King & Spalding LLP is a market leader in this space, having expanded on existing strengths in corporate transactions and False Claims Act and other government litigation. It has also branched out, creating a Covid-19 task force in 2020 and winning several new digital and non-traditional healthcare provider clients. Most notably, lead partner Mark Polston, alongside Dan Hettich, has pushed further into the field of Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement, including creating a working group within that team to manage the logistical challenges of new rules on price transparency. With nine offices across the US, it maintains a major presence in several regions across the country. Jon (Jay) Harris in Atlanta has a focus on transactions; Stephen Goff in California further developed the firm’s government and corporate practice on the West Coast; Adam Robison and recently promoted partner Kristin Roshelli in Texas have gained major healthcare providers as new clients for the firm.

A 'one-stop shop for outstanding legal advisory work', McDermott Will & Emery LLP provides a complete suite of services to its clients, with experience in transactions, litigation, enforcement and regulatory compliance. It also has integrated research and lobbying wings to further support client needs. The firm has expanded its work with telehealth providers, having recently acted for clients including Regroup Therapy, Babylon Health, MDLive and WorkIT, in their responses to regulatory demands created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Chicago-based Sandra DiVarco, who has noted expertise in restructuring, has led much of the Covid-19-related regulatory work. On the transactional side, Bernadette Broccolo in Chicago focuses on relationship formation and realignment; Miami-based Gary Davis is a name to note for managed care organizations' Kerrin Slattery has experience in large-scale transactions and joint venture advisory work; and Christopher Jedrey concentrates on non-profit and for-profit healthcare M&A. Gregory Fosheim is also recommended both for transactional and regulatory matters.

Ropes & Gray LLP maintains its leading healthcare practice with a breadth of expertise across transactions, regulatory compliance, reimbursement, antitrust, government investigations and enforcement actions. Of recent note, New York attorney Stephen Warnke assisted with the establishment of Covid-19 legal protections for the Greater New York Hospitals Association, leading to the creation of a state immunity shield law. A highlight in the transactions space included Boston-based co-head Timothy McCrystal advising on a combination agreement between Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization. Other key figures in the team include DC-based attorney Thomas Bulleit, an expert in regulatory compliance, and Chicago-based practice co-head Debbie Gersh, whose experience in value-based care and digital health was integral to the creation of the firm's pandemic resource center. The firm has significantly expanded, with multiple partner-level promotions and arrivals. Of particular note, Stephanie Webster, who focuses on litigation and reimbursement regulation matters, joined the Washington DC office from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in February 2020.

Hogan Lovells US LLP's Washington-DC based healthcare practice is driven by expertise in health transactions and system restructuring. The firm represents numerous large-scale clients across the US, with particular emphasis on university medical centers. Highlights over the review period saw Clifford Stromberg and Leigh Oliver taking leading roles in the merger of Einstein Healthcare and Jefferson Healthcare, and also in the combination of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and Atrium Health. The team has further expertise in antitrust work, coverage and reimbursement, government price reporting and digital health. Jonathan Diesenhaus leads the team's healthcare fraud and regulatory litigation work, having previously held a position with the DOJ. Practice head Sheree Kanner representation in Medicaid and Medicare litigation has also led to positive client feedback.

Jones Day's practice features litigators with experience in healthcare fraud, with particular emphasis on False Claims Act cases and internal investigations. It also has experience of M&A, joint ventures and private equity transactions, digital health, payment reform, and both IRS audits and state tax disputes. Practice co-heads James Dutro, Stephen Sozio and Kenneth Field lead the national team from San Francisco, Cleveland and Washington DC, respectively. Its collaborative, multi-office approach to work was demonstrated in its advice to GM on its partnership with Ventec Life Systems to produce medical ventilators. Field is also noted for his experience of antitrust matters relating to healthcare transactions. Washington DC-based Alexis Gilroy also comes recommended for her experience in the developing digital health, telehealth and telemedicine sectors.

Latham & Watkins LLP offers advisory services to clients on M&A and antitrust matters, and also provides a host of litigation and regulatory services. The firm recently led on a pair of significant cross-border transactions: Siemens Healthcare's $16bn acquisition of Varian Health Systems, and GenesisCare's $1.1 bn acquisition of 21st Century Oncology. Washington DC-based Stuart Kurlander, Eric Greig and Nicole Liffrig Molife led on those transactions. Major litigation work includes defending UnitedHealthcare in a challenge to Centers for Medicare Services' payment of companies participating in Medicare Advantage. Daniel Meron has significant experience in white-collar work, specializing in fraud litigation and agency challenges. San Diego-based litigator Katherine Lauer is also recommended for anti-kickback and Stark Law defense work.

DLA Piper LLP (US) provides a strong mix of regulatory and transactional services to healthcare providers, private equity firms and physician groups. Of recent note, the team has been advising on regulatory matters relating to Covid-19, and has developed a strong understanding of CARES Act funding and legislation. Additional expertise includes digital health and enforcement defenses. The practice group is led from Miami by Joshua Kaye, who focuses on M&A and private equity transactions. Washington DC-based Kristi Kung also comes recommended for her expertise in digital health.

McGuireWoods LLP's nationwide healthcare practice offers a strong mix of transactional and litigation services to its clients, with particular focus on bankruptcy, employment, antitrust and data security law. Lawyers in the firm's Chicago office are active in private equity transactions, but also have strength in litigation, while team members in its Charlotte office are also adept at transactions in the sector. Contacts in the Chicago office include Amber McGraw Walsh, who heads up the practice group; James Riley, who focuses on complex transactional matters for hospitals and outpatient providers; and Scott Becker, who has a specialty practice working with ambulatory surgery centers.

Polsinelli PC is adept at advising hospitals and health systems, providing a range of transactional, regulatory and litigation services. In addition, the team has expertise in representing healthcare technology companies, and post-acute care and dialysis providers, and has regular work flows covering fraud and abuse, health privacy, and strategic transactions. Matt Murer leads the practice from Chicago and focuses on senior housing and assisted living. Also recommended is Washington DC-based Iliana Peters, whose practice focuses on data privacy, and Mary Clare Bonaccorsi, who leads the firm's cross-department litigation practice.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has maintained its activity in healthcare transactions, with recent work including joint venture projects, often involving private equity investors and large physician groups. Its additional work areas include advice on risk and value-based reimbursement systems, health plan licensing, fraud and abuse, payor and provider contracting, and other payment plan structuring advice. Though the group's core practice is based in California, where Century City-based practice head Eric Klein is a key contact, it has expanded its New York office with two partner promotions. Also recommended is Washington DC-based Michael Paddock, who has garnered strong client feedback for his work on federal healthcare regulatory compliance.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's healthcare team has experience of transactions, litigation and regulatory matters, with particular strengths in M&A, mass torts and class actions, capital markets and IP law. In this regard, the team acts for a variety of service providers, life sciences companies and private equity investors. Contacts in the team include litigator Maura Monaghan and Kevin Rinker, who has advised major companies on healthcare transactions. Monaghan and Rinker co-lead the service group alongside New York-based Andrew Bab and Mark Goodman, and Paul Rubin in Washington DC.

Greenberg Traurig LLP‘s healthcare and FDA team provides regulatory advice to a variety of healthcare providers, and also provides transactional advice to private equity houses and other investor groups. It also has a strong focus on insurance regulation as it relates to the healthcare sector. The practice group is jointly led by Washington DC-based Nancy Taylor and David Peck in the Ft. Lauderdale office. Taylor focuses on ACA reimbursements and FDA regulation, while Peck is a name to note for growth companies and private equity investors in the healthcare sector.

K&L Gates' healthcare team provides regulatory and strategic counsel to a variety of healthcare providers, academic medical centres, private equity investors and smaller businesses. It also handles litigation and transactions in the sector. The team is co-headed by North Carolina-based Mary Beth Johnston, who has experience in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement as well as state regulatory compliance, and Richard Church, whose regulatory practice focuses on healthcare transactions and compliance matters. Limo Cherian is recommended in the Chicago office.

The sizeable team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has strengths in litigation and regulatory matters, with recent highlights covering compliance, false claims and abuse cases, and privacy and data security. The firm also provides transactional and public policy support. An area of focus for the team is working with children's hospitals, and Susan Feigin Harris is a contact in this space. Washington DC-based litigator Howard Young and Los Angeles-based Brian Jazaeri jointly lead the practice group. Also recommended in DC are Albert Shay, who focuses on Stark Act and reimbursement issues, and Jacob Harper, a name to note for telehealth-related matters.

Nixon Peabody LLP is recognized in this space for its experience in managing corporate partnerships and its familiarity with government programs and emerging payment programs. New York-based practice head Peter Egan leads the team’s transactional work, with particular experience of private equity deals and the sale of licensed facilities. Chicago-based Thomas Fahey also comes recommended for his work on strategic transactions. The team is active across a variety of market segments, including digital health, behavioral health, long-term care and clinical research.

Norton Rose Fulbright handles complex M&A involving academic and other large-scale medical centers, as well as a variety of other transactions presenting unique regulatory issues. On the regulatory side, the team focuses on fraud and abuse litigation, and also has familiarity with third-party reimbursement rules. Key figures in the healthcare service group include Debbi Johnstone, who heads the life sciences and healthcare group from Houston, and Stacey Murphy, who leads the US healthcare practice in the St. Louis office. Andrew Roth and the New York team have a niche focus on medical school accreditation.

Proskauer Rose LLP runs a multi-disciplinary healthcare group, which handles a variety of transactions in the sector, as well as labour and employee benefits matters, and regulatory and compliance work. The team has a particularly strong reputation for working with private equity investors. Of recent note, Ryan Blaney advised the NBA on compliance and contracts for the establishment of its Covid-19 bubble. He also advised the NFL on matters relating to its testing regime. Richard Zall left for King & Spalding LLP in 2021, and David Manko now chairs the firm's healthcare group.

The healthcare group at Arnold & Porter handles a full range of antitrust work, white-collar defense, IP matters and product liability defense. Jointly led by Allison Shuren and Daniel Kracov in Washington DC, the team also has expertise in client privacy and security, and HIPAA-related work. Shuren also has additional expertise in opthamology-related matters. Also recommended is Kirk Ogrosky, a name to note for government investigations, qui tam and trial litigation.

Baker & Hostetler LLP has a wealth of experience in regulated healthcare transactions, routinely handling large-scale joint ventures and affiliations in the sector. It also has experience representing healthcare clients in commercial litigation. Non-profit hospital systems, long-term care providers, physicians and physician groups are among the team's key clients. The practice group is jointly led by Charlene McGinty in Atlanta and Lynn Sessions in Houston. Also in Atlanta, Dorothy Cornwell joined the team from Fox Rothschild LLP in November 2020.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP handles a variety of corporate and commercial transactions and private equity work, but also has experience in litigation and investigations in the sector, particularly those relating to fraud and FCA claims. Among its recent highlights, the team assisted eTrue North with the HHS negotiations and contracting for hundreds of Covid-19 testing sites. Laura Keidan Martin and Lisa Atlas Genecov lead the practice from Chicago and Dallas, respectively. Also recommended in Chicago is Kenneth Davis Jr., who focuses on corporate structuring and business model development.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP offers a range of transactional and regulatory advice to public health systems, physicians groups and other healthcare companies. Its recent work has included joint ventures, strategic partnerships and collaborations, False claims Act cases, and healthcare bankruptcies. The firm has a particularly strong reputation in the Southeast, with offices in Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton. Thomas Moran leads the firm from Myrtle Beach, and Fort Lauderdale-based Lester Perling is recommended for his work on Stark Law claims and anti-kickback cases.

Williams & Connolly LLP is best known in the healthcare market for its expertise in government investigations, as well as in commercial and agency litigation. Highlights during the review period have included serving as lead counsel for Cardinal Health in opioid-related trials, and defending CVS in a jury trial for alleged Medicaid fraud. Based in Washington DC, the practice is jointly headed by Enu Mainigi, who focuses on healthcare fraud, False Claims Act cases and qui tam litigation; and Jennifer Wicht, who specializes in criminal defense and government investigations.

Winston & Strawn LLP handles antitrust matters and transactional work for a variety of clients. The firm's bench strength was bolstered by the arrivals from McDermott Will & Emery LLP of Amandeep Sidhu in March 2020 and senior counsel Guy Collier in November 2020. Based in Washington DC, the duo specialize in litigation, and provider affiliation work, respectively. Among recent highlights, Chicago-based practice co-head David Dahlquist advised NorthShore University HealthSystem on its acquisition of Swedish Covenant Hospital, and also defended PetIQ in an antitrust case. Also recommended is Ari Markenson, who jointly leads the team from New York.