McGuireWoods Chicago partners Amber McGraw Walsh and Scott Becker are among The National Law Journal’s inaugural list of Healthcare Law Trailblazers. They are honored for launching influential industry initiatives and events, including co-founding McGuireWoods’ Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference — now in its 16th year and one of the largest private equity events in the U.S. healthcare market.
As chair of McGuireWoods’ Healthcare Department, Walsh leads one of the deepest benches of healthcare lawyers in the country. She led the organization of the firm’s award-winning Women in Private Equity & Finance Initiative that promotes the advancement of women in those sectors. Through the initiative, McGuireWoods women lawyers have built a network of more than 800 female investors and lenders that yield networking, marketing and deal-making opportunities for clients, particularly in the healthcare industry.
“I’ve been privileged to collaborate with accomplished women across the legal, healthcare and private equity sectors,” Walsh said. “Together we are opening doors for them to advance in their careers and for our clients to grow their businesses.”
Walsh is longtime general counsel to the board of Physician Hospitals of America, a trade association representing the majority of the nation’s doctor-owned hospitals. She co-writes The Healthcare Investor blog. Chambers USA and The Legal 500 U.S. recognize her as a leading lawyer for healthcare law, and Mergers & Acquisitions magazine selected her for its 2017 “Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A.”
Becker — who led McGuireWoods’ Healthcare Department for nearly 13 years and served for several years on the firm’s Board of Partners — is the founder of Becker’s Healthcare, which publishes five healthcare trades and 10 weekly e-newsletters. It hosts six conferences, including its flagship Becker’s Hospital Review, which is in its 10th year and attracts thousands of healthcare industry leaders.
“I am honored to be recognized among this outstanding group of lawyers whose good work has shaped the U.S. healthcare market,” Becker said.
With more than 30 years of experience, Becker has led hundreds of deals to finance and grow physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), hospitals and health systems, and healthcare companies across the country. He has served on boards of directors for numerous companies in the ASC business, as well as general counsel to healthcare management and development companies. He is a Harvard Law graduate and a certified public accountant.
Under the leadership of Walsh and Becker, McGuireWoods built a healthcare practice that is recognized by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 United States for helping clients navigate regulatory, litigation, transactional and privacy matters in the U.S. and abroad.