Ryan D. Thomas

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-7765

VCARD
Ryan D. Thomas

Ryan D. Thomas

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-7765

rthomas@bassberry.com

https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/thomas-ryan-d/

Ryan Thomas is the chair of the firm’s Private Equity Team and co-chair of the Healthcare Private Equity Team. As mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and securities counsel to numerous national companies and private equity firms, Ryan has closed over $60 billion in M&A transactions, and approximately $80 billion in overall transactions, including both the largest domestic LBO, and the largest private equity-backed IPO at the time. Ryan’s practice focuses on public and private companies within the healthcare, media, retail, government services, life sciences and technology industries, among others. Ryan also advises management, boards and special committees on shareholder activism, corporate governance and public company disclosure matters.

Ryan’s practice involves:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity – Advising public and private companies and private equity firms on a broad range of strategic and private equity transaction structures, including mergers, tender offers, going private and leveraged buyout transactions and other recapitalizations. Ryan represents several private equity firms and their platform companies in their M&A and financing activities. Ryan focuses on middle market M&A transactions in amounts between $25 million and $500 million or greater. Ryan’s healthcare transactional experience spans a broad spectrum of the healthcare industry, including extensive experience in HIT, physician management, dermatology, behavioral, managed care, specialty pharmacy and life sciences spaces, among others.
  • Growth Equity and Securities Transactions – Advising issuers, strategic investors and national and regional growth equity firms in private placements of equity and debt securities, including multiple individual growth equity transactions exceeding $50 million. Ryan also has extensive experience in initial and secondary public offerings, strategic-led private placements and a broad range of public securities transactions.
  • International Transactions – Advising on complex, international and multi-jurisdictional transactions, including targets and buyers based in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
  • Corporate Governance and Public Company Disclosures – Advising on general corporate and governance matters, including board advisement, fiduciary duties, corporate governance “best practices,” takeover defense, proxy fights and activist shareholders, securities law compliance and public company disclosure.
  • Joint Ventures, Licensing and Commercial Transactions – Advising on joint ventures and other complex commercial and licensing transactions on behalf of media, technology and healthcare companies, among others.

Ryan has been recognized by various leading outlets, such as Chambers USA and The M&A Advisor, for his work in the M&A and private equity space. In each of 2024 and 2025 alone, The M&A Advisor named Ryan’s deals as finalists in multiple categories for the annual M&A Advisor Awards, including:

Ryan is active in the leadership of the ABA’s M&A and Business Law Committees, serving as editor of the Deal Points publication and the executive editor for M&A content of Business Law Today. He has been extensively quoted and published on M&A matters and high profile deals in leading national media such as The Wall Street Journal Pro Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions – The Middle Market, The Business Lawyer, The Corporate Board, Executive Counsel, Marketwatch.com, Los Angeles Times, TheStreet.com, GlobeSt.com, Associate Press, Bloomberg News and others.

Memberships

Association for Corporate Growth, Tennessee Chapter — Board Member

American Health Law Association (AHLA)

American Bar Association — Business Law and M&A Committees

  • Business Law Today — Executive Editor, M&A (2017)
  • Deal Points — Editor (2016-2018)
Memberships

Association for Corporate Growth, Tennessee Chapter — Board Member

American Health Law Association (AHLA)

American Bar Association — Business Law and M&A Committees

  • Business Law Today — Executive Editor, M&A (2017)
  • Deal Points — Editor (2016-2018)
Representative Experience
Additional Experience

Representative Merger & Acquisition and Private Equity Transactions Experience

  • Represented a NYSE-listed hospital company in its $33 billion going private recapitalization transaction with a private equity consortium (largest domestic LBO in history at time of announcement), and in its $2.5 billion self-tender offer.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed managed care company in its $3.8 billion merger agreement with a NYSE-listed global health service and insurance company, and in its $405 million acquisition of a privately-held managed care plan, and its $50 million stock purchase agreement for a privately-held managed care plan (deal terminated in 2006).
  • Represented a NYSE-listed government services contractor in its $2.5 billion stock-for-stock merger with another NYSE-listed government services contractor.
  • Represented global provider of engineering, geospatial and security software in its $2.125 billion sale to a publicly traded Swedish global measurement technology company.
  • Represented a privately-held provider of retirement communities in its unsolicited public pursuit of an acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed provider of long-term care services.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed government services contractor in its $2 billion + (EV) stock-for-stock merger with a private equity backed government services contractor.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its bid and subsequent public pursuit (via a “topping bid”) of an approximately $2 billion acquisition of a NYSE-listed industrial machinery maker of equipment for aerospace, industrial and energy companies that entered into a merger agreement with another private equity firm.
  • Represented an international steel conglomerate in its $2 billion bid for a U.S. coal mining company.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed footwear and headwear retail company in its $1.5 billion merger agreement with an athletic footwear company (deal terminated in 2008).
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed global provider of spatial information management software in its $1.3 billion going private transaction with a private equity consortium.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed manufacturer of advanced electronic interconnect products in its $1.3 billion acquisition by an electronics contract manufacturer.
  • Represented a NASDAQ listed retail shoe and apparel company in its $1.1 billion merger with a UK-listed international retail fashion company.
  • Represented a private equity backed physician management company in its $600 million sale to a private equity firm.
  • Represented a revenue cycle management company in its acquisition by a private equity backed revenue cycle management company for approximately $512 million in consideration.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed media company in various joint ventures and in its acquisition of a privately-held developer of online video publishing technologies, and a privately-held online content provider in the food category.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed managed care company in its acquisition of a privately-held managed care company.
  • Represented a privately-held managed care company in a $425 million recapitalization transaction with a private equity group.
  • Represented a private equity backed revenue cycle management company in its $350 million sale to a private equity firm.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed healthcare payor and services company in its up to approximately $300 million acquisition of a management services organization and affiliated physician practices.
  • Represented a private equity firm in the $285 million sale of its healthcare IT and data services company to a private equity firm.
  • Represented a private equity backed specialty pharmacy company in its $260 million sale to a Nasdaq-listed pharmacy benefit management company.
  • Represented a private equity backed healthcare services, staffing and technology company in its $250 million sale to another private equity firm.
  • Represented two private equity backed healthcare consumer technology companies in their $230 million stock-for-stock merger.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed media company in two joint venture put/call transactions, valued at $225 million and $99 million.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $225 million purchase of an aerospace parts supplier.
  • Represented a private equity-backed specialty healthcare services company in its up to $225 million sale to a privately held healthcare company.
  • Represented a privately-held software provider for the insurance industry in its $117 million acquisition of a Canadian insurance software solution provider, and in a $215 million complex merger and subsequent asset purchase transaction.
  • Represented a private equity-backed revenue cycle company in its $210 million sale to a private equity firm.
  • Represented a privately held life sciences company in its stock merger with a Nasdaq-listed life sciences company.
  • Represented a private equity backed cardiovascular health company in its $200 million sale to a NYSE listed, comprehensive health care and well-being company.
  • Represented a private equity consortium in its approximately $200 million business combination of their behavioral treatment platforms.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed government services contractor in its $200 million (EV) tender offer and acquisition of a Nasdaq-listed government services contractor; and in its disposition of its international business to a strategic acquirer.
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed software company in its $175 million going private transaction with a private equity group.
  • Represented a privately-held provider of revenue cycle management and consulting services in its $168 million sale to a private equity group.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $165 million acquisition of a specialty manufacturing services and distribution company.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed healthcare payor and services company in its strategic investment in a $160 million recapitalization of healthcare services company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in the sale of an HIT company in an up to $160 million cash and stock acquisition by a Nasdaq-listed public HIT company.
  • Represented a private equity-backed veterinary company in its $155 million acquisition of another privately-owned veterinary practice and hospitals.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed healthcare payor and services company in its approximately $150 million purchase of home healthcare services company.
  • Represented a private equity backed healthcare payments software company in its $150 million acquisition by a large publicly traded financial institution.
  • Represented a private equity group in its $140 million acquisition and recapitalization of a privately-held specialized pharmacy distribution company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its up to $140 million sale of a healthcare IT platform to a leading provider of software technology and services solutions to the healthcare community.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $130 million purchase of a healthcare transportation business.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $125 million acquisition of a healthcare IT and services division of a NYSE listed public healthcare company.
  • Represented a privately-held provider of radiology benefits management and utilization services in its $125 million minority recapitalization with a private equity group.
  • Represented a NYSE listed healthcare payor and services company in its up to $120 million investment in a physician services platform.
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed footwear and fashion retailer in its up to $113 million acquisition of a privately held footwear and fashion retailer.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $111 million purchase of a naval parts contractor.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its approximately $110 million acquisition of a manufacturer for the naval and government services community.
  • Represented a founder owned revenue cycle company in its up to $105 million sale to a private equity backed revenue cycle company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $100M+ acquisition of and growth equity investment in medical device contract manufacturer.
  • Represented a private equity backed post-acute company in its over $90 million acquisition by a private equity firm.
  • Represented a private equity backed healthcare services company in its up to $90M+ acquisition of and joint venture with an anesthesiology services company.
  • Represented a consortium of private equity firms in their $90 million acquisition of a genetic testing services company.
  • Represented a private equity backed allergy and ENT platform in its acquisition of a large physician practice for up to $90 million in consideration.
  • Represented a privately-held services company to the mortgage industry in an $89 million recapitalization transaction with a private equity group.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its up to $85 million recapitalization of a healthcare technology company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in the $85 million acquisition of a pharma and clinical research services company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its acquisition of a services company with an aggregate value of up to $84 million.
  • Represented a surgery center company in its approximately $80 million acquisition by a private equity consortium.
  • Represented a private equity backed dermatology company in more than 51 acquisitions since 2014.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its sale of a hospital company’s assets with an aggregate value of $77 million.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $76 million recapitalization of a healthcare DME company.
  • Represented a private equity backed aerospace company in its over $75 million acquisition of another aerospace and government services company.
  • Represented a privately-held healthcare IT and services company in a $75 million recapitalization transaction with a private equity and strategic investor consortium.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $75 million purchase of a revenue cycle management company.
  • Represented a privately-held chai tea company in its $75 million sale to an international publicly listed global ingredients, flavours and consumer foods conglomerate.
  • Represented a digital and radio media platform in their $75 million acquisition by a major broadcast network and multimedia company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its up to $72 million acquisition of a privately held hospice company.
  • Represented a private equity backed defense contractor in its $70 million acquisition of a privately held defense contractor.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $65 million acquisition of a specialty manufacturing services and distribution company.
  • Represented a privately-held behavioral health company in its $65 million sale to a private family office.
  • Represented a private equity backed anesthesia platform in its $63 million sale to a strategic buyer.
  • Represented the strategic alternatives committee of a Nasdaq-listed provider of information technology systems for hospitals, healthcare networks and imaging facilities in its negotiation of a $62 million merger agreement with an OTCBB-listed technology and services company in the healthcare industry (deal terminated in 2009), and the committee’s subsequent negotiation of a tender offer and merger agreement with a Nasdaq-listed provider of imaging IT solutions.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $60 million acquisition of a psychiatry services company.
  • Represented a privately-held behavioral HIT company in a $60 million recapitalization transaction with a private equity group.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its up to $53 million aggregate platform investment in a physician management company.
  • Represented a private equity baked manufacturing company in its $51 million acquisition of a privately held manufacturing company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $51 million sale of a pharmacy company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $50 million purchase of a hospice and home healthcare platform.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its up to $50 million investment in a specialty physician practice.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its approximately $50 million purchase of a specialty physician practice group.
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed biotech company in a $50 million acquisition of a molecular diagnostics company (M&A Advisor 2012 Deal of the Year Winner).
  • Represented a specialty pharmaceutical dermatology company in its acquisition by a Nasdaq-listed specialty pharmaceutical company for $45.5 million.
  • Represented the special committee of a SEC reporting healthcare IT company in connection with its review of strategic alternatives.
  • Represented a privately-held software-based Web site solutions provider in its sale to a Nasdaq-listed provider of business-class Web hosting services.
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed medical transcription provider in its serial acquisition program.
  • Represented a software company in its $44 million acquisition of a privately-held software company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $42 million acquisition of a healthcare IT and payments company.
  • Represented a consumer food company in its up to $40 million sale to a private equity firm.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $40 million acquisition of a manufacturing and distribution company.
  • Represented a beverage distributor in a $40 million asset purchase of another privately-held beverage distributor.
  • Represented a Nasdaq-listed biotech company in a $34 million acquisition of a molecular diagnostics company.
  • Represented a privately-held revenue cycle management company in its $32.5 million acquisition by a private equity firm.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $26 million recapitalization of a specialty pharmacy company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $25 million purchase of a post-acute healthcare services platform.
  • Represented a private equity firm in the $24 million sale of its clinical decision support company.
  • Represented a private equity firm in its $22 million acquisition of a tech-enabled behavioral services platform.
  • Participation in numerous auction processes and potential acquisitions, ranging in size up to multi-billion dollar transactions, for both public and private targets (on behalf of public and private targets and bidders), including potential stock-based and all cash or mixed consideration transactions in a broad ranges of transactions structures, including mergers, stock purchases, tender offers and complex asset and division sale transactions.
  • Represented various private equity firms in platform and portfolio company add-on acquisitions, in several industries.
  • Significant transaction related litigation and dispute resolution experience, including advisement in connection with the successful Genesco/Finish Line merger litigation.
  • Takeover defense, proxy fight, and activist shareholder advice for several NYSE and Nasdaq-listed companies, including representation of independent directors of NYSE-listed communications company in connection with a proxy fight.
  • Special Tennessee counsel for buyers and sellers in multiple public and private company acquisition transactions involving Tennessee companies.

Representative Growth Equity and Public Securities Transactions

  • Represented a developer and manufacturer of high-end active opto-electronic components and subsystems in two rounds of growth equity aggregating over of $125 million of preferred stock.
  • Represented a producer of routing hardware and technology for use on high-capacity optical networks in two rounds of growth equity aggregating over $100 million of preferred stock.
  • Represented a consortium of growth equity funds in an $84 million financing of a company focused on value-based care enablement for independent primary care physicians, specialists, and health systems.
  • Represented a medical device company in multiple rounds of growth equity aggregating over $50 million of preferred stock and other securities.
  • Represented numerous national growth equity firms and issuers in institutional and strategic led growth equity investments.
  • Represented a hospital company in its initial public offering and the secondary sale by selling stockholders of an aggregate of $4.35 billion in shares of common stock, the largest domestic private equity backed IPO in history, and in its $1.8 billion and $1.4 billion secondary offerings by selling stockholders.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed government services contractor in its 144A offering of $300 million in senior secured notes.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed managed care company in its initial public offering of 21,620,000 shares of common stock, and its follow-on public offering of 8,625,000 shares of common stock.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed hospital company in public offerings of $1 billion and $1.35 billion in senior secured notes.
  • Represented a SEC reporting hospital company in its 144A offerings of $310 million, $1.5 billion and $1.25 billion of senior secured notes, and $1.525 billion of senior unsecured notes.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed student housing company in its public offering of 24,500,000 shares of common stock.
  • Represented a NYSE-listed student housing company in its $50 million “at-the-market” public common stock offering.

Representative Fund Formation Experience

  • Represented numerous national and international general partners in connection with private equity fund formations, as well as general fund and management company maintenance and compliance matters.
  • Represented numerous national and international institutional investors and limited partners in connection with their investments in private equity funds.
  • Legal advisement with numerous participants in the TNInvestco Program.
Representative Experience
Publications
Past Events
Media Mentions & Firm News
Publications
Media Mentions & Firm News
Accolades

Chambers USA — Corporate/M&A (2019-2026), Recognized Practitioner (2017-2018)

The Best Lawyers in America© — Corporate Law (2025-2026)

M&A Advisor — International M&A Awards (2025 winner)

  • M&A Deal of the Year ($1B to $5B)

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2025):

  • “Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”
  • “Cross-Border Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”

M&A Advisor — M&A Awards Winner (2024):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2024):

  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”
  • “Information Technology Deal of the Year ($100MM to $1B)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($100MM to $250MM)”

M&A Advisor — International M&A Awards Winner (2023):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2023):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Between $10MM -$25MM)”
  • “Industrials Deal of the Year (Between $50MM-$100MM)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year (Between $75MM-$100MM)”
  • “M&A Deal of the Year (Between $75MM-$100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2021):

  • “Financials Deal of the Year”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Over $100MM)”
  • “Information Technology Deal of the Year (Over $100MM)”
  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($100MM-$1B)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($100MM to $250MM)”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”
  • “M&A Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”

Who’s Who Legal — Corporate: Corporate Governance (2018-2022); Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions (2018-2022)

Acritas Stars — Independently Rated Lawyer (2019-2020)

IFLR1000 — Notable Practitioner (2019-2021)

M&A Advisor — Winner (2019):

  • “Industrials Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year ($50 MM to $100MM)”
  • “Turnaround Healthcare & Life Sciences Deal of the Year”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2019):

  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($1B-$5B)”
  • “Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year ($50MM-$100MM)”
  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($75MM-$100MM)”

M&A Advisor — “M&A Deal of the Year” Finalist (2015)

M&A Advisor — “40 Under 40” Finalist (2012)

M&A Advisor — “M&A Deal of the Year” (2012)

Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2011-2014)

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law — Editor

Phi Beta Kappa

Accolades

Chambers USA — Corporate/M&A (2019-2026), Recognized Practitioner (2017-2018)

The Best Lawyers in America© — Corporate Law (2025-2026)

M&A Advisor — International M&A Awards (2025 winner)

  • M&A Deal of the Year ($1B to $5B)

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2025):

  • “Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”
  • “Cross-Border Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”

M&A Advisor — M&A Awards Winner (2024):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2024):

  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”
  • “Information Technology Deal of the Year ($100MM to $1B)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($100MM to $250MM)”

M&A Advisor — International M&A Awards Winner (2023):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2023):

  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Between $10MM -$25MM)”
  • “Industrials Deal of the Year (Between $50MM-$100MM)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year (Between $75MM-$100MM)”
  • “M&A Deal of the Year (Between $75MM-$100MM)”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2021):

  • “Financials Deal of the Year”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Over $100MM)”
  • “Information Technology Deal of the Year (Over $100MM)”
  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($100MM-$1B)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($100MM to $250MM)”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year (Under $100MM)”
  • “Private Equity Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”
  • “M&A Deal of the Year ($75MM to $100MM)”

Who’s Who Legal — Corporate: Corporate Governance (2018-2022); Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions (2018-2022)

Acritas Stars — Independently Rated Lawyer (2019-2020)

IFLR1000 — Notable Practitioner (2019-2021)

M&A Advisor — Winner (2019):

  • “Industrials Deal of the Year (Over $1B)”
  • “Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year ($50 MM to $100MM)”
  • “Turnaround Healthcare & Life Sciences Deal of the Year”

M&A Advisor — Finalist (2019):

  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($1B-$5B)”
  • “Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year ($50MM-$100MM)”
  • “Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($75MM-$100MM)”

M&A Advisor — “M&A Deal of the Year” Finalist (2015)

M&A Advisor — “40 Under 40” Finalist (2012)

M&A Advisor — “M&A Deal of the Year” (2012)

Mid-South Super Lawyers “Rising Star” (2011-2014)

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law — Editor

Phi Beta Kappa

Ryan Thomas Chambers 2026

"Ryan Thomas chairs the firm's private equity group and has experience handling healthcare, technology and private equity transactions. His experience also covers entity formation and recapitalization." Client feedback: "Ryan is really talented and he works incredibly hard." "Ryan is incredibly smart and has a knack for complexity and detail. He doesn't miss a beat. He is a relentless hard worker and is incredibly involved in every aspect of the transaction."

From Chambers USA 2024