Overview
Paul F. Lawrence advises for-profit and nonprofit companies in the healthcare services industry on national and regional mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations, dispositions and complex business transactions. Paul has developed in-depth knowledge and skill in the representation of for-profit and nonprofit hospitals and health systems, medical groups, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and governmental and quasi-governmental bodies in the acquisition and divestiture of healthcare services businesses and business lines. Paul’s unique focus on mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare industry has given him an edge critical to the successful negotiation, documentation and closing of health industry transactions, including the ability to advise clients on current trends and developments. He regularly helps clients navigate the complex healthcare regulatory issues that arise in such transactions. Paul is a practice area lead for McDermott’s health transactions practice.
Results
- Represented a national physician practice management company in connection with its acquisition of non-clinical assets from multiple physician practices across the country, and the company’s provision of non-clinical business support services to such practices
- Represented various clients in connection with transactions involving the acquisition or divestiture, affiliation and/or strategic alliance with medical groups, including the representation of a large medical group in its sale of non-clinical assets to a new platform company of a private equity firm and the medical group’s arrangements with that new platform company
- Represented a client in connection with the successful acquisition of two acute care hospitals (located on three different campuses) from a nonprofit hospital system that had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; the client was designated the “stalking horse” purchaser and participated in the debtor’s Bankruptcy Section 363 sale process
- Represented a client in connection with the divestiture of a two-campus acute care hospital in the client’s Bankruptcy Section 363 sale process
- Represented a holding company (focused on partnering with businesses for the long-term) in its acquisition of a national diagnostic imaging company
- Represented a client in connection with the acquisition of a two-campus nonprofit academic medical center; transaction included the concurrent structuring of a long-term academic affiliation agreement between the client and a university
- Represented two integrated, full-service laboratory companies in connection with their sale to a national laboratory company
- Represented a client in connection with the sale of a substantial ownership interest in its large regional hospital, including the negotiation and documentation of a joint venture between a nonprofit/tax-exempt organization and a for-profit hospital system for hospital and outpatient services
- Represented a religious nonprofit hospital system in the divestiture of three of its regional hospitals to a three-party joint venture comprised of the divesting hospital system, a for-profit hospital system and another nonprofit hospital system
- Represented a national for-profit hospital system in its acquisition of a six-hospital, nonprofit system
- Represented a six-hospital religious nonprofit hospital system in the divesture of all of its hospitals and other operations to a private equity firm
- Represented hospital systems that have acquired one or more nonprofit community hospitals throughout the country; some have involved complex joint venture arrangements and others have involved a challenging state attorney general approval process
- Represented a client in connection with a joint venture to arrange for access to behavioral healthcare services
- Represented a nonprofit hospital system in connection with its development of a for-profit division to develop ancillary business lines, including the division’s acquisition of multiple revenue cycle management companies
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Healthcare, 2010-2024
- Best Lawyers in America, Healthcare Law, 2010-2021 and 2023-2025
- Best Lawyers in America, Lawyer of the Year in Los Angeles: Healthcare Law, 2020 and 2024
- Acritas Stars, listed among independently rated lawyers, 2020
- Nightingale’s Healthcare News, 2004 and 2008
- BTI, Client Service All-Stars, 2012
Credentials
Education
Harvard Law School, JD, 1991
University of California – Los Angeles, BA, summa cum laude, 1988
Admissions
California