Photo of M. Richard Lewis Jr.

Contact Information

Education

  • Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D.
    • Order of the Coif
  • Vanderbilt University, B.A.

Bar and Court Admissions

  • The Florida Bar

M. Richard Lewis Jr.

Managing Partner / Board of Directors

Dick is managing partner of the firm, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and chairman of the firm’s Business Department. His practice focuses principally on mergers and acquisitions, healthcare, corporate governance, contract negotiation, general corporate matters, financings, regulatory matters, Hart-Scott-Rodino and other antitrust advice.

Dick represents a wide range of corporations, limited liability companies and other entities, including start-up companies and healthcare providers, as well as individual investors. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, sales of companies to private equity groups, other corporate and securities related transactions, contract preparation and negotiation, entity structuring, investments by venture capitalists, private placements, and a wide range of financings, shareholder agreements, and corporate governance matters.

His representation of healthcare providers includes health systems, independent hospitals, surgery centers, cancer centers, retirement facilities, and physician groups. His representation of health systems includes advising the Board of Directors, acquiring physician practices, other hospitals, surgery centers and urgent care facilities; bond financings; and advice on Stark, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, and tax exemption issues. His work on behalf of physicians and group practices has included the formation of new group practices of individual clinic operations, internal governance issues, Board composition and corporate bylaws. Dick also provides guidance on physician practitioner employer arrangements, noncompetition agreements, and professional compensation.

Dick’s legal work in both healthcare and mergers and acquisitions has been nationally recognized. Best Lawyers in America named him “Jacksonville Lawyer of the Year” in Healthcare Law in 2019 and 2014, and in Mergers & Acquisitions Law in 2017.

Representative Matters

  • Representation of one of the largest Mack Truck distributors in the United States in all aspects of the acquisition of numerous Mack Truck, Volvo, GMC, Isuzu, and other distributorships throughout the Southeastern United States, and recently in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming.

  • Representation of the largest health systems in three cities in the formation of a multi-state integrated health system having combined annual revenues in excess of $1 billion, including obtaining tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and obtaining clearance from federal and state antitrust agencies.

  • Representation of equity owners of numerous companies in the marketing of their company through investment bankers, selection of a purchaser, and the negotiation and closing of the sale of the company to a private equity group.

  • Representation of a large health system in multiple bond financings that had an aggregate principal amount of bonds issued in excess of $1 billion.

  • Representation of a provider of proton therapy cancer treatment since it began operations 15 years ago in all aspects of its business, including financings over a period of years aggregating over $200 million and affiliations and contract negotiations with national health systems in Britain, Europe and Asia.

  • Representation of an academic medical center in connection with (i) the acquisition of two independent hospitals, (ii) the sale of its dialysis business and (iii) Stark, anti-kickback and other regulatory advice.

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers in America
    • 2019 and 2014 Lawyer of the Year, Healthcare Law
    • 2017 Lawyer of the Year, Mergers & Acquisition
  • Chambers USA
    • Leader in their Field: Corporate/M&A & Private Equity; Healthcare
  • Florida Trend Legal Elite
  • AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale - Hubbell
  • Nightingale Healthcare News
    • Outstanding Healthcare Transaction Lawyer

Professional Activities

  • Jacksonville Bar Association
    • Former Board of Governors member and former president of Young Lawyers Section
  • American Health Lawyers Association