Overview
In his healthcare and tax-exempt organizations practice, Jim specializes in providing strategic organizational, payment, tax, and compliance advice and direction to all types of health care providers and tax-exempt organizations. Jim is recognized as a Band 1 leading practitioner in Healthcare by Chambers USA, and recognized as the 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" in Nonprofit / Charities Law in Birmingham by Best Lawyers in America.
His practice varies widely according to the needs of his clients, but typical engagements include:
- Working with health care clients to structure clinical and hospital/physician integration, co-management, value-based enterprise, affiliation, and joint venture arrangements
- Dealing with all levels of regulatory and tax law issues for both his health care and tax-exempt clients
- Implementing alternative payment arrangement and collaborative delivery systems
- Managing all aspects of compliance planning with regard to tax and health care regulation at both the state and federal levels
- Assisting clients with internal and external audits and investigations, including HIPAA, and privacy and security breaches
- Formation and obtaining recognition of tax exempt status under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code for new entities, including 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) entities
- Advising tax-exempt governmental entities
- Advice regarding compliance with the unrelated business income regulations
- Consulting and strategic planning regarding governance issues
- Dealing with lobbying and electioneering issues
- Navigating private foundation compliance
Community & Professional
- American Health Lawyers Association
- Alabama State Bar Association, Heath Law Section
- Birmingham Bar Association
- Alabama Law Institute
- Jim is involved in the community and participates on several nonprofit and church boards and committees.
Recognitions
Recognition
- Chambers USA, Band 1 Leading Practitioner in Health Care Law (2017-present)
- Mid-South Super Lawyers in the area of Health Care Law (2012-present)
- The Best Lawyers in America© for Health Care Law and Non-Profit/Charities Law (2006-present)
- Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" for Non-Profit/Charities Law (2015, 2020, 2022, 2025)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Rating
Media
News
Speaking Engagements
- 2023, Physician Employment Contracting Review for the UAB Mentoring program
- 2023, Baptist Health System: Fiduciary Duties
- 2016-present, Annual East Alabama Health Leadership Retreat, Compliance Update and New Opportunities
- 2022 East Alabama Health Clinically Integrated Network Updates
- 2021 University of Alabama Health Law CLE: Stark and Anti-kickback Update and VBEs
- 2020 DCH Health System Gainsharing Update
- 2019 Baptist Health Management Compliance Update
Insights
Admissions
- State Bar: Alabama