Barnes & Thornburg Welcomes 12-Lawyer Team in Key Expansion of Healthcare Industry Practice
Veteran healthcare lawyers strengthen firm’s regulatory, compliance and False Claims Act capabilities
In a move that reinforces its commitment to serving healthcare providers, health systems, academic medical centers, life science companies, and other industry stakeholders across the country, Barnes & Thornburg — a national law firm with more than 900 lawyers in 26 markets — announces the addition of a 12-lawyer healthcare team in its Raleigh office. The team significantly deepens the firm's healthcare regulatory, compliance, data privacy, clinical research, transactional, and False Claims Act capabilities in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) region and nationally.
“We are pleased to welcome our fifth lateral group this year in what has been an extraordinary year for the firm. This addition is another important step in our long-term strategic growth,” said Andrew Detherage, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg. “Healthcare has been a strategic growth focus for us, and this team immediately enhances our capabilities in one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy while strengthening our presence in the Southeast, an increasingly important market for healthcare and life sciences innovation. They are a perfect fit for our culture.”
The team joins from K&L Gates, where partners Kelsey Jernigan and John Lawrence led the practice. At Barnes & Thornburg, Lawrence will serve as the managing partner of the Raleigh office; Jernigan as director of healthcare regulatory services. The other partners include Jared Burtner, Nathan Huff, Carolyn Merritt, McNair Nichols and Rebecca Schaefer, along with associates Christian Flemming and Michael Phillips. Together, they represent hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, physician groups, laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and other healthcare organizations that navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.
“Our clients are confronting unprecedented regulatory scrutiny alongside rapid change across the healthcare industry," said John Kelly, chair of Barnes & Thornburg's Healthcare Department. “John and Kelsey have assembled an exceptional team that is highly regarded for guiding healthcare organizations through their most sophisticated litigation, enforcement and regulatory challenges. Their experience perfectly complements our existing strengths and substantially expands the depth and breadth of our national healthcare platform.”
With more than 140 lawyers, Barnes & Thornburg's Healthcare Industry practice represents clients across the full spectrum of the industry, including regulatory compliance, government investigations, reimbursement, fraud and abuse, corporate transactions, litigation, privacy, labor and employment, intellectual property and life sciences matters.
“Barnes & Thornburg has built a collaborative national platform with an outstanding reputation for client service and sophisticated legal work,” said Lawrence. “The firm's deep experience across its litigation, healthcare, life sciences, corporate and regulatory practices creates tremendous opportunities to help clients address increasingly complex challenges. The firm is committed to excellence, collaboration and practical, business-focused counsel, and our team is very excited to join.”
Additionally, Jernigan added, “Healthcare organizations need advisors who understand not only the regulatory framework but also the operational realities they face every day. Barnes & Thornburg's multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver comprehensive solutions that help clients manage risk while achieving their strategic objectives. We are excited to begin this next chapter alongside such talented colleagues.”
With this addition of 12 healthcare lawyers, Barnes & Thornburg continues its historic hiring spree — ranked No. 1 by Pirical for Q1 2026 lateral partner additions — with five lateral group acquisitions preceding this one. A 39-lawyer public finance and infrastructure group joined in February and March, followed by a 12-lawyer insurance recovery team, a six-lawyer tax and insurance recovery cohort in April, a three-lawyer entertainment team in May, and a three-lawyer white-collar group in July.
Barnes & Thornburg opened its Raleigh office in 2019 with a focus on intellectual property and the life sciences industry. The office now also provides M&A and private equity, litigation, and healthcare services as it becomes a destination for the region’s premier legal talent.
About Barnes & Thornburg
Barnes & Thornburg operates 26 offices across the United States, enabling more than 900 lawyers to serve clients nationwide. As one of the 100 largest law firms in the country, we provide seamless coast-to-coast coverage for high-stakes litigation, complex transactions and innovative IP matters. Our national reach and knowledge of local markets help clients conduct business confidently wherever opportunities arise. Visit btlaw.com.
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