(Memphis, TN / March 17, 2011) Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, is pleased to announce the return of Michael Hess as a member of the Firm's Health Law Department and its Drug, Device & Life Sciences Industry Group.

Mr. Hess, a shareholder in the Firm's Memphis office, provides guidance to specialty and rare disease pharmaceutical sector clients, including small and large molecule product manufacturers, specialty pharmacies, wholesalers and distributors, service companies and pharmacy benefit managers. His experience includes contracting for the purchase of rare disease and specialty drugs; managing or supporting the acquisition of pharmaceutical and infusion service companies; structuring arrangements between pharmaceutical, pharmacies and support organizations, and managing issues associated with new product launches including compliance with Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) requirements, structuring co-pay assistance programs and implementing patient registries. Mr. Hess also assists other healthcare clients including physician practices, hospitals, imaging centers, ambulatory surgery centers and healthcare real estate investment trusts with regulatory and reimbursement issues.

Mr. Hess, who was with the Firm's Jackson, Mississippi, and Birmingham, Alabama offices from 1999 to 2006, left Baker Donelson to serve as Chief Counsel and Vice President of Strategic Development for Accredo Health Group, the nation's largest specialty pharmacy. He also later served as Assistant General Counsel for Accredo's corporate parent, Medco Health Solutions, the nation's largest pharmacy benefit manager.

"Mike had developed a solid healthcare regulatory practice prior to leaving Baker Donelson, and has since expanded his knowledge base to add tremendous insight into matters related to specialty pharmacy issues and the life sciences field, which are growing industries in Memphis," said Richard G. Cowart, chair of the Firm's Health/Public Policy Department. "His experience is a strong addition to our health law practice as well as our Drug, Device & Life Sciences team, and we are excited to have him rejoin us."

Mr. Hess has been recognized as a leading health law attorney by Mid-South Super Lawyers and was named an Outstanding Young Healthcare Attorney by Nightingale's Healthcare News. He holds an AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible recognition for legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. Hess served as vice chair of the American Health Lawyers Association's Reimbursement, Accreditation and Payment (RAP) Practice Group. His community involvement includes service on the board of directors of Make-a-Wish of the Mid-South and on the board of trustees of the Leadership Academy.

Mr. Hess is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. He also holds a Master of Arts from Mississippi State University and earned his undergraduate degree from Mississippi College.

Baker Donelson's Health Law Department is widely recognized as a premier national practice. It will be included in the upcoming Chambers USA 2011 edition as one of the nation's leading health law practices and is consistently ranked as one of the largest health law practices in the country. Attorneys in the Baker Donelson Health Law Department deliver a wide array of corporate, regulatory and financial services, representing leading hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, physician organizations and specialty care providers. 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.