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Leigh Walton

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-6201

lwalton@bassberry.com

https://www.bassberry.com/professionals/walton-leigh/

Notice

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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.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Dispositions – Leading acquisitions in diverse industries, coordinating spinoffs and financing transactions.
Corporate Finance – Coordinating public debt and equity, private placements of securities and private equity investments for issuers, underwriters, sellers and purchasers.
Corporate Governance – Advising boards, directors, officers and other executives on governance, SEC disclosure, regulatory and operational concerns; developing innovative responses to the rapidly evolving regulatory landscapes.

Leigh is a past chair of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section Mergers & Acquisitions Committee, which has more than 5,000 members in 40 countries on five continents. Leigh is currently serving her second six-year term on the ABA’s Corporate Laws Committee, where she co-chairs the Corporate Director’s Guidebook Task Force. The Corporate Laws Committee is responsible for the development of the Model Business Corporation Act used as the governing corporate law in 32 states.

Leigh was elected in September 2019 to the American College of Corporate Governance Counsel, a professional and educational association of lawyers widely recognized for their achievements in corporate governance. She is one of 120 Fellows from North America and one of only a half-dozen from the South.

Leigh is a frequent presenter at national corporate governance and securities regulation programs. She also serves on the board of Nashville’s independent film organization, the Belcourt Theatre and is a member of the YWCA Nashville Fulcrum Society.

Memberships

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)

Representative Experience

CHS Completes $900 Million Senior Secured Notes Tack-on Offering

Represented CHS in its $900 million secured notes tack-on offering

We represented Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in its tack-on offering of $900 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250%...

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Client Type: Public Company
Quorum Health Completes Exchange Offer

Represented Quorum Health Corporation in its exchange of 11.625% Senior Notes due 2023

We represented Quorum Health Corporation in its exchange of 11.625% Senior Notes due 2023 in the aggregate principal amount of...

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Client Type: Public Company
CHS Completes March 2017 Notes Offering

Represented CHS in its $2.2 billion secured notes offering

We represented Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in its offering of $2.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.250% Senior...

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Client Type: Public Company
Community Health Systems Completes Spinoff of Quorum Health Corporation

Represented Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in the spinoff of Quorum Health Corporation (NYSE: QHC)

We represented Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in the spinoff of Quorum Health Corporation and disposition of 38 hospitals....

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Client Type: Public Company
Community Health Systems Announces Plan to Spinoff New Public Company

Representing Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in its plan to spinoff 38 hospitals and Quorum Health Resources

Bass, Berry & Sims is representing Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH) in its plan to spinoff 38 hospitals and...

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Client Type: Private Company
Hospice Compassus Merges with Formation Capital and Audax Group

Represented Hospice Compassus in its merger with Formation Capital and Audax Group

We represented Hospice Compassus in its merger with Formation Capital and Audax Group. The value was not disclosed. Hospice Compassus...

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Client Type: Private Company
$59 Million Credit Facility for Healthcare REIT

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.

We represented a Chicago-based healthcare REIT, in a credit facility to provide $59 million of construction financing to a Colorado health system...

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Client Type: Public Company
Community Health Systems Completes Exchange Offers

Represented Community Health Systems, Inc. in its exchange of unregistered 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 and 6.875% Senior Notes due 2022

We represented Community Health Systems, Inc. in its exchange of unregistered 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 and 6.875% Senior...

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Client Type: Public Company
AmSurg Acquires Sheridan Healthcare

Represented AmSurg Corp. in its acquisition of Sheridan Healthcare Inc. for about $2.35 billion in cash and stock

In July 2014, AmSurg Corp. acquired Sheridan Healthcare Inc. from private equity firm Hellman & Friedman LLC for about $2.35...

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Client Type: Public Company
Ingram Entertainment Acquires Video Products Distributors (VPD), Inc.

Represented Ingram Entertainment Inc. in its acquisition of VPD, Inc.

We represented Ingram Entertainment Inc. in its acquisition of VPD, Inc., a national home entertainment products distributor based in Folsom,...

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Client Type: Private Company

Publications

Past Events

ESG for Directors

January 20, 2021 | Webinar
Women Corporate Directors Tennessee Chapter Meeting
Corporate & Securities Counsel Public Company Forum

December 8, 2020 | Webinar
Bass, Berry & Sims
Negotiating the Acquisition Agreement

November 12, 2015

Media Mentions & Firm News

Accolades

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)

Education

Vanderbilt Law School - J.D., 1979

Order of the Coif
Randolph-Macon Woman’s College - B.A., 1973

Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

Tennessee, 1979

Chambers USA

"Leigh Walton's practice includes M&A, joint ventures, securities offerings and corporate governance concerns. According to market sources, she 'has been a trusted adviser to healthcare companies for a long time.' One client enthuses: 'She is one of the most knowledgeable and thoughtful healthcare lawyers I have ever been around.'"

From Chambers USA 2020