West Tennessee Healthcare
Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel
West Tennessee Healthcare, Jackson, Tennessee, United States, 38302
Chief Legal Officer
The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) serves as the top legal advisor for the health system, responsible for overseeing all legal and risk aspects of the organization. The CLO reports dually to the CEO and the Board of Trustees, and leads the legal and risk teams in providing counsel across the organization on regulatory, transactional, employment, governance, and compliance matters. The CLO ensures legal risk is effectively managed while supporting strategic goals and operational success. The CLO acts as a key advisor to the Board, CEO and executive leadership team and provides legal advice and guidance to the organization in all areas of hospital and clinic operations, healthcare laws and regulations, applicable state and federal laws, matters relating to human resources, patient care, medical staff, provider employment, physician recruiting, acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate purchases and leases, litigation and liability, corporations, managed care, and research while exemplifying West Tennessee Healthcare's vision and mission through role-modeling a commitment to high quality compassionate healthcare. The CLO's duties, individually and through delegation and oversight of the legal and risk teams, include: Serve as the principal legal advisor to the CEO, Board of Trustees and executive leadership team Draft and present Board resolutions Provide Board education on legal obligations, governance best practices, and fiduciary duties Ensure processes support compliance with corporate bylaws and applicable nonprofit and public hospital governance laws Oversee all litigation involving the health system, including professional liability, employment disputes, and contractual matters. Manage relationships with outside counsel and legal vendors, including budgeting and cost control Advise executive leadership on litigation strategy, risks, and settlements Assist Clinical Risk Management in evaluating and addressing adverse events Direct investigations, under privilege if appropriate Respond to EEOC, THRA and other administrative complaints Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of health system contracts, ensuring that agreements are legally sound and aligned with system policies and compliance requirements Oversee contract management, storage and approval processes Negotiate and draft provider employment agreements and professional services agreements, evaluating compensation arrangements for compliance with Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. Advise on provider onboarding, alignment, and termination issues Support strategic transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations, real estate sales and purchases, and bond financing Provide guidance on transaction structure and regulatory compliance Establish and maintain corporate entities and subsidiaries; serve as registered agent Draft corporate and advisory committee bylaws and oversee governance structure Oversee systemwide risk management efforts Develop and implement strategies to mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risks. Evaluate risk exposure and procure/maintain appropriate insurance coverage (malpractice, property, cyber, D&O, etc.) Manage patient claims process Legal resource for human resource department on employee issues and FLSA requirements Advise on terminations, reductions in force, WARN requirements, investigations, exempt classifications, and employee/independent contractor classification issues Advise and assist as needed with wellness initiatives and work-related injuries Legal resource for patient departments, providing legal advice and guidance on all aspects of patient care including AMA departures, consent/informed consent, disruptive patients, minor patients, advance directives, POAs, guardians and conservators, surrogates, and service animals Develop and deliver education to leadership, staff, and medical providers on legal, compliance, and risk issues Serve as a resource for evolving legal and regulatory changes impacting operations Educate representatives on health system issues and participate in THA and health system initiatives with regard to legislative activity Attend Medical Executive Committee and other medical staff meetings Advise on bylaws, credentialing, privileging, and peer review processes Ensure compliance with NPDB reporting and applicable standards Participate in executive and leadership meetings; collaborate closely with senior leaders. Prepare and manage legal and risk department budgets Share administrator-on-call responsibilities and respond to urgent matters as needed Lead, develop, and supervise the legal and risk management teams, including hiring, mentoring, developing and managing performance of legal and risk staff Support the company in maintaining ethical standards and promoting a strong culture of integrity Qualifications: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school Active license to practice law in Tennessee, or ability to obtain a promptly Minimum of 15 years of legal experience, with at least 10 years of experience in healthcare law. Strong working knowledge of healthcare operations and regulatory issues, including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA, HIPAA, and the CMS Conditions of Participation; familiarity with hospital operations, medical staff matters, nonprofit public health system governance, contract drafting and complex transactions Experience managing teams and projects Experience as an in-house counsel for a hospital/healthcare system or a law firm representing hospitals and health systems/entities preferred Nondiscrimination Notice Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) serves as the top legal advisor for the health system, responsible for overseeing all legal and risk aspects of the organization. The CLO reports dually to the CEO and the Board of Trustees, and leads the legal and risk teams in providing counsel across the organization on regulatory, transactional, employment, governance, and compliance matters. The CLO ensures legal risk is effectively managed while supporting strategic goals and operational success. The CLO acts as a key advisor to the Board, CEO and executive leadership team and provides legal advice and guidance to the organization in all areas of hospital and clinic operations, healthcare laws and regulations, applicable state and federal laws, matters relating to human resources, patient care, medical staff, provider employment, physician recruiting, acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate purchases and leases, litigation and liability, corporations, managed care, and research while exemplifying West Tennessee Healthcare's vision and mission through role-modeling a commitment to high quality compassionate healthcare. The CLO's duties, individually and through delegation and oversight of the legal and risk teams, include: Serve as the principal legal advisor to the CEO, Board of Trustees and executive leadership team Draft and present Board resolutions Provide Board education on legal obligations, governance best practices, and fiduciary duties Ensure processes support compliance with corporate bylaws and applicable nonprofit and public hospital governance laws Oversee all litigation involving the health system, including professional liability, employment disputes, and contractual matters. Manage relationships with outside counsel and legal vendors, including budgeting and cost control Advise executive leadership on litigation strategy, risks, and settlements Assist Clinical Risk Management in evaluating and addressing adverse events Direct investigations, under privilege if appropriate Respond to EEOC, THRA and other administrative complaints Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of health system contracts, ensuring that agreements are legally sound and aligned with system policies and compliance requirements Oversee contract management, storage and approval processes Negotiate and draft provider employment agreements and professional services agreements, evaluating compensation arrangements for compliance with Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. Advise on provider onboarding, alignment, and termination issues Support strategic transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations, real estate sales and purchases, and bond financing Provide guidance on transaction structure and regulatory compliance Establish and maintain corporate entities and subsidiaries; serve as registered agent Draft corporate and advisory committee bylaws and oversee governance structure Oversee systemwide risk management efforts Develop and implement strategies to mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risks. Evaluate risk exposure and procure/maintain appropriate insurance coverage (malpractice, property, cyber, D&O, etc.) Manage patient claims process Legal resource for human resource department on employee issues and FLSA requirements Advise on terminations, reductions in force, WARN requirements, investigations, exempt classifications, and employee/independent contractor classification issues Advise and assist as needed with wellness initiatives and work-related injuries Legal resource for patient departments, providing legal advice and guidance on all aspects of patient care including AMA departures, consent/informed consent, disruptive patients, minor patients, advance directives, POAs, guardians and conservators, surrogates, and service animals Develop and deliver education to leadership, staff, and medical providers on legal, compliance, and risk issues Serve as a resource for evolving legal and regulatory changes impacting operations Educate representatives on health system issues and participate in THA and health system initiatives with regard to legislative activity Attend Medical Executive Committee and other medical staff meetings Advise on bylaws, credentialing, privileging, and peer review processes Ensure compliance with NPDB reporting and applicable standards Participate in executive and leadership meetings; collaborate closely with senior leaders. Prepare and manage legal and risk department budgets Share administrator-on-call responsibilities and respond to urgent matters as needed Lead, develop, and supervise the legal and risk management teams, including hiring, mentoring, developing and managing performance of legal and risk staff Support the company in maintaining ethical standards and promoting a strong culture of integrity Qualifications: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school Active license to practice law in Tennessee, or ability to obtain a promptly Minimum of 15 years of legal experience, with at least 10 years of experience in healthcare law. Strong working knowledge of healthcare operations and regulatory issues, including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA, HIPAA, and the CMS Conditions of Participation; familiarity with hospital operations, medical staff matters, nonprofit public health system governance, contract drafting and complex transactions Experience managing teams and projects Experience as an in-house counsel for a hospital/healthcare system or a law firm representing hospitals and health systems/entities preferred Nondiscrimination Notice Statement: We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.