About Nichola:
Nichola is a Partner in our Regulatory Healthcare team and has many years’ experience in working for public sector organisations.We are pleased to act for Integrated Care Boards around the country, as well as for NHS England, and we fully understand the growing pressure on NHS commissioners to deliver more, for less, and under ever greater scrutiny.
Our ICB clients benefit from our health and care team working closely alongside our market-leading local authority and government practice, especially in a time of movement towards greater integration across health and social care.
Our full-service expertise includes:
Mental health and mental capacity, including applications to the Court of Protection for deprivation of liberty in the community (as a fixed fee product) and dealing with s21A challenges to DoLS authorisations.
Public law, consultation, public inquiries and judicial review
Governance and constitutional issues, including joint commissioning / s75 agreements with local authorities
Primary care
Service reconfiguration and transformation
Continuing healthcare eligibility and challenges (adults and children)
Individual funding requests
MHA s117 funding disputes
Responsible commissioner / ordinary residence disputes
Disputes over discharge
Duty of Candour
Safeguarding
Consent to medical treatment / best interests decisions, both for adults and children
Mediation to avoid / resolve disputes over clinical care
Commercial and corporate, including intellectual property.
Accolades
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I find that Weightmans are highly professional and knowledgeable as well as being very good at making accurate assessments and providing solid advice. The team has excellent knowledge of the complex and nuanced legal frameworks we work within. Weightmans always responds with specific advice in a timely manner, no matter the complexity of the matter at hand. The firm has excellent knowledge, great communication skills and gives clear, concise and logical advice. It is always practical in how it handles very complex legal matters.
Chambers and Partners, 2026 -
From the client’s point of view, they have real depth of knowledge about clinical issues and the law and are efficient, approachable and supportive.
Legal 500 2024 -
From the client’s point of view, they have real depth of knowledge about clinical issues and the law and are efficient, approachable and supportive.
Legal 500 2024 -
Weightmans have a strong local government law pedigree with both experience and expertise to advise on a wide range of public sector issues,
Chambers and Partners 2024
Our Integrated Care Board Solicitors
About Ben:
Ben has 25 years’ experience working as a lawyer in the health and social care sector. He has been rated as one of the leading Court of Protection lawyers in the country for more than a decade.
