Walton Leigh

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-6201

VCARD

Leigh Walton

Member

Nashville

(615) 742-6201

lwalton@bassberry.com

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

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.

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 primarily in the healthcare industry.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Dispositions – Leading acquisitions, 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 served two six-year terms on the ABA’s Corporate Laws Committee, where she co-chaired 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 36 states and other jurisdictions.

Leigh was elected in 2019 to the American College of 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 an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University Law School, where she teaches a course on Healthcare Mergers and Acquisitions. Leigh is a frequent presenter at national corporate governance and securities regulation programs, including the ABA’s Annual Mergers and Acquisitions Institute. She has been recognized by countless leading industry outlets, including Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America©, BTI and IFLR 1000. In 2022, she co-chaired the annual campaign for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She is a member of Women Corporate Directors, whose members sit on boards of directors of public companies, and the International Women’s Forum. She also serves on the board of Nashville’s Independent Film Organization and is a member of the YWCA Nashville Fulcrum Society.

Memberships

American Bar Association — Mergers & Acquisitions Committee (1986-present; Chair, 2009-2012); Women in Mergers & Acquisitions Task Force, Co-Chair (2015-2016); Corporate Laws Committee (1997-2003; 2016-2022; Co-Chair Corporate Directors Guidebook Task Force, 2017)

American College of Governance Counsel (2019-present)

American Health Law Association (AHLA) (1992-present)

Nashville Bar Association — Board of Directors (2023-present)

Nashville Health Care Council — Board of Directors (2008-2010)

Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority (2016-2020)

Belcourt Theatre — Board of Directors (2016-2024)

YWCA Nashville Fulcrum Society (2015-present); YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee – Academy of Women of Achievement (2015)

International Women’s Forum

Society of Business Fellows

Women Corporate Directors

Memberships

American College of Governance Counsel (2019-present)

American Health Law Association (AHLA) (1992-present)

Nashville Bar Association — Board of Directors (2023-present)

Nashville Health Care Council — Board of Directors (2008-2010)

Metropolitan Nashville Convention Center Authority (2016-2020)

Belcourt Theatre — Board of Directors (2016-2024)

YWCA Nashville Fulcrum Society (2015-present); YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee – Academy of Women of Achievement (2015)

International Women’s Forum

Society of Business Fellows

Women Corporate Directors

Representative Experience

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

Represented CHS in its $900 million secured notes tack-on offering
Quorum Health Completes Exchange Offer

Represented Quorum Health Corporation in its exchange of 11.625% Senior Notes due 2023
CHS Completes March 2017 Notes Offering

Represented CHS in its $2.2 billion secured notes offering
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)
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
Hospice Compassus Merges with Formation Capital and Audax Group

Represented Hospice Compassus in its merger with Formation Capital and Audax Group
$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.
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
AmSurg Acquires Sheridan Healthcare

Represented AmSurg Corp. in its acquisition of Sheridan Healthcare Inc. for about $2.35 billion in cash and stock
Ingram Entertainment Acquires Video Products Distributors (VPD), Inc.

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

Representative Experience

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

Client Type: Public Company
Quorum Health Completes Exchange Offer

Client Type: Public Company
CHS Completes March 2017 Notes Offering

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

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

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

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

Client Type: Public Company
Community Health Systems Completes Exchange Offers

Client Type: Public Company
AmSurg Acquires Sheridan Healthcare

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

Client Type: Private Company
HCA Holdings 2014 Debt Offering

Client Type: Public Company
Windy Hill Spirits Completes Series A Financing Round

Client Type: Private Company
Brown-Forman 2012 Notes Offering

Client Type: Public Company
HMA Joint Venture with INTEGRIS Health

Client Type: Nonprofit, Public Company
Central Glass Co., Ltd. Acquires Ford Glass Plant in Tennessee

Client Type: Private Company
HCA: From Public Company to Private Company, and Back Again

Client Type: Public Company
Brown-Forman 2010 Notes Offering

Client Type: Public Company
MedSolutions Receives Minority Investment from TA Associates

Client Type: Private Company
Acquisition of General Acute-Care Hospital by HealthTech Management Services

Client Type: Private Company
Genesco / Finish Line Merger and Related Litigation

Client Type: Public Company
IASIS Acquisition by Group Led by Texas Pacific Group

Client Type: Public Company
Representation of National Surgical Hospitals in a Recapitalization Transaction with Irving Place Capital

Client Type: Private Company
Ongoing Transactional Support to National Surgical Hospitals

Client Type: Private Company
Counsel to Radiology Benefits Management Company

Client Type: Private Company

Publications

HHS Distributes Nearly $4.9 Billion of CARES Act Provider Relief Fund to Skilled Nursing Facilities

May 27, 2020 | Firm Publication

HHS Relief Fund: HHS Provides Further Details for General Distribution Fund and Obtaining Reimbursement for Uninsured COVID-19 Testing and Treatment

April 29, 2020 | Firm Publication

HHS Announces Further Allocations of $100 Billion CARES Act Provider Relief Fund; Warns of “Significant” Anti-Fraud and Auditing Work

April 23, 2020 | Firm Publication

Past Events

National M&A Institute 2023

November 9-10, 2023 | Las Vegas, Nevada
American Bar Association
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

Accolades

Chambers USA — Healthcare, Tennessee, Senior Statesperson (2022-2026); 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” (2025, 2021, 2019); Nashville Securities/Capital Markets Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2025)

The Best Lawyers of America© — Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities/Capital Markets Law; Securities Regulation (1995-2026)

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 — M&A and Governance (2024); Corporate: Corporate Governance (2018-2021); Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions (2018-2021)

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2005-2025), Lawdragon 500 Dealmakers

Lawdragon Legend (2017) (10 consecutive years’ recognition)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2024)

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)

Accolades

Chambers USA — Healthcare, Tennessee, Senior Statesperson (2022-2026); 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” (2025, 2021, 2019); Nashville Securities/Capital Markets Law “Lawyer of the Year” (2025)

The Best Lawyers of America© — Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities/Capital Markets Law; Securities Regulation (1995-2026)

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 — M&A and Governance (2024); Corporate: Corporate Governance (2018-2021); Corporate: Mergers & Acquisitions (2018-2021)

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America (2005-2025), Lawdragon 500 Dealmakers

Lawdragon Legend (2017) (10 consecutive years’ recognition)

Mid-South Super Lawyers (2006-2024)

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)

Leigh Walton

Leigh Walton

Memberships

Memberships

Representative Experience

Representative Experience

Publications

Past Events

Media Mentions & Firm News

Publications

Media Mentions & Firm News

Accolades

Accolades

Related Services

Related Industries

Education

Admissions