Elise S. Barajas

Partner

Dallas
T +1.214.210.1206
F +1.407.841.0168

Overview

Elise Barajas advises clients in a variety of healthcare related transactional, operational and compliance matters. Concentrating on complex acquisitions and sales on behalf of both buyers and sellers, clients include acute care hospitals, joint venture hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physician practices, dental practices, optometrists, long-term care facilities, ancillary providers and clinically integrated networks, among others.

Elise also helps clients minimize legal risk by providing guidance on best practices for maintaining compliance with the federal and state regulations that impact their transactions, day-to-day operations and structuring. She works with clients to develop proactive strategies and solutions for fraud and abuse and other compliance issues, including with respect to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Stark Law, the Texas Illegal Remuneration Act, the ACA, HIPAA and the HITECH Act.

Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® and Texas Super Lawyers, Elise is also Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Select Experience

M&A – Physician and Dental Practices

  • Represented several dental practices in sale of assets to private equity-backed Dental Service Organizations.

M&A – Hospitals

  • Represented large regional hospital system in acquisition of 16 urgent care clinics.

M&A – Ancillary Providers

  • Represented purchaser in acquisition of controlling membership interest in two home health agencies, and advised with respect to related regulatory issues.
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Experience

M&A – Physician and Dental Practices

  • Represented several dental practices in sale of assets to private equity-backed Dental Service Organizations.
  • Represented ophthalmology practice in sale of assets involving Paycheck Protection Program loan.
  • Represented family medicine practice and management company in acquisition of several practices, including acquisition involving Paycheck Protection Program loan.
  • Represented mental health provider in stock sale to national private equity-backed practice.
  • Represented Texas radiology practice in asset sale to national radiology practice, which included complex reorganization of selling entities.
  • Represented Illinois radiology practice in stock sale to national health care entity.
  • Represented vascular medical practice in asset sale to national, publicly traded health care system.
  • Represented oncology practice in asset sale to national health care system.
  • Represented venture capital firm in several acquisitions of dermatology practices in Texas and Hawaii.
  • Represented national pathology practice and laboratory in acquisition of New England dermatopathology practice and laboratory.
  • Represented family medicine practice in two acquisitions of primary care medical practices.
  • Represented large pathology group in complex corporate reorganization and restructuring.

M&A – Hospitals

  • Represented large regional hospital system in acquisition of 16 urgent care clinics.
  • Represented regional hospital system in acquisition of controlling partnership interest in physician-owned hospital.
  • Represented hospital operating entity in acquisition of controlling membership interest in physician-owned hospital in Oklahoma and represented management company in acquisition of management agreement to manage hospital.
  • Represented physician-owned hospital in Texas in sale of controlling membership interest in hospital to national hospital management company and represented management company in sale of management agreement to manage hospital.

M&A – Ancillary Providers

  • Represented purchaser in acquisition of controlling membership interest in two home health agencies and advised with respect to related regulatory issues.
  • Represented organ procurement organization in merger with another organ procurement organization.
  • Represented physical therapy practice in sale of controlling membership interests in eight rehabilitation clinics to national physical therapy provider, which included complex reorganization of selling entities.
  • Represented pharmacy in acquisition of assets of retail pharmacy.
  • Represented laboratory provider in acquisition of controlling membership interest in clinical laboratory.
  • Represented several entities in acquisitions of controlling membership interests in hospice providers and health home providers.
  • Represented physician group in acquisition of controlling membership interest in dialysis and kidney treatment center.

Regulatory and Other Matters

  • Represented management company for multiple interventional radiology centers in multiple states with respect to arrangements with several national gastroenterology and urology practices.
  • Represented several clinically integrated networks in formation and operation of networks, including assistance with one network in expansion from North Texas to other markets and assistance in seeking Federal Trade Commission advisory opinion related to potential impact of antitrust laws.
  • Represented management company for clinically integrated network with respect to value-based contracting with payors and implementation of data sharing arrangement.
  • Represented software company in implementation of services arrangement with clinically integrated network to provide platform for sharing of de-identified provider data.
  • Represented stem cell therapy provider in formation and operation of business, including collaboration with state legislators regarding applicable Texas laws.
  • Represented wound care management company in arrangement to manage and develop chargemaster for hospital in American territory, including issues related to Medicare cost-based reimbursement.
  • Represented physician-owned hospital in application for waiver of emergency department requirement by Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Represented direct primary care provider in formation and operation of family medicine clinics.
  • Represented group purchasing organization in formation and operation of business in Texas and other states.
  • Represented substance abuse treatment provider in formation and operation of business in Texas and other states.
  • Represented several providers in analysis of passthrough laboratory billing issues.
  • Represented several providers in accounts receivable factoring arrangements.
  • Represented several nonprofit health organizations in formation and certification of entity by Texas Medical Board.
  • Represented several optometrists with respect to regulatory issues related to operation of practice.

Securities

  • Private offering of membership interests in two hospital management companies in Texas and Oklahoma.
  • Private offering of membership interests in ambulatory surgery center.
  • Private offering of limited partnership interests in management company for clinically integrated network.
  • Private offering of membership interests in assisted living facility operating entity and real estate investment entity.
  • Private offering of membership interests in several laboratories, pharmacies and management companies.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • The Best Lawyers in America® 
    • Texas - Health Care Law (2021 to 2022)
  • Texas Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2018 to 2020)
  • D Magazine "Best Lawyers Under 40" (2021 to 2022)

Memberships

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Oklahoma Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Health Law Section
    • Mergers & Acquisitions Section
  • American Health Law Association
  • Dallas Women Lawyers Association
  • Phi Delta Phi

Community

  • Attorneys Serving the Community

Industries

Prior Positions

  • The Honorable Keith Rapp, Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals: Legal intern

Admissions

  • Texas
  • Oklahoma

Education

  • J.D., University of Tulsa College of Law, 2010
  • B.S., Oklahoma State University, 2005, summa cum laude