Michael Hess

Michael Hess leads the firm’s Specialty Pharmacy & Pharmaceuticals Practice Group. His ability to balance legal issues with business issues has earned him a reputation as a go-to lawyer in the specialty pharmacy industry.

Mike’s ability to provide practical and impactful advice to specialty pharmacies is rooted in his first-hand experience as former Chief Counsel & VP of Strategic Development of Accredo Health Group, former Assistant General Counsel of Medco Health Solutions and as a private practice attorney to the industry. He now supports 40 percent of the largest independent specialty pharmacy companies located from Los Angeles to Orlando, serving as the outside general counsel. In addition, he has participated in many of the specialty pharmacy transactions coming to market during the past three years. Mike’s strategic business advice and transactional and regulatory guidance help manufacturers and pharmacies get high-cost, complex specialty drugs from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the patient’s door, safely, legally, effectively and efficiently.

His practice involves a range of legal counseling for leaders in the pharmacy industry, including:

• Specialty Pharmacy – Helping large and small specialty pharmacies develop their businesses through contract negotiation and counseling on regulatory and operational requirements.Drug Distribution – Providing legal, regulatory and negotiation support related to the supply chain to specialty and retail pharmacies, wholesale distribution centers, reimbursement hub services, co-pay and coupon program services, adverse event or clinical hotline services, and associated software and program design agreements.
• 340B Pharmacy Contracts – Structuring contract arrangements for hospitals, FQHCs, Ryan White Clinics and hemophilia treatment centers to access 340B discounted drugs for eligible patients.
• Transactional Support – Advising private equity firms and strategic buyers in the identification, evaluation, bid process, diligence and acquisition of potential specialty pharmacy and acquisition targets.
• Previously, Mike was a shareholder of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC where he led the firm’s Drug, Device & Life Sciences industry team.