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Melesa Freerks

Partner
Chicago
About

Melesa Freerks is a healthcare regulatory and transactional partner who represents private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, strategic investors, founders, and providers within the healthcare sector. Melesa is frequently called upon as special regulatory counsel in connection with major acquisitions, dispositions, and regulatory matters on behalf of healthcare strategic investors, public companies, private equity sponsors, and their platforms/portfolio companies.   

She is engaged by private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies for guidance on structural, transactional, regulatory and enforcement matters and regularly advises healthcare clients on a broad range of healthcare-related issues including corporate transactions, federal and multi-state regulatory matters, compliance programs, fraud and abuse issues, employment agreements, and privacy matters. 

Additionally, Melesa provides guidance on business issues and serves as transactional and  regulatory counsel to both lenders and public and private borrowers in the healthcare and life sciences sectors as well as hospitals, physician group practices, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, pharmacies, veterinary practice platforms, medical device companies, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physicians, dentists, and other healthcare providers, artificial intelligence (AI) companies. 

Melesa regularly counsels clients on the corporate practice of medicine and licensed professionals, state, and federal fraud and abuse laws, including Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, HIPAA, state anti-referral and anti-kickback laws, and related regulatory issues. Melesa also serves as outside healthcare general counsel for several clients. 

Prior to joining DLA, Melesa was a partner for a Top 10 AM Law 100 global law firm.

Areas of FocusHealthcareCorporateMergers and AcquisitionsPrivate Equity
Bar admissionsIllinois

EXPERIENCE

  • Represented MedImpact, an independent pharmacy benefit solutions company, in its acquisition of Elixir, a full-service pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company, from Rite Aid.
  • Represented a private equity backed behavioral health platform in its acquisition of substance use and mental health treatment facilities.
  • Represented ToxStrategies, a portfolio company of Renovus Capital Partners, in its acquisition of Modality Solutions.
  • Represented Investindustrial Growth III Holdings S.a r.l in its acquisition of NextPhase Medical Devices LLC by Arterex. 
  • Represented a leading provider of obstetrical gynecological services in acquisitions of urogynecology practice.
  • Represented private equity platform in acquisition of provider IT consulting company.
  • Represented private equity platform in acquisition of reimbursement, market access and patient outcome research company.
  • Represented an industry-leading provider of pathology and clinical lab services in its majority investment from a private equity company.
  • Represented a healthcare consulting and services provider in its sale to a capital market company.
  • Represented an advanced primary care provider, a portfolio company of a private equity company, in its combination with a healthcare navigation company.
  • Represented a specialized private equity firm in its merger and acquisition of a clinic-based applied behavior analysis therapy provider.
  • Represented a private equity company-led consortium in its US$7.3 billion acquisition of a technology company.
  • Represented an investment company in its acquisition of a medical parts provider from a capital market company. 
  • Represented a European private equity firm in its acquisition of a majority stake in a contract research organization (CRO).
Education
  • J.D., Notre Dame Law School, magna cum laude
  • B.A., University of Minnesota

Publications

  • Co-author, "Behind Indiana's Broad New Healthcare Transactions Law", Law 360, April 22, 2024
  • Author, "Health IT Transaction Trends and Considerations," American Health Lawyers Association, Business Law and Governance Practice Group Briefing, April 15, 2021

Seminars

  • Speaker, "Fundamentals of Health Care Professionals: Understanding Professional Scope of Practice, Reimbursement and Private Equity Investment Considerations in Practice Transactions," American Health Lawyers Association, Chicago, Illinois, November 7–9, 2021

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Melesa served as a partner for a well-known top Am Law firm.

Memberships and Affiliations

  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys 
  • Chicago Bar Association

My latest insights

Publication

Indiana passes law requiring prior notice of healthcare transactions

11 April 2024 .6 minute read

News

DLA Piper adds Melesa Freerks as partner in the Regulatory & Government Affairs group

15 March 2023 .2 minute read

Connect

Phone

+1 312 368 2191
(Work, Chicago)
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