JD, cum laude, Indiana University School of Law, 1980
BA, Political Science, Northwestern University, 1977

• Texas State Bar

Transactional

• Represented, as lead counsel, a non-profit health care system in contributing two hospitals to newly formed joint venture with a non-profit health care system
• Represented, as lead counsel, a non-profit community hospital in its acquisition by a national non-profit hospital system
• Represented, as lead counsel, a hospital system in the lease and subsequent acquisition of a public hospital
• Represented, as lead counsel, the combination of a satellite facility of a non-profit hospital and two physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers into a new, separately licensed for-profit acute care hospital physician joint venture
• Represented, as lead counsel, non-profit health care systems in the acquisition of urgent care centers, including formation of a joint venture between a non-profit health system and a for-profit development firm to operate urgent care centers
• Represented, as lead counsel, non-profit health care systems in the development of pediatric inpatient hospital and home health joint ventures
• Represented, as co-counsel, a newly formed joint venture between a medical school and a non-profit hospital system to own and operate a hospital
• Represented hospitals in the formation and syndication of hospital-physician joint ventures for ambulatory surgery centers

• Represented multiple hospital systems in the acquisition of physician practices and employment of physicians

   

Regulatory

• Represented hospital in defense and settlement of false claims case involving hospital employed physician compensation and allegations under the Stark and anti-kickback laws
• Represented hospitals in self-disclosure of potential Stark Law and anti-kickback law violations to CMS, HHS OIG, the Department of Justice, and the Texas Medicaid program
• Represented hospitals concerning Medicare and Medicaid audit and overpayment matters, including voluntary refunds to program intermediaries and carriers
• Represented numerous health care providers in structuring arrangements to comply with the Stark Law, federal and state anti-kickback laws, corporate practice of medicine restrictions and related health laws

• Chambers USA, Texas: Healthcare, Chambers and Partners, 2005 – 2023
• Chambers USA, Nationwide: Healthcare (Transactional), Chambers and Partners, 2011, 2013 – 2019
• Texas Super Lawyers, Healthcare, Thomson Reuters, 2003 – 2023
• Texas Super Lawyers, Top 50 Women, Thomson Reuters, 2008, 2010 – 2014
• Texas Super Lawyers, Top 100 Houston, Thomson Reuters, 2010, 2012 – 2014
• The Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, Best Lawyers, 1995 – 2024
• Lawyer of the Year, Houston: Healthcare Law, Best Lawyers, 2012
• National Diversity Council, Top 25 Women in Healthcare in Houston, 2019
• Outstanding Leader in Law, Women Who Mean Business, Houston Business Journal, 2019
• Texas Top Rated Lawyer, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, 2012 – 2018
• Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Healthcare: Life Sciences, The Legal 500, 2019 – 2023
• Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Healthcare: Advice to Service Providers, The Legal 500, 2019 – 2023
• Expert Guides, Best of the Best USA, Legal Media Group, 2020

• Co-Author, "CMS Issues Frequently Asked Questions Refining Self-Discovery Protocol," Fulbright Briefing, May 2012
• Co-Author, "Federal Agencies Coordinate in the Issuance of Much-Anticipated Guidance on Accountable Care Organizations," Fulbright Briefing - Accountable Care Organization Task Force, April 2011
• Co-Author, "Anyone For Phase Four?  CMS Issues Additional Final Stark Regulations," Fulbright Briefing, August 2008

• Presenter, "Top Ten Challenges in Structuring Healthcare Transactions," Client Seminar, Norton Rose Fulbright, Denver, Colorado, February 2015

• Co-Presenter, Top Ten Challenges in Structuring Hospital-Physician Affiliations in 2015, Annual Client Seminar, Norton Rose Fulbright, Austin, Texas, January 2015

• Presenter, Legal Developments Impating Compensation in Physician Employment and Personal Services Arrangements, Texas Hospital Association Health Law Conference, Austin, Texas, October 2014

• Co-Presenter, Deals Gone Wild, Annual Client Seminar, Norton Rose Fulbright, January 2014

• Co-Presenter, "Physician-Hospital Alignment Strategies:  What's Waning, Working and On the Horizon," Texas Hospital Association Health Law Conference, Austin, Texas, October 2013

• Co-Presenter, "Structuring Employed Physician Compensation in the Wake of Tuomey and Halifax," Web Seminar, Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, September 2013

• Co-Presenter, "Hospital-Physician Acquisition and Employment Agreements," Web Seminar, Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP, Houston, Texas, December 2011

• Presenter, "Compliance Issues With Accountable Care Organizations," Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP Legal Issues Boot Camp For Compliance Professionals, Houston, Texas, June 2011

• Presenter, "Compliance Basics: Stark, Anti-Kickback and False Claims," Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP Legal Issues Boot Camp For Compliance Professionals, Houston, Texas, June 2011 

• Presenter, "Fair Market Value Issues in Physician Integration Strategies," Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP Legal Issues Boot Camp For Compliance Professionals, Houston, Texas, June 2011

• Co-Presenter, "Health Regulatory Issues," Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP Health Care Futures Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona, March 2011

• Presenter, "Legal and Regulatory Issues Applicable to Physician Integration Strategies," Healthcare Landscape 2011, San Antonio, Texas, January 2011

• Co-Presenter, "Legal Issues Challenging Health Care Reform," University of Texas Health Law Program, Houston, Texas, April 2010

• Co-Presenter, "Beneficiary Inducement Issues," AHLA Fraud & Abuse Program, Baltimore, Maryland, October 2009

• Presenter, "Stark and Anti-Kickback Law Primer," Tomball Regional Hospital, Tomball, Texas, July 2009

• Co-Presenter, "Health System-Owned Medical Practices:  The Legal and Practice Administrator Perspective," Texas MGMA Annual Meeting, Arlington, Texas, May 2009

• Co-Presenter, "Physician Integration Strategies," Beard Group Physician Agreements & Ventures California, Chicago, Illinois, September 2008

• Co-Presenter, "What Can Doctors Do?" University of Texas Health Law Conference, Houston, Texas, April 2008

• Presenter, "Hospital Physician Recruitment:  New Approaches to Compliance," AHLA Physician Organizations/Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institutes, Las Vegas, Nevada, February 6, 2007

• Co-Presenter, "Physician Cancer Center Ventures in Radiation Therapy and Imaging," Beard Group Physician Agreements & Ventures Conference, Chicago, Illinois, November 2006

• Presenter, "Hospital-Physician Recruitment: Navigating the Landmines," AHLA Physicians/Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institutes, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, February  2006

• Presenter, "Hospital-Physician Recruitment: Navigating the Landmines," AHLA Physicians/Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institutes, Tucson, Arizona, February 2005

• Presenter, "Joint Ventures," BKD Advanced Strategies for Reimbursement," Kansas City, Missouri, December 2004

• Co-Presenter, "Radiation Therapy Ventures," Beard Group Physician Agreements and Ventures, Chicago, Illinois, November 2004

• Presenter, "Physician Recruitment to Existing Groups: Navigating the Legal Landmines," HCCA Physician Practice Compliance Conference, San Francisco, California, October 2004

• Presenter, "Physician Recruitment, Compensation and Bonuses: A Very Slippery Slope," 26th Annual Health Law Forum, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, September 2004

• Presenter, "Hospital Support in Recruiting to Existing Groups," AHLA Hospitals and Physicians Law Institutes, Hollywood, Florida, February 2004

• American Bar Association - Health Law Section
• Texas Bar Association - Health Law Section
• Houston Bar Association, Health Law Section Chair (2004 - 2005)
• American Health Lawyers Association
• University of Houston Law Center, Adjunct Professor
• Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Health Law Exam Commission (2006 - 2011)
• DePelchin Children's Center
  • Board of Directors (1997 - present)
  • Chairman of Board (2010 - 2011)