It is not quite the requisite ten, but Beachcroft Wansbroughs now has two lords a-leaping after signing up the former junior health minister who resigned over the Iraq war.
What is more, they go by the same name. Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Philip Hunt) joins the firm that is headed by senior partner Lord Hunt of Wirral MBE (David Hunt). The two are entirely unrelated, however, and sit on opposite sides of the House.
Philip Hunt was part of the Labour Government until his resignation in March, while David Hunt held Cabinet posts in both the Thatcher and Major administrations.
Philip Hunt was the first chief executive of the NHS Confederation in 1996-97 and director of the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts (NAHAT) from its formation in 1990. He was awarded an OBE in June 1993.
As first revealed on www.thelawyer.com/lawyer news on 25 June, Philip Hunt now takes up a brief advising Beachcrofts’ health and social care division, helping clients face the issues and implications of the constantly changing health sector environment.
He will particularly support the firm’s focus on NHS foundation trusts.
Trevor Blythe, who leads Beachcrofts’ health and social care division, said: “The current reorganisation is one of the largest transformations since the Health Service was first established, and every participant wants to know what the changes will mean to them.
“Philip’s insight and experience will be an invaluable extra dimension to our service.”Chris Dering
Chris Dering is probably the outsider of these candidates. Dering is head of international and energy, the only practice manager in the running. He recently returned from a four-year spell in Hong Kong. Dering’s contentious and non-contentious practice involves onshore and offshore projects.Martin Roberts
Although Martin Roberts does advise on non-contentious matters, it is as a litigator that he has gained his excellent reputation in the construction industry. Brown sits on the committee of the City of London Law Society, where he has been an active member for many years.