(Jackson, MS/March 25, 2008) John B. Beard, of the law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, has been named an Outstanding Physician Practice Lawyer by Nightingale's Healthcare News, a newsletter for health care executives and professionals serving the health care industry. Mr. Beard is among 10 attorneys from across the country who were named to the list, which is published annually by Nightingale's.
Mr. Beard was recognized for his recent work in handling the physician transaction component of integrated delivery systems. His representation includes a non-profit health system in its strategic initiative to develop whole hospital joint venture projects with local physicians applying the IRS tax exempt model as well as a health care organization in the structuring of its acquisition of a physician-owned hospital with resulting hospital physician joint venture ownership and the establishment of numerous physician hospital ancillary service line joint ventures. Mr. Beard was also counsel in securing one of the nation's first tax exemption determination letters for a public physician hospital health care joint venture.
"Nightingale's recognition of John's work is well deserved," said Richard G. Cowart, head of the Firm's Health Law Department. "He has provided exemplary counsel to health care organizations, guiding them through highly intricate transactions."
Mr. Beard, who is shareholder in the Jackson office of Baker Donelson, concentrates his practice in the health care transactional area, with a focus on business and health care transactions and federal and state taxation matters. He serves as a Vice Chair of the American Health Law Association (AHLA) Tax and Finance Practice Group, on the faculty of the AHLA Tax Institute, and as Advisor for Special Projects on the AHLA's Corporate Governance Task Force.
Baker Donelson's Health Law Department is one of the top five health law firms in the country (Health Lawyer News). Attorneys in the Firm's Health Law Department deliver a wide array of corporate, regulatory and financial services grounded in an institutional knowledge of the healthcare industry. The Department also provides a full spectrum of litigation services in commercial and contract matters, antitrust disputes, regulatory and governmental issues, and defense of tort cases for a myriad of health care providers.