Richard G. Cowart

Richard G. Cowart is the Chair of the Firm's Health and Public Policy Department and a member of the Firm's Board of Directors.

The Health and 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 senior management regarding policy, regulatory and business issues related to health care. He serves as strategic counsel to health care companies (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 18 years and is the health business columnist for The Tennessean.

Professional Honors & Activities

• Past President, American Health Lawyers Association
• Recipient – American Health Lawyers Association David R. Greenburg Award (Lifetime Service to Health Law)
• Fellow – American Health Lawyers Association
• Editorial Board Member – Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law
• The Best Lawyers in America® in Health Care Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law (20 years)
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers in Healthcare and Mergers & Acquisitions since 2003

Other National Recognitions

• Lawdragon 3000 (since 2008)
• The Legal 500 United States, Volume I, Corporate and Finance in the area of Mergers and Acquisitions (since 2007)
• Corporate Counsel, "Best Lawyers: Healthcare" (2004)
• Nightingale's Healthcare News, "Nation's Best Hospital Attorneys" (2004)
• Who's Who of American Law (2005 – 2006)

Local Recognitions

• One of the 101 Top Middle Tennessee Lawyers by Nashville Post (2011)
• Nashville Post "In Charge" list - Health Care (2010 – 2012)
• "The Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal (2006 – 2008, 2011)
• Business Tennessee magazine's "150 Best Lawyers" (healthcare and transactional law) since 2007
• Nashville Business Journal's "Health Care 100" (2007)
• Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006
• "Best 101 Lawyers," Tennessee Business (2006)

Civic Honors & Activities

• American Heart Association
  • Chairman, Board of Directors (MS Affiliate)
  • Chairman, Board of Directors (Middle TN Affiliate)
• NASBA Center for Public Trust
  • Recipient – Being A Difference Award
• Goodwill Industries
  • Volunteer of the Year
• The Hermitage (Home of President Andrew Jackson)
  • Regent (Chairman, Board of Directors)
  • Vice Chairman, National Advisory Council
• Vanderbilt University
  • Owen School of Business Advisory Board
  • Fellow, Health Solutions Group
• David Lipscomb University
  • Board of Directors
  • Board of Visitors, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Southern Center of Journalism and Politics (Overby Center) - University of Mississippi
  • Board Member
• National Association for Community Service
  • Recipient – Distinguished Community Leadership Award (Jackson, MS)
• Leadership Mississippi
  • President
• Mississippi 2000 Commission
  • Chairman
• Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters
  • Founder
• Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference
  • Founder
• Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Association
  • Board of Governors

Publications

• Co-author – Healthcare Reform Law Resource Guide, American Health Lawyers Association (July 2010)

Admissions

• Tennessee, 1999
• Mississippi, 1978

Education

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 1978, with honors
• University of Southern Mississippi, B.S.B.A., 1975, magna cum laude