Four attorneys join Winstead's Austin office: Pictured, from left, are Marshall Meringola (sitting), Michael Smith (standing), Corinne Smith (sitting) and Kevin Wood (standing). (Photo credit: Chandler Prude)

Four Attorneys Join Health Care Practice in Austin

Kevin Wood, Corinne Smith, Marshall Meringola and Michael Smith, transactional health care attorneys with years of experience, have joined Winstead PC's health care industry group in the firm's Austin office. The four new attorneys join the firm from Clark Hill and add to Winstead's expanding health care practice, which handles a wide range of transactions, compliance and dispute resolution matters involving the growing and dynamic health care business sector. "We are dedicated to exceeding client expectations, and the addition of these highly respected health care practitioners will help us continue to do that while growing our practice," said Sarah Churchill Llamas, head of Winstead's health care industry group, in a statement by the firm. "We are really looking forward to working together."

Wood helps all types of health care providers navigate the complex and ever-changing rules that control how providers enter business arrangements with each other. Most providers want to solely focus on delivering quality health care to their patients. As one of the most regulated industries, though, health care providers face many other challenges that demand their attention. Wood works to ensure he is aware of the latest challenges facing providers and others in the health care industry and is able to provide practical solutions. These challenges include complying with federal and state fraud and abuse laws, ensuring the privacy and security of patient information, and being prepared should federal or state agencies knock on the door.

Smith advises clients about complex health care transactions, leading physician alignment strategies and contracting, strategic growth and partnership, and hospital and physician practice operations and risk management. She is board certified in health care management as a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). Smith previously spent nearly a decade providing sophisticated legal service to health care giants Ascension Seton Healthcare Family and UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. She held the titles of director of legal services and chief of strategic partnerships and legal counsel, respectively, and gained in-depth technical knowledge regarding the nuances of Stark law, Anti-Kickback, False Claims Act, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, HIPAA, managed care contracting, licensure and regulatory compliance, public/private partnerships and health care operations.

Meringola is a corporate securities attorney with an emphasis on corporate transactions and arrangements within the health care industry. In addition to assisting clients with corporate formations, governance, private offerings, and mergers and acquisitions, he dedicates a significant portion of his practice to advising health care providers and health care-related entities on a variety of regulatory matters.

Smith focuses his practice on corporate, legislative, regulatory and policy matters related to the health care industry. His experience includes advising clients on the organization and operation of physician practices and other health care ventures; drafting and negotiating of corporate contracts, including general employment, physician recruitment, independent contractor, management, and lease agreements; and assisting with business transactions, including mergers, asset sales, and transfers of ownership interests. Smith has particular knowledge regarding federal and state health care laws and regulations, including privacy and security (HIPAA, HITECH Act, Texas Medical Records Privacy Act), fraud and abuse (Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark law, and False Claims Act), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Two Appointed to Firm Leadership in Texas

The global law firm Jones Day announced that Lyle Ganske has been appointed partner-in-charge of its Houston office, and Stephen Olson has been appointed to lead the transactional practices in the firm's Texas region.

A partner in the firm's M&A practice, Ganske advises large public and private companies, focusing primarily on M&A, takeovers, takeover preparedness, corporate governance, executive compensation, and general corporate counseling. He has been involved in more than 50 transactions that each had a value in excess of $1 billion, and more than 50 proxy contests and battles for corporate control. He serves as the firm's chair of boardroom development and strategic transactions and represents the boards of approximately 100 public companies on fiduciary duty-related matters and has experience with an array of industries, including energy, telecom, manufacturing, retailing and process industries.

Recognized among the leading M&A lawyers in the country, Olson is a partner in Jones Day's M&A, private equity, and energy practices, and is based in the firm's Houston office. He counsels clients in connection with public and private acquisition and divestiture transactions, complex joint ventures, registered offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities, as well as corporate governance and other general corporate matters.

"Stephen and Lyle bring extraordinary experience as both lawyers and leaders and their appointments underscore our continued commitment to providing the highest level of transactional and corporate talent from Texas," said Matt Kairis, partner-in-charge of Texas for Jones Day, in a statement by the firm.

National Firm Promotes Five Attorneys in Texas

DLA Piper recently announced its global promotions, including five from three Texas offices— including Austin, Dallas and Houston—who were promoted to partner:

Brent L. Bernell, in the firm's Austin office in the corporate practice, provides counsel to public and private companies in a variety of industries on corporate and securities matters. His experience includes representation of public issuers and underwriters in registered and unregistered public equity and debt offerings, private companies and institutional investors in private equity and venture capital financings, strategic and financial buyers and sellers in merger and acquisitions, issuers with respect to public company disclosure and compliance requirements and a variety of clients on matters of corporate governance and general corporate advice.

Kevin Nolan, also from the Austin office in the corporate practice, focuses on the representation of institutional investors and sponsors of private investment funds on a broad range of issues, including fund formations, secondary transactions and investments in alternative assets. Nolan counsels U.S. and non-U.S. institutional investors and funds with respect to investments in alternative assets, including private equity funds, real estate funds, energy funds, venture capital funds, emerging managers and emerging markets.

J. Pieratt, from the Austin office in the real estate practice, focuses on representing national and regional investors, businesses, developers and lenders to acquire, develop, finance, sell and lease commercial real property located in Texas and throughout the United States.

Allissa A.R. Pollard, from the Houston office in the firm's litigation practice, represents domestic and foreign companies in a broad range of complex commercial disputes, including contracts, business tort and trade secrets disputes and conducts internal investigations. She represents clients in numerous sectors, including energy, life sciences, banking and private equity. Pollard regularly conducts internal investigations for companies responding to allegations of compliance and regulatory violations, as well as allegations of employee misconduct.

Skye W. Smith, from the Dallas office in the corporate practice, focuses on representation of institutional investors in connection with investments in private equity and other commingled vehicles, including buyout, venture capital, distressed debt, special opportunity, infrastructure, hedge and real estate funds, as well as secondary market purchases and divestments. In addition, Smith provides advice with respect to the formation, organization and operation of various types of domestic and offshore investment funds and the structuring of single investor funds and managed accounts. She also has experience with SEC and state-level investment adviser registration and related SEC regulatory compliance matters.