Carol K. Lucas is Co-Chair of the Firm's Health Care Practice Group and focuses her practice on healthcare law and general business law. She has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities, private placements, state and federal regulations, entity formation and corporate representation of both public and private companies in the healthcare industry. Over the last several years, Ms. Lucas has represented numerous clients in connection with issues and disputes related to payment for healthcare services. She is also an expert on the establishment and representation of Federally Qualified Health Centers and related issues such as governance requirements, issues raised by hospital sponsorship of FQHCs, application issues, and the impact of health care reform on these entities. She also specializes in the representation of ambulatory surgery centers, med spas, imaging centers, and other ancillary providers in a variety of medical specialties, and in the legal and business issues that confront independent practice associations and other physician organizations.

Ms. Lucas serves as Chair of the firm's Health Care Practice Group, Co-Chair of the Health Care & Life Sciences Industry Group and Telehealth Industry Group, and is a former Co-Chair of the Corporate Practice Group. Ms. Lucas, is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell and is recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in the Health Care field and one of America's Leading Lawyers for Business. She was selected by Corporate Counsel as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer in Health Care Law. Ms. Lucas was also recognized by Super Lawyer Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Women in Law" and a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2011 - 2026. In 2019, she was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Nominee for the 2019 "Women's Council" awards. Most recently, she was named one of Los Angeles Business Journal's "Women of Influence: Health Care" in 2023. Ms. Lucas was also nominated to the Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, in 2023-2027.

Ms. Lucas has given lectures at numerous seminars and conferences, including meetings sponsored by the State Bar of California, American Health Lawyers Association, and The Future of Health Care Delivery Conference.

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Bar Admissions
California

New York

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Education
NYU School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif - where Ms. Lucas was a member of the Annual Survey of American Law

University of Rochester, B.A., History and Film Studies, magna cum laude

Significant Accomplishments

• Sale of a hospitalist and intensivist practice to a public hospital-based medicine provider
• Sale of an emergency medicine group to a public hospital-based medicine provider
• Acquisition of a multi-site anesthesia practice based in Southern California
• Sale of a majority interest in a multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center to a national surgery center operator
• A closely held teleradiology company in its merger with a public teleradiology company.
• An IPA acquired by a large regional IPA.
• A number of non-profit community clinic operators applying for the Federal FQHC program.
• A laser surgery practice in its expansion through acquisition of additional practices.
• The California Association of Physician Groups in the formation of trade association, governance issues, and general health care matters.
• Numerous medical groups in corporate and compliance matters.
• An orthopedic group in the buyout of a hospital partner in a joint ambulatory surgery center.
• A major regional insurance brokerage in its sale to a significant financial institution.
• A national pharmacy benefits manager with respect to requirements of California Knox-Keene Act.
• A national medical laboratory company with California corporate practice of medicine issues.
• A national surgery center and surgical hospital developer in acquisition and syndication of facilities in California, Kansas, and Texas.

Professional Activities and Experience

California Supreme Court to Decide Balance Billing Issue

Botox at the Mall? A Look at Medical Spas Under California Law

Involuntary Dissolution: The Nuclear Option

Contracts, The Business of Plastic Surgery

How 2010 Healthcare Legislation Impacts Employers

California Tightens Accreditation Requirements for Surgery Centers

California Tightens Restrictions on Referrals of Workers' Compensation Patients

California Authorizes Pharmacy Licenses for Ambulatory Surgery Centers

How the Affordable Care Act Impacts Employers

To Penalize or Not To Penalize: When Are Covenants Not To Compete Enforceable in California?

California's Corporate Practice Ban: Still Vibrant After All These Years

AB 1000 and Corporate Practice in California: More than Meets the Eye-or Less?

Children's Hospital v. Blue Cross: The End of Contracting or Just the End of Gouging?

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! The Unexpected Laws that May Affect Your Telehealth Business

New ASC Requirements Coming in 2016

Aetna vs. BASM: Pigs Get Fat and Hogs Get Slaughtered

California Clamps Down On Surprise Out-Of-Network Bills

Are You Ready for AB 72?

Healthcare Client Alert: California Supreme Court's Dynamex Decision Alters Independent Contractor Landscape

DYNAMEX UPDATE: Are There Still Independent Contractors in California?

Buchalter Client Alert COVID-19: Hastening Telehealth Provision of Medical Services Across State Lines

Corporate Practice of Medicine on Steroids

Traps For The Unwary Telehealth Provider

California Healthcare Transactions Will Soon Hit a Speed Bump

Carol Lucas, Guest Speaker on KFWB's Money 101

Carol Lucas, Panelist at the Society for Vascular Surgery

Carol Lucas speaking at Physicians and Physician Organizations Law Institute

Carol Lucas and David Kozak to address CA Fashion Association

Carol Lucas is speaking at Hospitals and Health Systems Law Institute

Carol Lucas to Speak at the California Ambulatory Surgery Association's Annual Conference

Carol Lucas, Speaker at the American Health Lawyers Association

Carol Lucas, Speaker at the CAPG Annual Healthcare Conference

Carol Lucas, Speaker at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Carol Lucas, Speaker at the Connect.Communicate.Care Conference

Carol Lucas, Presenter of Strafford Webinar

Terese A. Mosher Beluris and Carol K. Lucas, Presenters at the 21st Annual Healthcare Law Compliance Symposium

Pincus Webinar: Understanding the Legal Impact of Covid-19 as it Affects Your Clients, Your Life and Your Business

Buchalter Webcast: Understanding and Not Fearing Covid 19 As It Affects Your Life and Business

Buchalter Attorneys Co‑Author 2026 Chambers & Partners Global Practice Guide: Healthcare M&A

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