With more than 40 years of practice, Leigh Walton has advised a wide variety of public companies in the areas of corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and securities offerings.
She led the regulatory team for the nation’s leading healthcare provider through the largest domestic leveraged buyout in history at the time. More recently she led the legal team in the spinoff of a public hospital company from a public healthcare provider.
Leigh has helped develop the national corporate governance practice at Bass, Berry & Sims. She is known for her ability to blend mergers and acquisitions, securities and regulatory law in furnishing practical advice to companies in a broad range of industries.
American Bar Association — Corporate Laws Committee (1997-2003; 2016-present; Co-Chair Corporate Directors Guidebook Task Force, 2017-present); Mergers & Acquisitions Committee (1986-present; Chair, 2009-2012); Women in Mergers & Acquisitions Task Force, Co-Chair (2015-2016)
American College of Governance Counsel (2019-present)
American Health Law Association (AHLA) (1992-present)
Tennessee and Nashville Bar Associations
Nashville Health Care Council — Board of Directors (2008-2010)
Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority (2016-2020)
Belcourt Theatre — Board of Directors (2016-present)
YWCA Nashville Fulcrum Society (2015-present); YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee – Academy of Women of Achievement (2015)
Represented CHS in its $900 million secured notes tack-on offering
Represented Quorum Health Corporation in its exchange of 11.625% Senior Notes due 2023
Represented CHS in its $2.2 billion secured notes offering
Represented Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in the spinoff of Quorum Health Corporation (NYSE: QHC)
Representing Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in its plan to spinoff 38 hospitals and Quorum Health Resources
Represented Hospice Compassus in its merger with Formation Capital and Audax Group
Represented a Chicago-based healthcare REIT, in a credit facility to provide $59 million of construction financing to a Colorado health system for the development of a 44-bed replacement hospital.
Represented Community Health Systems, Inc. in its exchange of unregistered 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 and 6.875% Senior Notes due 2022
Represented AmSurg Corp. in its acquisition of Sheridan Healthcare Inc. for about $2.35 billion in cash and stock
Represented Ingram Entertainment Inc. in its acquisition of VPD, Inc.
Chambers USA — Healthcare, Tennessee, Senior Statesperson (2022); Healthcare, Tennessee, Band 1 (2007-2021)
Chambers USA — Corporate/M&A, Tennessee, Band 1 (2003-2006)
BTI Client Service All-Stars (2022)
Best Lawyers® — Nashville Securities Regulation “Lawyer of the Year” (2021, 2019)
The Best Lawyers of America© — Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities/Capital Markets Law; Securities Regulation (1995-2023)
Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame (2020)
IFLR1000 — Notable Practitioner (2016-2022)
The International Who’s Who of Corporate Governance Lawyers (2005-2014)
The International Who’s Who of Merger & Acquisition Lawyers (2009-2014)
Who’s Who Legal — Corporate: Corporate Governance (2018-2021); Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions (2018-2021)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2005-2022), Lawdragon 500 Dealmakers
Lawdragon Legend (2017) (10 consecutive years’ recognition)
Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2022)
Top 100 Tennessee Super Lawyers (2011-2012, 2016)
Top 50 Women Mid-South Super Lawyers (2011-2014, 2016)
The Diversity Journal’s “Women Worth Watching” (2015)
Nashville Business Journal — Power 100 (2015-2017)
Nashville Medical News “InCharge Healthcare” (2012-2021)
Nashville Post “In Charge” — Legal Sector (2012-2016)
American Bar Foundation — Fellow (2009-present)
Phi Beta Kappa (1972)