
University of California Berkeley (Boalt Hall) J.D., 1979 (Order of the Coif) Research & Books Editor, Ecology Law Quarterly
University of California Los Angeles A.B. 1976, Economics (Summa Cum Laude)
Healthcare
- Served as counsel to a major Southern California health enterprise in integrating the management of three major medical groups, representing over 150 primary care and specialty physicians, under the client’s medical foundation. This representation involved the transition of existing management transactions into a unified platform, the development of a new medical group structure and compensation methodology for the physicians that will prepare them for changes in reimbursement in the future, and the development of a long-term framework for the integration of hospital, physician and ancillary services to meet community needs.
- Represented a substantial medical foundation in the transition out of its sponsor and founding organization to independent status as a charitable medical corporation and eventually advised the board of directors on an affiliation with another major health system.
- Represented a major health system in a strategic investment of $20 million in a developer and operator of urgent care facilities.
- Represented a health system in the divestiture of the several affiliated medical practices (with hundreds of participating physicians), including the sale of assets of the largest physician organization in the San Gabriel Valley of California (with over 200 affiliated physicians) to a newly formed management enterprise.
- Advised a for profit hospital system on the refinancing of over $400 million in secured debt for working capital and to finance the acquisition of three hospitals.
- Advised the largest health system in New Mexico in a transaction which created a world-class radiation oncology facility in partnership with the leading cancer treatment center in the United States, representing the first time that such an alliance had been forged and dramatically improving the level of cancer treatment available in the New Mexico market.
- Counseled a for profit hospital management company on its exit strategy from a self-insured workers compensation program in which it participated with over 300 other employers, including advice on litigation with former participants.
- Advised a large for-profit hospital company on the development of physician-hospital organizations for managed care contracting at over 40 facilities throughout the Western United States.
Corporate Governance
- I provide continuing advice to the Audit Committee of a prominent national health care provider organization on its charter, policies and procedures, to conform with leading edge standards for Audit Committees.
- Served as counsel to a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of nationally recognized charity and hospital organization in the investigation of violations of the Code of Ethics by members of the Board.
- Served as an expert witness in a shareholder derivative action in federal court alleging the Chairman of the Board and major shareholder of a public company had engaged in mismanagement, breaches of fiduciary duty and appropriating corporate opportunities.
- Counseled the Board of Directors of a large physician organization on fiduciary duty issues related to the sale of the substantially all of its assets to publicly traded enterprise and on the distribution of consideration to its shareholders.
- Represented management of four inter-related companies in the apparel business in the buyout of the interests of a dissident minority shareholder and director, including advice on corporate proceedings and fiduciary duty issues.
- Represented a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of a company in the corporate security business in the liquidation of its affairs, including the resolution of shareholder claims and disposition of assets.
- Advised the Board and management of a faith-based charity on the windup of its operations, including the resolution of outstanding retirement plan obligations to former managers, claims by former employees and the transition of assets to qualifying successor organizations.
Non-Healthcare Representations
- Represented the owner of a 105-year old family enterprise in the sale of stock and associated real estate assets to two private equity firms in transactions valued at over $70 million.
- Represented an established family-owned specialty foods business in a joint venture with a foreign investor to develop international markets and ensure succession of family control, in a transaction that valued the business at over $50 million.
- Advised a privately owned textile supply and services company in connection with a bid for a major division of a publicly-traded company, valued at over $80 million, including advice on structuring the transaction and anti-trust clearance.
- Advised an investor and capital provider in a strategic investment in an enterprise that is developing a deep-water desalination facility which will be co-located with a major computer server farm.
- Counseled members of a wealthy family in connection with the defense of litigation brought by other members of the family concerning the ownership of family assets, including the negotiation of a complex plan of liquidation of assets to resolve the litigation. In this instance I was involved in the refinancing and repayment of debt used to finance family investments, the sale of real estate in the United States and overseas, disposition through auction of fine artworks and a wine collection, sale of an aircraft, liquidation of securities of public and privately held companies and the defense of several arbitrations and court proceedings related to the plan of liquidation.