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 for pharmacies, distributors, GPOs and other pharma service companies.
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. Utilizing this extensive experience, he now serves as the outside general counsel for many of the nation’s largest independent specialty, infusion, mail order and mental health pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit management and pharma service companies.
In addition, Mike has participated in many of the specialty pharmacy transactions coming to market in recent years. His strategic business advice and transactional and regulatory guidance help private equity investors, alongside manufacturers and pharmacies, navigate the complexities of the drug distribution market, enabling the efficient, compliant movement of high-cost therapies from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the patient’s door.
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 for pharmacies, distributors, GPOs and other pharma service companies.
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. Utilizing this extensive experience, he now serves as the outside general counsel for many of the nation’s largest independent specialty, infusion, mail order and mental health pharmacies, and pharmacy benefit management and pharma service companies.
In addition, Mike has participated in many of the specialty pharmacy transactions coming to market in recent years. His strategic business advice and transactional and regulatory guidance help private equity investors, alongside manufacturers and pharmacies, navigate the complexities of the drug distribution market, enabling the efficient, compliant movement of high-cost therapies from the manufacturer’s warehouse to the patient’s door.
His practice involves a range of legal counseling for leaders in the pharmacy industry, including:
- Transactional Support – Advising private equity firms and strategic buyers in the identification, evaluation, bid process, diligence and acquisition of potential pharmacy and pharma services companies and related assets.
- Operational Support – Helping pharma services companies, pharmacies and PBMs 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, GPOs, 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.
Mike also serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and is widely regarded a trusted leader among his peers.
