Davis Wright Tremaine Expands Healthcare Practice and Depth in California With Addition of Two Prominent Partners

Attorneys bring over 20 years of healthcare experience representing clients in Northern California and throughout the state

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Davis Wright Tremaine LLP today announced the addition of Leslie C. Murphy and John C. J. Barnes as San Francisco-based partners in its healthcare practice group. Spending most of their legal careers in Northern California, Murphy and Barnes each have 20 years of experience representing healthcare clients throughout the state. They joined the firm from King & Spalding, where they were partners.

Murphy is a litigator who represents healthcare entities in managed care and healthcare-related disputes. She regularly serves as lead counsel on behalf of hospital systems and healthcare providers in managed care disputes with health plans. She also advises clients on complex medical billing, coding, and reimbursement matters. She has extensive experience litigating high stakes matters, working creatively to develop strategies for managed care contract disputes with a focus on the resolution of large claims. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

Barnes advises clients in managed healthcare arrangements on the structuring of risk-based managed care contracts – including capitation and shared savings arrangements – as well as traditional fee-for-service arrangements. He also provides counsel on contract terminations, network access disputes, and revenue cycle practices. In his role assisting clients in negotiating payor contracts and developing payor strategies, Barnes prioritizes enhancing the provider’s standing in the market and improving their revenue cycle. He received his B.A. from University of California San Diego and his J.D. from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

Davis Wright has increased its presence in California by 34% in the past five years and expanded its California healthcare practice, including adding another prominent attorney, Thomas C. Schroeder, last month. The practice has approximately 70 lawyers across the country. The firm’s San Francisco office has added 11 lawyers over the past two years, growing to over 50 lawyers in the Bay Area.

Hope Levy-Biehl and Adam Romney, co-chairs of Davis Wright’s healthcare practice group:
“Leslie and John bring a set of skills and experience that we have been seeking. Their ability to develop strong, long-lasting relationships with marquee hospitals and health systems is ideally aligned with our vision for the practice. Adding partners of their caliber reinforces our commitment to maintaining a deep and highly skilled healthcare practice, and we are very excited to have them join our team.”

Jeff Bosley, partner-in-charge of the San Francisco office:
“Healthcare was a foundational practice for our San Francisco office, and it remains a priority practice for us. We are always looking for talented, entrepreneurial lawyers with strong client relationships who can continue to build on our firm’s strengths and presence in Northern California, and Leslie and John are a perfect fit.”

Leslie Murphy:
“Davis Wright has demonstrated its commitment to healthcare and to growing that practice. We immediately saw a synergy between their healthcare practice and ours, which was very attractive to us.”

John Barnes:
“The firm has consistently expanded the healthcare practice in California and nationally, especially the depth of its work for health systems. It is an ideal platform for us.”

About Davis Wright Tremaine

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an Am Law 100 firm with approximately 550 lawyers representing clients throughout the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.