Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Adds Group of Nine Attorneys to Health Care Practice

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (January 23, 2012) - Continuing the strategic expansion of its nationally recognized Health Care practice, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has added nine (9) attorneys to the group. They are partners Judd A. Harwood, Jack B. Levy, Colin H. Luke, Carey Bennett McRae, Daniel F. Murphy, and Laura Schiele Robinson; counsel John Markus; and associates Jennifer Hoover Clark and Kristen A. Larremore. All nine were previously with the Birmingham office of Balch & Bingham LLP.  

“We are pleased to welcome this group of talented attorneys to Bradley Arant Boult Cummings,” said Firm Chairman Beau Grenier. “Their collective wealth of experience will only enhance our health care team, which already offers significant depth and breadth to our clients in key regional markets, as well as nationally. This is a core practice for our firm, and we look forward to what our new colleagues bring to the table.” 

Since the merger that formed the firm in 2009, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings has followed an aggressive growth plan for its Health Care practice. In the past year alone, the firm has added 14 attorneys to the practice, bringing the total number of attorneys in the practice to 46. This includes the group from Balch & Bingham, and, most recently, leading health care and IT attorney Amy Leopard. 

“We have been very focused on strategic growth and adding attorneys whose skills and experience both complement our existing capabilities and broaden what we offer to clients,” said Jay Hardcastle, Chair of the Health Care group. “These nine new members of the practice are an exact fit in that regard, and we know they will be welcome additions.” 

The Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Health Care practice offers a full range of services to both nonprofit and for-profit health care organizations. Attorneys counsel clients on a comprehensive range of matters, including compliance, operational issues, regulatory oversight, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and syndications, labor and employment matters, clinical research issues, litigation, and tax and real estate work. 

“Bradley Arant Boult Cummings has such a commanding presence in the health care sector that the firm was a natural choice for all of us in terms of the next natural step in our careers,” said Colin Luke, one of the nine new attorneys. “The firm provides us with a broad regional and national base from which to serve our clients.” 

Additional information on the attorneys joining the firm: 

Judd A. Harwood, Partner: Judd Harwood focuses his practice on general and nonprofit corporate transactions and health care regulatory issues. He counsels a wide range of health care organizations on issues related to M&A, joint ventures, physician alignment strategies, corporate reorganizations, private securities offerings, corporate governance, employment and independent contractor relationships and general corporate matters. Mr. Harwood’s clients include health systems, hospitals and related health care facilities, multi- and single-specialty medical practices, ambulatory surgery centers, dialysis providers, hospice and home health agencies and non-profit health care organizations. He holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law, a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.A. from Indiana University. 

Jack B. Levy, Partner: Jack Levy advises clients in the health care industry on issues involving employer resources, employee benefits and compensation, corporate and business matters, and taxation. He represents numerous closely held businesses, professionals, and professional corporations; and negotiates and closes sales of professional practices and closely held business practices. He holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law, a J.D. from Emory Law School and a B.A. from Emory University. 

Colin H. Luke, Partner: Colin Luke previously served as the Chair of the Business Law Section at Balch & Bingham. He advises clients with respect to a variety of health care and general corporate matters, including asset and stock acquisitions, joint ventures, hospital/physician relationships, provider and payer certification, facility licensure and certificates of need. Mr. Luke served as Chairman of the Alabama Bar’s Health Law Section for two years. Prior to his work as an outside counsel, he was Vice President and Corporate Counsel for Active Services Corporation, one of the nation’s largest providers of adult day health care and home and community-based services. Mr. Luke holds a J.D. from the University of Chicago School of Law and a B.A. (summa cum laude) from Vanderbilt University. 

Carey Bennett McRae, Partner: Carey McRae previously served as Chair of the Health Law practice group at Balch & Bingham. His clients include a wide range of health care providers, including home health agencies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physicians, psychiatric hospitals, dialysis providers, and others. The core of Mr. McRae’s practice involves assisting clients in navigating the extensive regulations, both state and federal, that apply to health care providers. This includes providing counsel on compliance with state certificate of need laws, Medicare and Medicaid certification issues, licensure laws, and reimbursement. Mr. McRae also advises clients on the application of the Stark Law, Anti-kickback Laws, False Claims Act, Civil Monetary Penalties, HIPAA, EMTALA, Medicare Part D, and he handles other general health care compliance work. He holds a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. 

Daniel F. Murphy, Partner: Dan Murphy focuses his practice on health care regulatory issues as well as transactions. He also represents public and private companies in corporate matters, including M&A. Mr. Murphy’s clients include national health care companies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, diagnostic imaging facilities, and physician practices. He regularly advises on matters related to private placements and syndications; mergers and stock and asset sales; structuring joint ventures; obtaining certificates of need; drafting and negotiating physician recruitment and employment agreements;,Medicare enrolment and reimbursement; and regulatory compliance reviews. Mr. Murphy holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame. 

Laura Schiele Robinson, Partner: Laura Robinson advises health care organizations on a variety of corporate and business matters, as well as employee benefits and executive compensation, employer resources, and mergers and acquisitions. She holds a J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Alabama and a B.A. from Columbia College.           

John Markus, Counsel: John Markus specializes in health care regulatory law and assists clients in the design and assessment of internal compliance programs. From 2004-2007, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer for HealthSouth Corporation. Mr. Markus has represented clients before Congress and federal health care agencies on provider regulation and reimbursement, Medicare coverage policy, and regulatory compliance. He holds a J.D. from American University as well as a Masters from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University. 

Jennifer Hoover Clark, Associate: Jennifer Clark represents a variety of health care providers, including hospitals, home health agencies, ambulatory surgery centers, physicians, psychiatric hospitals, and others. She advises clients regarding regulatory issues as well as litigation. Ms. Clark regularly counsels clients on the extensive regulations that apply to health care providers, including the state certificate of need laws, Medicare and Medicaid certification issues, licensure laws, and reimbursement questions. She holds a J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Alabama School of Law and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Alabama. 

Kristen A. Larremore, Associate: Kristen Larremore advises health care clients on transactional and compliance matters. She represents both public and private companies on matters involving corporate governance, entity formation, antitrust, corporate and project financing, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, contracts, and public and private equity. Ms. Larremore holds a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, an M.T.S. from Vanderbilt University Divinity School and a B.S.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. 

About Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Tracing its roots to 1871, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has approximately 400 attorneys in seven offices, and is one of the largest law firms in the Southeast.  The firm maintains offices in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Montgomery, Alabama; Jackson, Mississippi; Charlotte, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; and Washington, D.C.  The firm’s lawyers serve clients locally, regionally, nationally and internationally, and provide services across a wide range of industries, including accounting, automotive, banking and finance, biotechnology, life sciences, construction, education, emerging business, economic development, energy, entertainment, equipment leasing, forest products, government contracts, health care, life sciences, hospitality, insurance, manufacturing, materials and aggregate production, media and communications, mining, municipal and public finance, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, public utilities, real estate, retail, steel, technology, telecommunications, textiles, transportation, and venture capital.