What is your history with Husch Blackwell?
I became a partner at Husch Blackwell in the 33rd year of my legal career. I spent about 12 years each as a business lawyer in a San Diego firm, as general counsel of a paper manufacturer and in private practice in Madison, Wisconsin, with Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek and Husch Blackwell.
Describe your current role/practice outside of HB.
I am currently general counsel of Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), a buying group based near Madison in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. We also have a distribution center in Phoenix. IPC is a group purchasing organization for independent community pharmacies that we support as front-line healthcare providers squeezed between giants, pharmaceutical wholesalers and pharmacy benefit managers. I am the only lawyer and am a member of our executive team.
Describe any interesting and emerging trends you’re seeing in your industry.
The pharmacy business is going through extensive changes as purchase and reimbursement models change, public and government pressure on drug prices intensifies and locally owned community pharmacies go out of business. IPC strives to use our cooperative structure and culture and collective expertise to help independent community pharmacies survive and thrive in this challenging environment.
What is one of the most interesting projects on which you’ve worked?
There is a current U.S. Supreme Court case that affects our industry. Thinking about how we might best support the right result was a different and interesting challenge. While interesting seems a mild description, the many intertwined business and legal issues relating to COVID-19 have required both broad and narrow thinking.
What hobbies/activities do you enjoy outside the office?
I like to hike year-round with my family and have recently taken up some new outdoor sports, rowing and bicycling. I also like to read history and fiction.
Anything else you’d like to add?
While the highest priority in my life has been caring for my daughter with a disability, my life and work as a lawyer have also been important to me and my family. There are advantages and disadvantages to both in-house and private firm business practice. I have enjoyed the chance to experience each setting a couple of times in my career.
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