Magic circle firms Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy (A&O) are advising private hospital group Spire Healthcare on its planned initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange.

Spire, the second largest private hospital chain in the UK, operates 39  hospitals and 13 clinics across England, Wales and Scotland. The group was founded in 2007, when it acquired and rebranded 25 Bupa hospitals.