery. The legal structures here can be creative, but they need to be carefully constructed to comply with NHS regulations and ensure the practice retains clinical independence.

How much does it cost?

As with all my work, I provide fixed fees. The cost of a GP merger or acquisition depends on the complexity of the deal, but as a guide, a straightforward two-practice merger typically starts at around £5,000 to £10,000 plus VAT. More complex multi-practice deals or acquisitions involving property will be higher, and I’ll give you a precise quote once I understand the scope.

Next steps

If you’re thinking about merging with another practice or acquiring a GP surgery, call me on 0116 3667 900 or email steven@stevenmather.co.uk for a free, no-obligation conversation. The earlier you involve a solicitor in the process, the smoother it will go.