Foley Represents Saint Luke’s in Merger with BJC Health System

Foley & Lardner LLP represented Saint Luke’s Health System of Kansas City (Saint Luke’s) in its transaction with BJC Health System of St. Louis (BJC), officially combining as a single integrated, academic, patient-centric Missouri-based health system. The combination, announced in May 2023 and finalized after regulatory reviews, became effective on Jan. 1, 2024 when Saint Luke’s joined BJC.

The combined entity is one of the largest employers in Missouri, boasting a workforce of 44,000 and over 24 hospitals and numerous clinics in Missouri, southern Illinois, and eastern Kansas. The system aims to provide expanded access to health care services, including over 3,500 clinical trials, offering increased opportunities for shared research, innovation, and clinical collaboration among health care professionals, with an estimated annual community impact of more than $1 billion for the broader geographic region.

The Foley deal team was led by partners Roger Strode, Hannah Zaitlin, and Adria Warren and included senior counsel Alexandra Shalom and associates Zachary Sher and Joseph Simon.