Addleshaw Goddard is a major UK law firm headquartered in Manchester, with offices in London, Leeds, Edinburgh, Dublin, and internationally. The firm has a dedicated Healthcare & Life Sciences practice providing specialist legal advice across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, diagnostics, and health technology.

HealthTech & Life Sciences Expertise

The team is experienced in intellectual property strategy, regulatory compliance, market access, corporate structuring, and international transactions. They assist with securing investment, negotiating commercial agreements, managing data privacy and digital health requirements, and building collaborations across public and private sectors. The firm has direct experience advising on NHS embedded company transactions and healthtech investment deals.

Relevant Services

Corporate and M&A, venture capital and private equity, IP protection and licensing, regulatory and compliance, data protection (including health data), commercial contracts, and dispute resolution.

• Website: addleshawgoddard.com
• Healthcare & Life Sciences: addleshawgoddard.com/en/sectors/health

Browne Jacobson is a national law firm with a dedicated Life Sciences practice that works across medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and healthtech. The firm has a distinctive dual perspective, serving over 150 NHS clients and 150 local authority clients alongside a growing number of life sciences companies.

Life Sciences & HealthTech Expertise

The firm supports clients ranging from start-ups to globally recognised names including Bionical Solutions, Sygnature Discovery, CARE Fertility, and the MHRA. Their legal services cover clinical trials, medical device regulation, healthtech and AI development, genomics, R&D, diagnostics and pathology, and data protection. Specialist data protection and AI advice spans the use of personal data, ICO requirements, international data arrangements, cloud-based storage, anonymisation, and AI ownership and security issues.

Why Browne Jacobson for HealthTech

Their deep institutional knowledge of the NHS — how it procures, commissions, and adopts technology — combined with their life sciences commercial expertise makes them particularly well-suited to healthtech companies navigating the path from innovation to NHS adoption.

• Website: brownejacobson.com
• Life Sciences: brownejacobson.com/sectors/life-sciences

Cooden Tax Consulting is a specialist R&D tax credits consultancy with offices in Manchester\'s Spinningfields district. The firm focuses exclusively on helping SMEs navigate the complexities of HMRC\'s R&D tax relief schemes, with significant experience across the healthtech, digital health, and technology sectors.

Why R&D Tax Credits Matter for HealthTech

Many healthtech companies are eligible for R&D tax credits but don\'t realise it. If your team is developing new digital health solutions, medical devices, AI-driven diagnostics, or improving existing healthcare technologies, you may qualify for significant corporation tax reductions or cash payments. For the merged R&D scheme (accounting periods from April 2024), the standard rate is a 20% tax credit, rising to 27% for R&D-intensive loss-making SMEs.

Services

R&D tax credit claims (SME and RDEC schemes), SEIS and EIS advance assurance, patent box relief, and wider tax advisory services. The firm operates on a success-fee basis for R&D claims — no upfront fees.

• Website: coodentaxconsulting.co.uk
• Manchester office: coodentaxconsulting.co.uk/contact/manchester

DAC Beachcroft is a leading law firm with deep expertise in healthcare and a dedicated MedTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences practice. Their Manchester office provides specialist legal services for healthtech and medtech organisations at all stages of development.

MedTech & Digital Health Specialism

The firm supports clients across the entire product or service lifecycle, from early-stage development through to NHS adoption and international expansion. Clients include purchasers of digital health solutions, funders and investors, innovators, medical device manufacturers, health app developers, and suppliers of electronic patient record systems. The team advises at the forefront of AI and technology in healthcare, including ambient voice technology, robotics, and clinical decision support.

Key Services for HealthTech

Regulatory advice (MHRA, NICE, DTAC), NHS procurement and adoption strategy, IP protection, data protection and information governance, commercial contracts, corporate and investment transactions, product liability and risk management, and advertising and compliance.

• Website: dacbeachcroft.com
• MedTech & Digital Health: dacbeachcroft.com/medtech-digital-health
• Manchester office: dacbeachcroft.com/Manchester

The Greater Manchester & Cheshire Life Sciences Fund is a £32 million investment fund dedicated to supporting early-stage life sciences and healthtech companies in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire region. The fund provides equity investment to businesses developing innovative health products and services.

Investment Focus

The fund targets early-stage companies working across life sciences, medtech, diagnostics, digital health, and healthtech. It aims to fill the funding gap that many innovative health companies face in the early stages of growth, providing capital to support product development, clinical validation, and market entry.

Relevance for Landing Pad Companies

For healthtech businesses establishing a presence in Greater Manchester, the Life Sciences Fund represents a significant local funding opportunity. Companies located at Bruntwood SciTech campuses (Citylabs, Manchester Science Park) have direct access to the fund through the SciTech business support network.

• Website: gmclifesciencesfund.co.uk

Hamilton Wood & Company is a national R&D tax credit specialist headquartered in Greater Manchester. The firm has been operating for nearly a decade and has won eight prestigious awards for its work in helping businesses reclaim R&D expenditure.

Expertise

The firm\'s Managing Director holds a position with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), bringing a unique perspective on the intersection of government innovation policy and tax incentives. Hamilton Wood helps businesses that have invested in improving their products and services to recover a percentage of their costs through R&D tax credits.

Relevance for HealthTech

HealthTech companies developing new digital health solutions, medical devices, AI applications, or software as a medical device (SaMD) are often strong candidates for R&D tax relief. Hamilton Wood can assess eligibility and manage the full claims process, including retrospective claims for the previous two accounting periods.

• Website: hamiltonwood.co.uk

Manchester Digital is the independent trade body for Greater Manchester's digital and technology sector. It supports businesses of all sizes through networking, events, talent services, and advocacy at regional and national level.

HealthTech Support

Manchester Digital has a specific healthtech focus, recognising Greater Manchester's strength in the sector. Services for healthtech members include: raising the profile of healthtech businesses in the region, showcasing work via events and speaking opportunities, healthtech-focused networking, marketing and PR support, introductions to investors, businesses, and universities, and lobbying on behalf of the healthtech sector.

Membership Benefits

Members access a network of 28,000+ social followers and 9,000+ database contacts, regular events and meetups, talent and recruitment support, and content features. Membership is particularly valuable for healthtech companies looking to build visibility and connections in the GM digital ecosystem.

• Website: manchesterdigital.com
• HealthTech: manchesterdigital.com/key-sectors/healthtech

Marks & Clerk is one of the UK\'s largest and most established intellectual property firms, with a Manchester office that has particular strengths in AI, digital technologies, life sciences, and medtech innovation.

HealthTech & MedTech IP Expertise

The Manchester office has specialist teams in computer science (AI, machine learning, digital technologies) and life sciences (healthcare companies and institutions at the forefront of therapeutic and medtech innovation). Interdisciplinary teams work together on IP in crossover sectors such as the application of AI and machine learning in healthcare, and bioinformatics. Services include patent prosecution, trade mark protection, IP-related licensing, due diligence, contracts, and design protection.

North West Innovation Connections

The team has a long history of supporting businesses from start-up to IPO and is well connected with business support services in the region. Manchester\'s position as a hub for medtech and emerging technologies means the local team has deep sector-specific experience.

• Website: marks-clerk.com
• Manchester office: marks-clerk.com/manchester

MIDAS is Greater Manchesters official inward investment promotion agency, wholly owned by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and part of The Growth Company. Its strategic aim is to secure significant new investment for the city region to create and safeguard jobs.

Free Services for Relocating Businesses

MIDAS offers a comprehensive, free and confidential package of support tailored to businesses considering Manchester as a location for a new facility or expansion. Services include: building a business case with data and market intelligence, property searches and real estate solutions, full recruitment packages and skills support, relocation support (including quality of life information, housing, transport), introductions to senior stakeholders and business networks, advice on grants and funding, and aftercare for recently arrived businesses.  

Why This Matters for HealthTech

MIDAS has a dedicated life sciences and digital health specialism and has helped numerous healthtech companies successfully establish in the region. They can introduce you to the GM health innovation ecosystem, connect you with NHS trusts and universities, and help you navigate the practical aspects of setting up in Greater Manchester. For Landing Pad companies, MIDAS is an essential early contact.

• Website: investinmanchester.com
• Life Sciences & Digital Health: investinmanchester.com/digital-health
• Cost: All MIDAS services are free

An organic collaborative ecosystem for HealthTech success

We bring together experts from every part of the HealthTech pathway – clinicians, academics, tech-developers, entrepreneurs/SMEs, funders and specialist support – to remove barriers, share knowledge, enter the NHS marketplace and accelerate real-world impact to enhance patient care.

Community features

• An interactive ecosystem, always there to meet, inspire & support each other
• Opportunities to collaborate
• Events to network, workshops & news/updates
• Relevant events & grants calendar
• A free repository of NHS-facing healthtech apps
• NHS Readiness tools & resources

Join our FREE TO ACCESS community of HealthTech founders, professionals, clinicians, academics, innovators and many more. We provide you with access to a dedicated community portal and deliver regular webinars, round-tables and events across a range of relevant topics. Connect with peers, exchange insights and grow together as part of a supportive HealthTech community.  

Refresh PR is a Manchester-based public relations and communications agency with a dedicated healthtech specialism. The agency has in-house expertise covering the full spectrum of health and technology communications, from start-ups to the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care.

HealthTech Specialism

Being based in Greater Manchester, Refresh PR has first-hand knowledge of the region's health and care innovation ecosystem. The agency attends local networking events regularly, building contacts across the healthtech community. They understand both the health side (NHS culture, clinical adoption, regulatory landscape) and the tech side (start-up needs, investor communications, product launches).

Services

Media relations, content strategy, thought leadership, event support, crisis communications, and social media management — all with a healthtech lens. The team supports clients at all stages with realistic yet ambitious targets for visibility and engagement.

• Website: refreshpr.co.uk
• HealthTech PR: refreshpr.co.uk/sectors/healthtech-pr

Slater Heelis is a full-service law firm with offices in Manchester, Sale, and Chester, offering specialist Healthcare & Life Sciences legal expertise. They are recognised as one of the few firms in the North West offering specialist healthcare partnership advice alongside corporate and commercial support for life sciences businesses.

Life Sciences Expertise

The firm works closely with life sciences businesses at each stage of their development, covering biomedical research, drug discovery, diagnostics software, product marketing, acquisitions and disposals, licensing, regulatory advice, intellectual property, and financing. They are a Gold Partner of Sci-Tech Daresbury, providing strategic support for innovative companies at every stage of growth.

Notable Client Work

The firm has supported companies such as Blueberry Therapeutics (biopharmaceutical company) through significant financing rounds, and advises both start-ups and established businesses across the North West life sciences ecosystem.

• Website: slaterheelis.co.uk
• Life Sciences: slaterheelis.co.uk/corporate-law/life-sciences

Wilson Gunn is a leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys, established in Manchester in 1864. With their head office remaining in Manchester and additional offices in Birmingham, Chesterfield, Liverpool, London, and Glasgow, they have over 160 years of experience helping businesses protect valuable innovations, designs, and brands.

Medical Technology Expertise

Wilson Gunn has recognised expertise in medical technology IP, understanding that developing medical technology requires significant investment and that IP protection must be a priority. They provide patent and trade mark services across the full range of medtech applications, from medical devices to digital health solutions.

Services

Patent protection for inventions, trade mark registration and enforcement, design protection, IP strategy and portfolio management, freedom-to-operate assessments, and IP due diligence for investments and transactions. Services cover the UK, Europe, and international markets.

• Website: wilsongunn.com