Jesse Neil
Partner
Jesse Neil is a seasoned health care attorney who leverages his unique background in both health care operations and public policy to deliver practical, strategic guidance to health care providers, senior management teams, and corporate boards across the United States.
With significant experience guiding hospital systems through merger, acquisition, and restructuring processes, Jesse helps health care clients adapt their governance and operational structures to meet the needs of today’s health care landscape. He also offers deep familiarity with state and federal health care laws and advises health care companies, investors, and lenders on avoiding and resolving compliance and regulatory issues related to the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), False Claims Act (FCA), HIPAA, licensing, and more.
Earlier in his career, Jesse spent almost a decade as a member of the in-house legal team at one of the largest publicly traded hospital companies in the United States, where he provided day-to-day guidance to corporate departments, hospitals, clinics, and ancillary service providers throughout the country. He simultaneously managed the company’s public policy advocacy strategy, which involved monitoring key policy developments and advising the company on operational risks and effective business strategies.
Jesse previously served as an assistant attorney general for the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, where he led investigations into and prosecuted actions brought under the Stark Law, AKS, and False Claims Act. He began his career as an advisor to former U.S. Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist. Prior to Foley, Jesse was a partner in the Nashville office of a multinational law firm.
Representative Experience
Hospitals and Health Systems
- Counsel to Florida-based Lee Health in its restructuring from a government healthcare district to a private, nonprofit health system; transaction required legislative approval and included counseling on all applicable regulatory, corporate governance, public policy, labor and employment, finance/restructuring, tax, real estate, litigation, and intellectual property matters.*
- Advised California’s largest public health care district on an innovative structural reorganization to partner with a newly created nonprofit management services organization.*
- Lead counsel to Erlanger Health System in its restructuring from the 10th largest public hospital system in the country to a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3); engagement required changes to state law and included counseling on all applicable regulatory, corporate governance, labor and employment, tax, real estate, litigation, executive compensation, public policy, and public financing matters.*
- Lead counsel to Lincoln Health System in Tennessee in a restructuring and partnership agreement with out-of-state nonprofit system Huntsville Hospital system, including attorney general approval.*
- Served as special regulatory counsel to a group of physician investors participating in a joint venture to design, develop, build and operate a state-of-the-art orthopedic hospital complex.*
Post-Acute Care
- Represented a specialty health care lender in negotiating, documenting and closing the credit facilities for a nationwide nursing home, including negotiating complex intercreditor arrangements.*
- Represented Lorient Capital in its partnership with a Missouri-based regional provider of long-term care, assisted living, and geriatric services.*
- Represented Physical Rehabilitation Network in its equity interest sale by Silver Oak Services Partners to Gryphon Investors.*
- Represented Physical Rehabilitation Network (PRN) in its joint venture with MemorialCare on a network of nearly 20 full-service physical therapy centers.*
Additional Health Care Transactions
- Represented Audax in its acquisition of South Florida ENT Associates.*
- Assisted Capitol Pain Institute with selling a network of integrated pain management centers.*
- Served as transaction and health care regulatory counsel to Desert Radiology in its acquisition by Radiology Partners.*
- Represented Direct Radiology in the sale of its teleradiology platform to Royal Philips.*
*Matters handled prior to joining Foley.
Awards and Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law (2024-2025)
Affiliations
- Tennessee Bar Association
- Executive Council and Past Chair, Health Law Section
- American Health Law Association
- Commissioner, Davidson County Election Commission (2016-2021)
- Alumni Board Member, Montgomery Bell Academy (2012-2020)