Baker Donelson has added Robert Wells, an attorney with more than 20 years of experience in health care regulatory and corporate matters, as a shareholder in the Baker Ober Health Law Group.
Mr. Wells, who joins the Firm's Baltimore office, has represented both long-established and startup health care companies. He advises on a broad array of complex legal and operational matters, including the development and implementation of enterprise-wide corporate compliance programs that involve the integration of corporate governance, risk management, and compliance; and the challenging regulatory issues governing pharmaceutical and medical device companies. In addition, he has assisted with the development and growth of innovative technology and health care data analytics partnerships. His experience in regulatory compliance encompasses both federal and state issues, including fraud and abuse laws; corporate governance; reimbursement issues; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state and international privacy laws; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA); and health care licensure, certification and accreditation.
Mr. Wells previously served as the chief legal officer of Integra Connect, a comprehensive health care practice management and technology company, gaining firsthand experience with the legal and compliance implications of emerging value-based care initiatives. His experience also includes serving as general counsel of Flatiron Health, a privately-held health care IT and data analytics company currently valued at over $1 billion, and in senior legal roles at Fortune 20 companies AmerisourceBergen Corporation and Cardinal Health. He also was previously in private practice with the firm of Ober, Kaler Grimes and Shriver, which merged with Baker Donelson in 2017.
S. Craig Holden, co-chair of the Baker Ober Health Law Group and a shareholder in the Firm's Baltimore office, said, "We're extremely pleased to welcome Robert back to our health care team. He is very highly regarded, not only as a health care attorney but also as a leader. He is a strong addition to our health care regulatory group and also brings a background in compliance work in the life sciences sector, a pivotal area for our health practice. We look forward to offering our clients the benefits of his talent, experience, and skills."
A member of the American Health Law Association, Mr. Wells is also a member of the board of directors of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and has served on the Privacy Board of Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. He is recognized as a leading health care attorney in both Chambers USA and The Best Lawyers in America®.
Mr. Wells is the latest in a number of significant new hires in Baker Donelson's Baltimore office. Other recent additions there have included former general counsel for Volvo Financial Services (USA) Bonnie L. Michael, trust and estate planning attorney Bridgette E. Becker, and energy project and infrastructure development attorney Joseph G. Tirone.
Baker Donelson's lateral hire activity has also extended beyond Baltimore. In October, the Firm expanded its geographic reach into a new market, announcing the addition of a team of six North Carolina health care attorneys led by prominent lawyers Kenneth L. Burgess and Matthew W. Wolfe. Through the hiring of more than 25 shareholders and of counsel across its existing footprint in 2021, the Firm has also added attorneys in its corporate, technology, privacy, energy, global business, real estate, and litigation practices.