Chief Legal Officer/General Counsel

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Job Description Summary:

JOB SUMMARY/SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Chief Legal Officer (CLO) serves as the top legal advisor for the health system, responsible for overseeing all legal and risk aspects of the organization.   The CLO reports dually to the CEO and the Board of Trustees, and leads the legal and risk teams in providing counsel across the organization on regulatory, transactional, employment, governance, and compliance matters.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

The CLO ensures legal risk is effectively managed while supporting strategic goals and operational success.  The CLO acts as a key advisor to the Board, CEO and executive leadership team and provides legal advice and guidance to the organization in all areas of hospital and clinic operations, healthcare laws and regulations, applicable state and federal laws, matters relating to human resources, patient care, medical staff, provider employment, physician recruiting, acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate purchases and leases, litigation and liability, corporations, managed care, and research while exemplifying West Tennessee Healthcare’s vision and mission through role-modeling a commitment to high quality compassionate healthcare.

The CLO’s duties, individually and through delegation and oversight of the legal and risk teams, include:

Board of Trustees and Leadership Team: 

Serve as the principal legal advisor to the CEO, Board of Trustees and executive leadership team

Draft and present Board resolutions

Provide Board education on legal obligations, governance best practices, and fiduciary duties

Ensure processes support compliance with corporate bylaws and applicable nonprofit and public hospital governance laws

Dispute Resolution, Litigation and Investigations:

Oversee all litigation involving the health system, including professional liability, employment disputes, and contractual matters.

Manage relationships with outside counsel and legal vendors, including budgeting and cost control

Advise executive leadership on litigation strategy, risks, and settlements

Assist Clinical Risk Management in evaluating and addressing adverse events

Direct investigations, under privilege if appropriate

Respond to EEOC, THRA and other administrative complaints

Contracting:

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of health system contracts, ensuring that agreements are legally sound and aligned with system policies and compliance requirements

Oversee contract management, storage and approval processes

Negotiate and draft provider employment agreements and professional services agreements, evaluating compensation arrangements for compliance with Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute.

Advise on provider onboarding, alignment, and termination issues

Strategy and Business Operations

Support strategic transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, affiliations, real estate sales and purchases, and bond financing

Provide guidance on transaction structure and regulatory compliance

Establish and maintain corporate entities and subsidiaries; serve as registered agent

Draft corporate and advisory committee bylaws and oversee governance structure

Enterprise Risk Management

Oversee systemwide risk management efforts

Develop and implement strategies to mitigate legal, regulatory, and operational risks.

Evaluate risk exposure and procure/maintain appropriate insurance coverage (malpractice, property, cyber, D&O, etc.)

Manage patient claims process

Patient and Employee Relations

Legal resource for human resource department on employee issues and FLSA requirements

Advise on terminations, reductions in force, WARN requirements, investigations,
exempt classifications, and employee/independent contractor classification issues

Advise and assist as needed with wellness initiatives and work-related injuries

Legal resource for patient departments, providing legal advice and guidance on all aspects of patient care including AMA departures, consent/informed consent, disruptive patients, minor patients, advance directives, POAs, guardians and conservators, surrogates, and service animals

Education and Advocacy

Develop and deliver education to leadership, staff, and medical providers on legal, compliance, and risk issues

Serve as a resource for evolving legal and regulatory changes impacting operations

Educate representatives on health system issues and participate in THA and health system initiatives with regard to legislative activity

Medical Staff

Attend Medical Executive Committee and other medical staff meetings

Advise on bylaws, credentialing, privileging, and peer review processes

Ensure compliance with NPDB reporting and applicable standards

Administrative

Participate in executive and leadership meetings; collaborate closely with senior leaders.

Prepare and manage legal and risk department budgets

Share administrator-on-call responsibilities and respond to urgent matters as needed

Lead, develop, and supervise the legal and risk management teams, including hiring, mentoring, developing and managing performance of legal and risk staff

Support the company in maintaining ethical standards and promoting a strong culture of integrity

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school

• Active license to practice law in Tennessee, or ability to obtain a promptly

• Minimum of 15 years of legal experience, with at least 10 years of experience in healthcare law.

• Strong working knowledge of healthcare operations and regulatory issues, including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, EMTALA, HIPAA, and the CMS Conditions of Participation; familiarity with hospital operations, medical staff matters, nonprofit public health system governance, contract drafting and complex transactions

• Experience managing teams and projects

• Experience as an in-house counsel for a hospital/healthcare system or a law firm representing hospitals and health systems/entities preferred

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE STATEMENT

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.