ABOUT US
Meet the team behind Healthcare Legal
NHS legal specialists and a senior clinical leader, helping healthcare organisations build legal and governance functions that are smarter, stronger and safer.
Our Story
Healthcare Legal grew from a simple idea: that NHS legal teams can achieve far more with clarity, structure and purpose. Having proved it inside the NHS, we now bring the same approach to independent healthcare.
2015
Puja and Sarah meet as Legal Services Managers at St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London.
THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED
Both become Heads of Legal Services at neighbouring Trusts, sharing ideas on how legal teams should work.
2021
Reunited at the same Trust, they build a lean, well-regarded legal department with just two people.
2022
Healthcare Legal Consultancy Ltd is founded to bring this approach to NHS legal teams.
2026
Shortlisted as finalists in the HSJ Partnership Awards, and our services extend to independent healthcare with Dr Lorcan Sheppard as Special Adviser.
The team
Puja Sharma
Co-Founder & Director
Puja is a qualified lawyer who trained with a leading NHS panel firm, where she was selected for secondments with NHS Resolution and an NHS Trust. She has worked across several Trusts and most recently spent four years as interim Head of Legal Services.
Sarah Charlton
Co-Founder & Director
Sarah has 15 years' experience in NHS legal departments across acute, mental health and community services, with qualifications through CILEX and the Open University. A former Head of Legal Services, she specialises in legal and clinical risk management.
Dr Lorcan Sheppard
Special Advisor
A former NHS Consultant, Lorcan has spent over 10 years as a Chief Medical Officer in independent healthcare. He has been a Responsible Officer since revalidation began in 2012, and has strong relationships with the GMC, IHPN, CQC and PHIN.
Our ethos
We do not just give advice. We help rebuild legal and governance functions so they are more efficient, collaborative and respected across the organisation.
A drive to improve
We are always looking for a better way to do things, for our clients and for ourselves.
Respect for good process
Clear processes protect patients, staff and organisations. We build them to last.
Belief in safe, high-quality care
Everything we do comes back to supporting the people who deliver care, from the inside out.
The standards we review against include
CQC Regulations
GMC Good Medical Practice
Paterson Inquiry
Responsible Officer Regulations
ISCAS Code of Practice
PHIN
GIRFT