"Howard has always provided exceptional service and valuable insight to guide our practice. He has been an important factor in the success of the organization over the years." – Client Quote from Chambers USA
Overview
Howard’s practice involves corporate and regulatory health care matters, including Stark, Anti-kickback, and False Claims Act compliance, facility and professional licensure matters, HIPAA, physician practice formation, joint venture arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, private equity representation and transactions, certificate of need issues, Medicare and third-party audits and investigations, corporate compliance, and contract negotiations. Howard represents a variety of health care clients including hospitals, surgery centers, clinical labs, physician practices, medical staffs, academic medical centers, imaging centers, and other health care providers.
Howard is a member of the Health Care Practice Group and serves as the firm's HIPAA Privacy Officer. Howard loves the challenges that health care law brings and the impact the field can have on society in general. He enjoys distilling complex topics down for his clients. Detail-oriented, strategic, and responsive, no matter what size client, Howard seamlessly partners with his clients to enable better decision making.
Howard is the current President of the Alabama Bar Health Law section and is a regular writer for the Birmingham Medical News. Howard is also a frequent speaker on various health care topics both locally and nationally.
When he’s not working, Howard spends time with family, exercises, camps, and travels as much as possible.
Howard earned his J.D. from the Emory University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Florida.
Experience
- Represented a City in Mississippi in the successful sale of its hospital to a non-profit health system.
- Successfully represented a physician practice on a $4M Medicare recoupment audit and reduced the repayment to $3,000.
- Successfully represented a medical practice with an investigation of a multi-million dollar theft of pharmaceuticals by a shareholder physician.
- Successfully defended a hospital in a national kyphoplasty false claims investigation and qui tam lawsuit.
- Successfully represented a large home health agency in its acquisition of a competitor out of bankruptcy.
- Successfully represented a national, professional society in a million dollar breach of contract lawsuit.
- Represented a physician practice on a $20M Medicare recoupment audit and reduced the repayment to $0.
- Represented multiple physician practices in various specialties (orthopedics, ENT, primary care) in the sale of their practices to private equity.
- Represented a regional substance abuse company on several multi-million dollar strategic acquisitions.
Honors & Recognitions
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Health Care Law since 2006; Litigation - Health Care since 2021; Corporate Law since 2022; Mergers and Acquisitions Law since 2023
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: "Lawyer of the Year" in Health Care Law (2011, 2020, 2025)
- Named, Chambers USA, Health Care (2017-2024)
- Mid-South Super Lawyers; Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee; Health Care since 2016
- Birmingham Business Journal "Who's Who in Health Care" (2007-2023)
- Alabama Super Lawyers, Health Care (2010-2022)
Newsroom
News
Speaking Engagements
Articles
Professional & Community
Civic Activities
- Boy Scout Troop 1, Vestavia Hills, Alabama, Assistant Scout Leader (2008-2018)
- Cumberland Law School, Health Law Conference Planning Committee (2008-2022); Chair (2014)
- University of Alabama, Health Law Seminar Planning Committee (2010-2022)
- Kid One Transport, Board Member (2007-2012)
- Community of Hope Health Clinic, Shelby County, Alabama, Board Member (2008-2010)
Professional Activities
- Alabama State Bar, Health Law Section, Past Treasurer, President (2018-2024)
- American Bar Association
- Birmingham Bar Association
- American Health Lawyers Association
- District of Columbia Bar
Paralegal/Assistant
Legal Practice Assistant
Carol Jones
(205) 458-5163
cjones@burr.com
