HOUSTON, TX and WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 06/02/08 -- In a major expansion of its nationally recognized healthcare practice, King & Spalding announced today the arrival of a group of 13 healthcare lawyers, including six partners, to the firm's Houston and Washington, D.C., offices.

Joining King & Spalding as partners are Dennis M. Barry, Christopher L. Keough and Joseph E. Lynch in Washington, D.C., and Gary W. Eiland, Dennis C. Dunn and Nancy C. LeGros in Houston. In addition, counsel Stephanie A. Webster and associates J. Harold Richards, Robert E. Waters, Lori K. Mihalich, Daniel J. Hettich, Adam Robison, and Christina A. Gonzalez are joining the firm's healthcare practice. The entire group joins King & Spalding from Vinson & Elkins.

This major expansion injects considerable new talent into King & Spalding's already highly regarded healthcare practice. King & Spalding is the top-ranked healthcare law practice in the United States with 212 members, according to the American Health Lawyers Association. Chambers USA says the firm's healthcare practice has "national reach" and is "right at the forefront of transactional work and truly excellent at litigation."

"Last year," said Robert D. Hays, Jr., chairman of King & Spalding, "we designated the healthcare practice and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices practice as strategic initiatives that would fuel the continued growth of the firm. We also set out to expand both of these key practice areas nationally. The arrival of this talented group, which includes a former practice group leader and a number of Chambers-ranked lawyers, bolsters both practices while also expanding them geographically. We are thrilled to welcome such a skilled team to our firm."

Glen A. Reed, chair of King & Spalding's healthcare industry group, said, "We believe this move provides us with unprecedented experience, expertise and relationships to better serve our health industry clients. Our new group of talented lawyers formed the core of a widely acclaimed healthcare practice that Chambers USA characterized as 'a healthcare leader with a sterling reputation doing phenomenal work.'"

Dennis Barry, a leading healthcare lawyer and a member of the incoming group, concurred. "We are very excited to join the fine lawyers at King & Spalding. Healthcare delivery continues to evolve, and the need to adapt to increasing government regulation, changing business conditions and new technology is constant. The health care and life sciences practices at King & Spalding are very highly regarded and provide ideal platforms from which we can help clients to anticipate these changes and develop practical solutions."

Practicing in Washington, D.C.

Dennis Barry focuses his practice on healthcare coverage, payment, and compliance issues. He is recognized as one of the nation's leading lawyers in this area. He represents many of the leading hospitals and health systems in the country on Medicare and Medicaid payment disputes, regulatory compliance, appeals, and transactional matters. Barry received a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University. He is a member of the board of directors of the American Health Lawyers Association.

Christopher L. Keough specializes in federal court and administrative agency litigation related to Medicare and Medicaid payment and compliance. He represents hospitals, hospital systems, and academic medical centers. He recently served as lead counsel for more than 600 hospitals in an action against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare payments for the plaintiff hospitals. He holds a J.D. from George Washington National Law Center and a B.A. in Economics from Franklin & Marshall College.

Joseph E. Lynch represents academic medical centers, hospitals, physician practices, healthcare e-commerce companies, managed care organizations, provider networks and other healthcare providers in structuring, negotiating and implementing a wide range of clinical and administrative transactions. He earned a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences.

Stephanie A. Webster concentrates on the regulatory needs of healthcare providers and administrative and federal court litigation involving Medicare and Medicaid payment and compliance. She holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from Yale University.

J. Harold Richards focuses on Medicare coverage, payment, and compliance. He received a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and History, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina.

Robert E. Waters focuses on a variety of health industry matters. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a J.D. and from Duke University with a B.A. in Japanese History.

Lori K. Mihalich focuses on Medicare coverage, payment, and regulatory compliance. She received a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs and International Relations, Princeton University.

Daniel J. Hettich represents a number of healthcare clients and previously practiced securities law. He earned a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and an M.A. and a B.A. in Philosophy from Georgetown University.

Practicing in Houston

Gary W. Eiland, a veteran healthcare lawyer with over 30 years' experience, was previously the leader of the healthcare practice at his former firm. He focuses on the special regulatory and organizational problems of healthcare providers, systems and academic medical centers, with an emphasis on clinical research and regulatory compliance, False Claims Act investigations and defense, self-disclosures, pursuit of OIG advisory opinions, Medicare and Medicaid coverage and payment issues, and structuring healthcare business transactions and contractual relationships. Eiland holds a J.D. with Honors from The University of Texas School of Law and a B.B.A. in Marketing with Honors from The University of Texas. He is a member and past president of the American Health Lawyers Association and the recipient of the association's David J. Greenberg Service Award for career-long contributions.

Dennis C. Dunn has 24 years' experience in the healthcare industry, where he concentrates on transactional and business matters. He handles acquisitions and divestitures for hospitals, academic medical centers, HMOs, ambulatory surgery centers, home health agencies, skilled-nursing facilities and physician practice groups. He received a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.A. in Economics and Political Science, magna cum laude, from Dickinson College.

Nancy C. LeGros represents hospitals and hospital systems, academic medical centers, hospices and mental health facilities in a variety of healthcare operational and compliance issues involving Medicare and Medicaid certification, facility licensure, EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act), health information privacy, medical staff credentialing and peer review, and clinical research. She graduated, magna cum laude, with a J.D, from the University of Houston Law Center and magna cum laude with a B.A. in History from Rice University.

Adam Robison focuses on a variety of healthcare industry matters. He received a J.D., summa cum laude, from South Texas College of Law and a B.S. in Sociology from Brigham Young University.

Christina A. Gonzalez represents a number of healthcare industry clients. She earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Rice University.

About King & Spalding's Healthcare Practice

King & Spalding represents healthcare companies involved in the delivery of healthcare and payment for healthcare services across all facets of the legal issues they face. The firm helps these clients accomplish their strategic goals, alleviate risk, and succeed in litigation. As one of the largest healthcare practices in the country, King & Spalding has received national acclaim for excellence in transactional, litigation, and regulatory representation of clients across the spectrum of healthcare.

About King & Spalding

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, New York, Riyadh (affiliated office), San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. The firm represents half of the Fortune 100 and in a Corporate Counsel survey in September 2007 was among the top firms representing Fortune 250 companies. For additional information, visit www.kslaw.com/health.

Contacts:
Kimberly Brooks
King & Spalding
Ph: (212) 827-4378
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