US lawyers represent Wellstar Health System in Augusta University Health System acquisition

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright represented Wellstar Health System, Inc. (Wellstar) in its acquisition of Augusta University Health System (AUHS), the academic health system affiliated with the University of Georgia (the University) and the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), as well as in the structuring a long-term affiliation agreement between Wellstar and the University. The academic health system will now be known as Wellstar MCG Health. As part of the acquisition, Wellstar agreed to invest up to US$797m in the healthcare system over the next 10 years.

When the transaction closed on August 29, Wellstar assumed ownership of AU Medical Center, the Children's Hospital of Georgia, Roosevelt Warm Springs LTAC Hospital and Roosevelt Warms Springs Rehabilitation Hospital, as well as the right to build a 100-bed hospital in Columbia County, Georgia. The acquisition promises greater financial stability, more medical training and better care as the hospitals are key training grounds for MCG faculty and students.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp noted during the announcement that this transaction marked "an important day for healthcare in Georgia" due to its transformational nature in access to healthcare for the state and in preparing the next generation of medical professionals.

Norton Rose Fulbright's transaction team was led by Jerry Bell (Austin) and Stacey Murphy (St. Louis) and also included Scott Kortmeyer (Los Angeles), Jared Kaplan (New York) and Maxwell Karasek (Chicago).

Others who assisted on the transaction include Matt McCabe, Denise Webb Glass, Jennifer McDaniel, Caleb Segrest (Dallas), Elise LeGros, Jessie Johnson (Houston), David Aplington, Erin Riley (St. Louis) and Hayley White (Washington, DC) as well as Peter Smith, Mike Stimson (Austin), Drew Moore, Josh Owings, John Sivils (Dallas), Jeff Wurzburg (San Antonio) and Michele Dulik (San Francisco).

Wellstar was also represented by Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP, including Jennifer Vaughan, David Heaton and Tara Ravi, as well as by Dan Taylor and Terri W. Taylor of Benefits Law Group for employee benefits matters and Justin Peruski of Captive Legal Advisors PLC and T. Mills Fleming of HunterMaclean for immigration.

Wellstar's in-house counsel included Leo Reichert (EVP and General Counsel), Jason Stevens (SVP, Deputy General Counsel), Carol Todd (VP and Assistant General Counsel), Lisa D'Agostino (AVP and Assistant General Counsel), Ryan Hood (AVP and Assistant General Counsel), Charles L. Carder, III  (AVP and Assistant General Counsel) and Erika A. Hickman (AVP and Assistant General Counsel).

AUHS was represented by Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP, led by Michael Barry and including Russ Arough, Jenny Burgar, Alex Foster, Madison Pool, Mike Thaler, Barbara Rogers, Greg Gaylis, Caroline Dorsey and Charmaine A. Mech as well as by Hobby Presley and Kyle Heslop from Maynard Nexsen PC in connection with bond-related matters.

In-house counsel for AUHS included Madeline M. Wills (General Counsel), Rachael A. Ream (Deputy General Counsel), Lee Bennett (Associate General Counsel), Stewart Fisher (Associate General Counsel) and Troy Clark (Assistant General Counsel).

The University was represented by Jay Howard and Doug Anning of Polsinelli. The University's in-house counsel included Christopher J. Melcher (Vice President and General Counsel), Christopher McGraw (Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs) and Shannon McGhee (Assistant Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs).