Transactional Health Law Team Represents ViaQuest in Significant Investment Agreement

Robinson+Cole’s Transactional Health Law Group, led by co-chair Leslie J. Levinson, represented ViaQuest Holdings, Ltd. (ViaQuest) as legal counsel in connection with investment in the healthcare services provider by Council Capital, a healthcare-focused private equity firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. The R+C team also included Adam Anderson, Christine Bromberg, Ian Clarke-Fisher, Frank Eucalitto, Michael Kearney, Eric Kogan, Michael Lisitano, Virginia McGarrity, Kit Peabody, Kathryn Rattigan and Emilee Mooney Scott. ViaQuest, headquartered in Dublin,Ohio, is a leading provider of quality, highly-individualized and specialized cost-effective care, solutions and services focused on individuals with development disabilities; hospice care; and behavioral and mental health. All are seen as growing areas of the healthcare market. ViaQuest operates in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Read the Press Release HERE.

Eric Keen, General Partner at Council Capital, was enthusiastic about the alignment of the two companies, seeing a good fit with Council Capital’s mandate of investing “on the right side of change” – where growth accelerates as cost pressure and quality demands increase. The private equity firm leverages its Council Model, which draws upon the experience and resources of its CEO Council, Strategic Healthcare Investors, and Value Creation Team, to attract and support leading management teams and portfolio companies. Keen noted that ViaQuest is “highly regarded and well-positioned within its service specialties.”

ViaQuest founder and CEO, Rich Johnson, will remain a significant investor and continue to lead the management team. Johnson said Council Capital’s “experience in our markets and the expertise and support provided through their CEO Council…and network of portfolio companies” were significant attractions that will support ViaQuest’s mission of offering “health, happiness and hope” as it continues to grow. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This is the first platform investment from Council Capital IV, a $200 million fund that closed in November 2020.

Robinson+Cole Transactional Health Law Group Leads Significant Health Transaction

Transactional Health Law Group members Leslie J. Levinson, Christine E. Bromberg, Frank W. Eucalitto, Anna R. Gurevich, Conor O. Duffy, Eric M. Kogan, Virginia E. McGarrity and Kathryn M. Rattigan represented Companion Home Healthcare and Hospice, Inc. (Companion), a leading hospice and palliative care provider in the western United States, as legal counsel in connection with the sale of its assets to Bristol Hospice, a portfolio company of Webster Equity Partners. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Companion is one of the largest independent providers of comprehensive, compassionate end-of-life care in the Southern California market, caring for the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of patients and their families. With this new acquisition, Bristol Hospice, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, now operates in 35 locations across 10 states. 

Les Levinson Featured in Podcast Discussion on Home Health Hospice Transactions

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was a guest on Provident’s Healthcare Dealcast episode “Transaction Considerations for Home Health & Hospice Agencies” released on December 21, 2020. Presented by investment banking firm Provident Healthcare Partners, the podcast series focuses on various topics in health care mergers and acquisitions, including trends within the industry and exploring a process. Les joined Provident Healthcare Partners’ Kevin Palamara, AJ Shekar, and Jake Vesely for a discussion on recent investment activity in the home health and hospice space, key transaction and legal considerations for groups considering a process, predictions for M&A activity and valuations going into 2021, and more. Listen to the podcast episode.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on In-Home Care M&A Market Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted extensively in the article “M&A Experts ‘Can’t Recall a Time When Demand Has Been Higher’ in Sizzling In-Home Care Market” published in Home Health Care News on October 20, 2020. The article shares insight from several industry leaders on how M&A activity across home health, hospice and in-home care has started to “heat up” again after being relatively stagnant beginning in March, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As transaction parties have begun to understand better some of the COVID-19 related factors and issues and their impact on deals, valuations have stabilized and in some cases increased. We expect to see a continuing surge of deals as both PE and strategic players seek to add bolt-on transactions in their markets and additional platforms where available,” said Les. Read the full article.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Hospice M&A Amid Coronavirus Pandemic Published in Hospice News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article “Pandemic Slows Hospice M&A, but Resurgence Is on the Horizon” published in Hospice News on May 28, 2020. The article focuses on the 2020 hospice mergers and acquisitions market, which continued to be robust in the first quarter of 2020 but slowed in Q2 as companies shifted their attention towards responding to the COVID-19 pandemic . However, Les believes there may be a resurgence. “’There were more hospice transactions done last year than there were home health care deals, and I think that trend was continuing this year,’ said Les Levinson, partner and co-chair of the Transactional Health Law Group at Robinson+Cole.” “ There are a lot of hospice companies still around……and could be prime acquisition targets to be acquired by other players”. Read the full article.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Hazard Pay for Front-Line Workers Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article “As COVID-19 Cases Mount, National Spotlight Turns to Hazard Pay for Front-Line Workers” published in Home Health Care News on May 14, 2020. The article focuses on the national conversation surrounding hazard pay for essential front-line workers as COVID-19 cases continue to rise. “’Absence of government support, the money will have to come from the home care companies themselves,’ Les Levinson, co-chair of the health care transactions practice at legal firm Robinson & Cole, told HHCN. ‘They’re either going to get it from their cash reserves or other sources of capital if they have lines of credit to tap.’” Read the full article.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Home Health, Home Care M&A Activity Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted heavily in the article “Home Health, Home Care M&A Activity Is Business As Usual — For Now” published in Home Health Care News on March 17, 2020. The article focuses on the growing concern over potential disruption to in-home care M&A activity as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While home-care deals are currently moving forward, Les says “We haven’t seen anybody pull the plug on the transactions that we are currently working on,” he said. “This is an extremely fluid time, so it’s impossible to predict entirely what’s going to happen. We think that these deals will continue forward, albeit they may happen slower as people reassess what’s going to happen operationally and in the financial markets.” Read the full article.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Home-Based Care Providers Adopting the ‘One-Stop-Shop’ Model Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article “Well Care Health CEO: We’re Pushing the Envelope of Care Innovation” published in Home Health Care News on September 12, 2019. The article uses Well Care Health as an example of how “a number of previously one-dimensional companies have evolved into ‘one-stop shops,’ or integrated businesses that offer an array of complementary services” in order to stay "competitive in today’s post-acute care landscape." “For somebody who’s been in the space a long time, this trend is very interesting,” said Les. “Twenty or so years ago, you had one-stop-shop models that people were trying to promote, pitching to managed care companies. But the market just wasn’t quite in tune enough to make that succeed.” Read the full article.

Les Levinson Authors Article on Healthcare Financing Anti-assignment Limitations

Health Care Transactions Team co-Chair Les Levinson authored the recently published Lexis Practice Advisor article “Healthcare Financing Anti-assignment Limitations.” The practice note describes how to structure financing transactions for healthcare providers to overcome anti-assignment and collection limitations on Medicare and Medicaid receivables. To view the article, click here. It also will be published in the Fall 2019 quarterly print edition of "The Lexis Practice Advisor Journal."

Les Levinson Quoted in Part B News Articles on 2018 and 2019 Health Care Predictions

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in two Part B News articles published on January 7, 2019. The first article, "2019 Predictions: E/M doc changes, ’remote’ consult services will grow slowly in 2019,” saw Les forecast that 2019 will be a robust year for health care mergers and acquisitions. “Multiples have been healthy and all indications are that (these) phenomena will continue well into 2019,” he said. Les predicts that one area of growth to watch is behavioral health, with increasing government payment for services being a spur to investment. “The market here continues to move from what used to be more of a private-pay orientation to interest in government-funded behavioral health programs.” 

Les was also quoted in the article “2018 Predictions: Some came true, some did not, some a mixed bag," which looked back on the actual outcomes of a number of predictions for 2018. Commenting on last year’s prediction that mergers and acquisitions among medical practices would be strong in 2018, Les confirmed that outlook. “2018 has been extremely active across virtually all sectors of the health care M&A space,” he said. “The physician practice area, with dermatology and opthalmology leading the way, hospice and homecare, health care IT and other data and revenue management businesses have been very active areas, with interest from both private equity and strategic-type buyers.”
 

Les Levinson Presents on M&A Activity During Home Care 100 Leadership Conference

Health Law Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson was among the speakers who participated in a panel discussion entitled “8 Essential M&A Questions for 2019” during the Home Care 100 Leadership Conference held January 27-30, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Presented by Lincoln Healthcare Leadership, the 2019 conference highlighted leading-edge change, opportunity, and innovation in home care and hospice. Les' session focused on M&A activity in home care and included a near-term forecast.

Eric Kogan and Les Levinson Represent Robinson+Cole During Industry Leading Conference

The 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference was held in San Francisco, California from January 7 to 10, 2019. According to the event website, the “annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference is the largest and most informative healthcare investment symposium in the industry.” The conference is renowned for “bringing together industry leaders, emerging fast-growth companies, innovative technology creators, and members of the investment community.” The event is generally considered by industry, financial, and legal leaders and advisors to kick off the year and set the transactional tone in the broader health care and life sciences industries. Approximately 9,000 total attendees and more than 450 private and public companies participated in this year’s event.
 
Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of Robinson+Cole’s Transactional Health Law Group, and Eric M. Kogan, chair of Robinson+Cole’s Business Transactions Group, attended events hosted by participants while in San Francisco during the conference. In addition, they met with firm clients, private equity and other investors, lenders, investment bankers, and industry thought leaders to discuss trends in the health care investment area, exchange insights and experiences, and explore post-acute and other industry opportunities.

Les Levinson Moderates Panel During BRG Healthcare Leadership Conference

Health Law Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson moderated a program on “Healthcare Deal Strategies and M&A Outlook” as part of the “American Politics Disrupted” sessions presented during the Berkeley Research Group (BRG) Healthcare Leadership Conference held from December 3-5, 2018 in Washington D.C. During the program, panelists offered insight into the thinking behind the new strategies and trends in health care transactions—where the money is coming from and where it is going—from the perspectives of buyers, sellers, and investors in health care.

Robinson+Cole Helps Facilitate Significant Transactional Health Deals

Transactional Health Law Group lawyers helped close two significant health transactions for Optimal Health Services and Dermatology and Surgery Associates. All aspects of the deals were led by the group’s co-chair Leslie J. Levinson, along with the support of a team that included Rickie M. Sonpal, who advised on corporate and transactional matters; Erica S. Youngerman, who advised on transactional and health care matters; and Christine E. Bromberg who advised on tax structuring and tax matters. “These transactions are significant because they represent the acquisition of meaningful platforms in sectors that have received considerable attention and interest from both strategic as well as private equity acquirers,” said Mr. Levinson. “We are thrilled to have been part of such important transactions.” Read more in the press release.

Les Levinson Speaks on Health Care Private Equity

Health Law and Business Transactions Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson participated in and moderated a webinar entitled "Private Equity Investing in Health Care: Midyear Update" as part of a panel of health care industry professionals on June 27, 2017. Co-panelists were Slava Girzhel, a managing director at KeyBanc Capital Markets; John Pouchine, a principal at Pouchine Cook Capital Management, a midmarket private equity firm; and Eb LeMaster, a managing director at Ponder &Co., an investment bank catering to the hospital community. The presentation provided a succinct midyear update of private equity investing across the health care spectrum, along with insight into trends and the outlook for 2017.

Les Levinson Presents at AHLA Health Care Transactions Conference

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Team, presented a program entitled "Fundamentals–The Art of the Deal: Getting Your Deal Done" during the Health Care Transactions program hosted by the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) from April 26 to 28, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee. Among the topics covered in the program were how deals commence, due diligence and its role in health care transactions, drafting and negotiating key provisions of an acquisition agreement, and how to bridge difficult deal points.

Les Levinson Speaks on Home Health and Hospice Transactions

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Team, was a panelist for the webinar "Home Health & Hospice: Buying, Selling and Valuing,” presented by Irving Levin Associates on April 20, 2017. The session, which focused on mergers and acquisitions in the home health and hospice industry, covered these topics: who’s buying, who’s selling, and why; what is affecting current valuations; emerging trends and new players entering the market; and headwinds and tailwinds at play in this market.

Les Levinson Moderates BRG Leadership Conference

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Team, moderated the inaugural Berkeley Research Group (BRG) Healthcare Leadership Conference, held in Washington, DC, on December 12, 2016. The session, "Featured Deals of 2016," addressed the new breed of transactions in the fast-changing healthcare continuum. Additionally, it described the strategy and thinking behind the most noteworthy deals of the year. In attendance were senior management and policy experts from healthcare organizations (providers and payers) as well as senior executives from various supplier organizations (financial institutions, private equity firms, and law firms).

Health Care Lawyers Speak on Bundled Payment Programs Post Election

Leslie J. Levinson and Brian D. Nichols participated in the webinar "Bundled Payment Programs Post Election—What the C-suite Needs to Know" on December 8, 2016. They joined Dave Terry of Archway Health to provide an update on important developments in the bundled payment programs, in particular what they mean following the recent election. Nearly 130 attendees participated in this session. Mr. Levinson is a partner and co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group, and Mr. Nichols is a partner and a member of the firm's Health Law Group.

Les Levinson Presents at Privcap Healthcare Conference

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Team, spoke on "What’s Driving Healthcare Private Equity Deal Flow?" at the Privcap Game Change: Healthcare 2016 conference on November 17 in New York City. He and his co-presenters, John McKernan of The Riverside Company and Adam Dolder of Great Point Partners, addressed the primary trends for private equity transactions. They focused on the sellers and their motivations, the hottest subsectors, and the investment plays that are driving interest from private equity. Click here to view a photo of Mr. Levinson at the conference.

Les Levinson Moderates and Presents on Home Health and Hospice Transactions

Leslie J. Levinson was the moderator and a panel member of the webinar "Home Health & Hospice: Buying, Selling and Valuing," presented on August 18, 2016. Along with the other panelists, Benjamin Bogan of Stoneridge Partners, Justin Hand of Provident Healthcare Partners, and John Gochnour of Cornerstone Healthcare, Mr. Levinson explored the increase in merger and acquisition activity in the home health and hospice sector this year. In particular, the panel covered who's buying what, who is selling in this seller's market, whether valuations can go higher still, and how changes in labor laws and reimbursement rules, most notably minimum wage and overtime laws, have affected prices and valuations.

Mr. Levinson is a health law and business transactions partner in Robinson+Cole's New York  and co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Group.

Les Levinson Moderates Health Care Services M&A Round Table

Leslie J. Levinson moderated the webinar "Health Care Services M&A 101 Round Table" on May 5, 2016. The panelists, Darby Anderson, chief business development and strategy officer at Addus HealthCare; Burk Lindsey, managing director at Raymond James; and John Pouschine, co-founder and managing member of Pouschine Cook Capital Management, discussed the current state of the M&A market for health care services, focusing on valuation, regulatory compliance, and due diligence; where most deals are impeded; and where to invest the most time and effort to close a deal.

Mr. Levinson is a health law and business transactions partner in Robinson+Cole's New York office.

Les Levinson Moderates Webinar on Home Health and Hospice M&A

Health law and business transactions lawyer Leslie J. Levinson moderated the webinar "Home Health & Hospice M&A: Buying, Selling, and Valuing" on August 20, 2015. The session, part of the Health Care M&A Webcast Series presented by Irving Levin Associates, focused on the home health and hospice merger and acquisition (M&A) market. The topics covered who's buying what and how these deals are being financed, what reimbursement changes are coming and what's ahead for the next five years, and whether this is a good time to buy or sell, among many other topics. The panelists included Darby Anderson, chief business development and strategy officer at Addus HomeCare, Inc.; David Berman, principal at Simione Healthcare Consultants; and Dexter Braff, president of The Braff Group.

New York Lawyer Speaks at Annual HCap Conference

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group and a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group, participated in the HCap (Healthcare Services and Capital) Conference in Washington DC, held from November 19 to 21, where he was the featured speaker of a presentation entitled "Art of the Deal: Getting Your Transaction Done." Mr. Levinson's session explored practical considerations for both buyers and sellers, specifically key issues that will likely arise in negotiating, preparing for and navigating closing conditions, and dealing with post-closing matters. HCap is an annual conference that gathers leading health care providers, private equity investors, investment bankers, lenders, and industry experts who explore cutting-edge policy, financial and dealmaking trends within the broader health care industry, and the industry's relationship to the financial community.

Robinson & Cole Elects Four New Partners and Promotes Six Counsel

Robinson & Cole Receives 34 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Three National Rankings in U.S. News – Best Lawyers Survey

Super Lawyers® Names 61 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2013 List

Hartford Office Lawyers Elected to Executive Committee of CBA's Young Lawyers Section

Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

Robinson & Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of attorneys in Connecticut selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 (Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Across the firm's practice groups and offices, 56 attorneys were named to this year's list, including 48 in Connecticut and 2 who received the distinction for the first time.

Additionally, three lawyers were named "Lawyer of the Year" for 2014. Judith M. Keppelman was named Hartford Trusts and Estates "Lawyer of the Year," Dwight H. Merriam was named Hartford Litigation - Real Estate "Lawyer of the Year," and James A. Wade was named Hartford Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year."

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Five Practices, Names 17 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Robinson & Cole in five practice area categories in its 2013 edition and has individually recognized 17 of the firm's lawyers, including two who are ranked for the first time.
 

Ted Tucci Quoted in Law360 Article for Health Law

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Appointed to Board of Directors of Nonprofits

Robinson & Cole Receives 32 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Four National Rankings in U.S.News - Best Lawyers Survey

Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

A total of 49 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for 2012. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 26 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

Recognized attorneys and their areas of practice can be read in the full press release.

Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

Robinson & Cole LLP was again recognized as having the highest number of attorneys in Connecticut selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (© 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Across the firm's practice groups and offices, 55 attorneys were named to this year's list, including 46 in Connecticut and 10 who received the distinction for the first time.

Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 4.4 million confidential evaluations are submitted by attorneys on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Additional information regarding the Best Lawyers selection methodology may be read here. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Ted Tucci on Panel Discussion about the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Health Care

Theodore J. Tucci to Participate in the Metro Hartford Alliance’s Panel Discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling on Health Care Reform

• Theodore J. Tucci, Partner, Robinson & Cole LLP
• Kevin Counihan, Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange
• J. Bruce Boisture, Of Counsel, Day Pitney LLP

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Five Practices, Names 16 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

Robinson & Cole LLP announced today that the legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized the firm in five practice area categories in its 2012 edition and has individually recognized 16 of the firm's attorneys.

Robinson & Cole Welcomes New Health Law Attorneys

Class Dismissed! Appellate Team Wins Summary Judgment for Health Insurer

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Six Practices, Names 12 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

Robinson & Cole LLP announced today that the legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized the firm in six practice area categories in its 2011 edition; 12 of the firm's attorneys have been individually recognized.

Health Law Attorneys Publish ACO Regulations Article in Connecticut Law Tribune

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Present Webinar on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

Attorneys Present Webinar on Accountable Care Organizations

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Present Medicaid Audit Defense Seminar

Health and Benefits Litigators Win “Appropriate Care” Disability Insurance Case

The insured, a dentist, claimed to be totally disabled due to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The policies required that to be eligible for benefits, the insured must receive regular and personal physician’s care that is appropriate, under prevailing medical standards, for his condition. The insured refused to pursue carpal tunnel release surgery after more conservative treatments failed to help. On behalf of Paul Revere, Ms. Tomasco and Mr. Tucci filed an action in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut seeking a declaratory judgment that the insurer owed no duty to pay additional benefits and that it was entitled to repayment of certain benefits. Both parties cross-moved for summary judgment on the complaint. Ruling in favor of Paul Revere, the court held that the language of the policies unambiguously imposed on the insured the duty to seek and accept appropriate medical care for his condition. The court further determined, given the undisputed facts of the case, that by forgoing release surgery the insured failed to comply with the “appropriate care” provisions and no longer qualified for benefits. The court also ruled in favor of Paul Revere on the insured’s statutory bad faith and other counterclaims.

The firm believes this is the first reported decision in the country to grant summary judgment to a disability insurer on whether the insured’s failure to obtain surgery violates an appropriate care requirement.

Health Care Attorneys Talk Strategy with Hospitals

VNA Health Care Elects Attorney to Board of Directors

Robinson & Cole LLP Receives Most Connecticut First-Tier Rankings in Inaugural U.S.News - Best Lawyers Survey

Health Law Group Hosted Webinar on New Electronic Health Record Requirements

Robinson & Cole Partner Quoted in Hartford Business Journal on Health Care Reform Impact to Local Businesses

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Author CT Law Tribune Article on Expansion of Fraud and Abuse Laws Under Reform Legislation

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Featured in Health Care Reform Book

Robinson & Cole Attorney Speaks at Regional Economic Development Forum

Connecticut Governor Appoints Robinson & Cole Attorney to Advisory Committee