Baker Donelson has grown its Houston office with the addition of a prominent team of four health care attorneys: Ivan Wood Jr., Stuart F. Miller, Marissa Weitzner Arreola and Matthew Maruca. All of the attorneys previously practiced with Strasburger & Price.

“We’re committed to continuing the strategic growth of our Houston office through the addition of attorneys who are recognized leaders in their field. Bringing in such a strong group of attorneys marks a significant expansion of our presence in Houston and greatly enhances our capabilities in serving clients in the health care sector,” said Bradley E. Chambers, managing shareholder of the Firm’s Houston office.

Mr. Miller noted, “Joining a firm with more than 700 attorneys across the Southeast and beyond, as well as a nationally recognized health law group, gives us the opportunity to better meet the needs of our clients through substantially enhanced resources across a larger geographic footprint and a broader range of practice areas. Baker Donelson also offers innovative solutions and a client-centric philosophy that we feel will greatly benefit our clients.”

Mr. Miller, who joins Baker Donelson as shareholder, has significant experience in representing health care providers in various corporate and regulatory matters. He handles health care joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and private placement securities offerings, in addition to drafting various health care contracts, including asset and stock purchase agreements, management agreements, service agreements and employment agreements. He also regularly advises health care clients regarding compliance with the Federal Anti-Kickback Act, the Stark Act and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Mr. Miller has been recognized as a leading attorney in his field by The Best Lawyers in America® and by Texas Super Lawyers. He serves as president of the Greater Houston Healthcare Alliance and is immediate past chair of the Houston Bar Association Health Law Section.

Also joining as shareholder, Marissa Arreola represents large hospital networks, individual hospitals and physicians in a variety of transactions and regulatory matters. Her experience includes representing physician groups in acquisitions by private equity backed entities; developing, drafting and negotiating salary, productivity and non-compete models for physician employment agreements; and advising clients regarding Stark, Anti-Kickback, Federal False Claims Act and other health care fraud and abuse laws. She previously served as Director of Legal Services for The Methodist Hospital System, a five-hospital network and academic center headquartered in Houston’s Texas Medical Center. Ms. Arreola is vice chair of the American Health Lawyers Association’s Physician In-House Counsel Affinity Group.

Ivan Wood, who joins Baker Donelson as senior counsel, represents clients in the health care industry in a broad spectrum of transactions including medical staff matters, Medicare fraud and abuse, maintenance of tax-exempt status, risk management, regulatory matters and the development and implementation of joint ventures, partnerships, private offerings and corporate reorganizations. He has served as lead counsel in high profile acquisitions across the country involving hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs as well as businesses outside the health care sector. A fellow of the American Health Lawyers Association, Mr. Wood is Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has been named a leading health care attorney by Chambers USA and has also been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and Texas Super Lawyers. Mr. Wood has practiced health care law in Texas for more than 38 years.

Joining as an associate, Matthew Maruca has experience with negotiating and drafting health care facility management agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements, medical director agreements, staffing agreements and facility and equipment leases. He previously served as corporate counsel and corporate secretary for a major health care company.

“These attorneys bring a tremendous amount of experience in serving a wide range of needs for health care organizations. We’re very pleased to welcome this group of highly regarded professionals to our team,” said Phil McSween, chair of Baker Donelson’s Health Law Group.

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