Richard G. Cowart is the Chair of the Firm's Health/Public Policy Department and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors.
The Health/Public Policy Department of Baker Donelson is regarded as one of the premiere health law practices in the country. It has been nationally ranked by Modern Healthcare, Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Health Lawyers News and other health care publications.
Mr. Cowart is a recognized authority in advising clients on the legal, regulatory and business issues related to health care services. He works primarily as board counsel to health service organizations (both for profit and not-for-profit) and counsels providers on business, policy and governance issues, with an emphasis on business transactions.
Mr. Cowart is a nationally known speaker and writer on health care issues. He was the national columnist for Medical News, Inc. for 16 years and is the health business columnist for The Tennessean.
- Co-author – Healthcare Reform Law Resource Guide, American Health Lawyers Association (July 2010)
- Listed – Nashville Post "In Charge" list - Health Care (2010)
- Recipient – American Health Lawyers Association David R. Greenburg Award (2007 – Lifetime Service to Health Law)
- 2004-2005 President of the American Health Lawyers Association
- Fellow – American Health Lawyers Association (2008)
- Editorial Board Member – Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 1991; Health Care Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers since 2003 (Mergers & Acquisitions; Healthcare)
- Named to the Lawdragon 3000 (2010)
- Listed in Corporate Counsel, "Best Lawyers: Healthcare" (2004)
- Listed in Nightingale's Healthcare News, "Nation's Best Hospital Attorneys" (2004)
- Listed in Who's Who of American Law (2005-2006)
- Named as a Leading Health Care Attorney by Legal Media Group (2006)
- Listed in The Legal 500 United States, Volume I, Corporate and Finance in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions (2007 to present)
- Listed in "The Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal (2006, 2007, 2008)
- Listed in "Best 101 Lawyers," Tennessee Business (2006)
- Named to Business Tennessee magazine's "150 Best Lawyers" in the area of healthcare (transactional) law since 2007
- Named to Nashville Business Journal’s "Health Care 100" (2007)
- Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006; named among top 100 attorneys in Tennessee since 2007
- American Heart Association
- Chairman, Board of Directors (MS Affiliate)
- Board of Directors (Middle TN Affiliate)
- Goodwill Industries
- Volunteer of the Year
- National Community Leadership Award Recipient
- The Hermitage (Home of President Andrew Jackson)
- Regent (Chairman, Board of Directors)
- Board of Directors
- Vanderbilt University
- Owen School of Business Advisory Board
- David Lipscomb University
- President's Advisory Cabinet
- Board of Visitors, College of Pharmacy
- Fellow – Health Solutions Group
- Southern Center of Journalism and Politics (Overby Center) - University of Mississippi
- Board Member, Advisory Board
- Tennessee, 1999
- Mississippi, 1978
- University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 1978, with honors
- University of Southern Mississippi, B.S.B.A., 1975, magna cum laude