UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson has appointed senior healthcare leader Professor Clive Kay as a strategic adviser to its health and life sciences team.

Prof Kay brings almost 40 years’ experience of working in the NHS, including 17 years as a consultant radiologist and more than a decade in trust leadership, to the non-executive director role.

He retired this year as Chief Executive of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, having been in the role since April 2019 and leading the organisation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his role as an industry-aligned expert at Browne Jacobson, he will work closely with Gerard Hanratty, Partner and Head of Health and Life Sciences, and other senior members of the team to help drive its growth across public sector, independent health and care, international, life sciences and medical malpractice work. 

Prof Clive Kay, Strategic Adviser to Browne Jacobson’s health and life sciences team, said: “Throughout my time working in various roles across the healthcare sector, I’ve become aware of Browne Jacobson’s impressive reputation. 

“I am really looking forward to working as part of the team by sharing my experience, ideas and knowledge. I’m excited about the opportunities available for the firm to leverage its deep understanding of how UK and international healthcare ecosystems operate to support clients in both the public and private sectors working to solve some of society’s biggest issues across healthcare.”

During his tenure at King’s College Hospital, Prof Kay led the development of the trust’s five-year BOLD corporate strategy to guide operational and clinical improvements, helping to re-establish King’s as a respected partner locally and nationally while stabilising its financial position. 

In October 2023, he also jointly led the launch of Epic, an electronic health record system that replaced historic IT systems and paper records, together with colleagues from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

Prior to joining King’s, Prof Kay progressed through the ranks at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, climbing from Clinical Director of Radiology and Medical Director to Chief Executive. 

Prior to working in Bradford, he was a Visiting Associate Professor of Radiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, a previous Member of Council of the Royal College of Radiologists, and former Chairman of both the Royal College of Radiologist’s Scientific Programme Committee and the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology. 

He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

Gerard Hanratty, Head of Health and Life Sciences, said: “Clive’s appointment is a real coup for our health and life sciences team as he brings an abundance of leadership experience with him from a successful career in the NHS, independent sector and internationally. 

“His leadership experience inside one of the biggest and busiest acute trusts in England has given him a front-row seat of the various drivers of transformation across our health service, from technological innovation and operational pressures to changing demographics and structural reforms. He has also been a key figure in forging partnerships with a wide range of organisations that will support King’s College Hospital to respond effectively to the 10-Year Health Plan. 

“Our health and life sciences offer to clients is based on our unique perspective of working with the NHS and private sectors, which helps us to act as a connector and walk in their shoes to navigate complex regulatory, legal and practical challenges. As we continue to innovate and grow, we’ll welcome the invaluable insights Clive will bring to the table so we can continue to meet the needs of our clients.”