With more than a decade’s experience as a hospital administrator, Rob Fuller brings tremendous insight and knowledge drawn from this hands-on experience and leadership to his healthcare legal practice. Rob utilizes his next-level healthcare management skillset to advise on transactional, operational and regulatory matters in the healthcare industry. His transactional experience includes counseling on mergers, acquisitions, financing, securities, formation, governance, purchase, sale and licensing of businesses. Rob’s securities practice goes beyond the basics of private placements, early round capital raise for startups, bond issuance, and 3(b) registration compliance, as he has developed various cash flow-based derivatives and other specialty securities designed to meet diversified investor needs. His finance practice is equally sophisticated, with experience in all forms of secured and unsecured financing, including diverse swap instruments hedging interest rates and commodity pricing.
Adept Operational and Turnaround Guidance for Healthcare Systems
With business acumen and first-hand knowledge of healthcare systems, Rob provides adept guidance on operations, corporate reorganizations, financings, lending, credit facility and banking for healthcare companies. His experience includes advising hospitals on turnaround strategies, running a Medicare Advantage program, and serving as the chief restructuring officer. Rob recently orchestrated a dramatic hospital turnaround, turning down a $20 million offer during chapter 11 proceedings, and thereafter restructuring hospital operations and leading the hospital’s exit from bankruptcy as still an independent facility, and then selling the hospital eighteen months later at six times the offer.
Rob has recently represented a number of clients in the turnaround space who acquire assets or enter into joint venture arrangements with historical operators. As the historical operators seek to monetize underperforming assets, Rob identifies creative structures to limit risk to the new operators of the assets while accessing above-market returns for their investment and expertise. These transactions are heavily dependent on multi-tier risk-on financing vehicles, and a detailed knowledge of the downside protections and bankruptcy law.
A Thought Leader on Healthcare Regulatory Issues
Anticipating the regulatory challenges facing the healthcare industry, Rob recently co- authored “From ObamaCare to TrumpCare.” This thought-provoking book offers a comprehensive survey of healthcare policy leading up to the Affordable Care Act, examines its strengths and weaknesses, and portends the direction the Trump administration and the GOP will take healthcare policy. Rob’s regulatory work includes strategic consulting for hospitals, hospital systems, medical device manufacturers, medical groups and government entities. He also has significant lobbying and governmental representation experience.
Revenue Cycle Expertise/Creative Securities and Financing/Worker’s Compensation Financing
One of the greatest challenges for companies in the healthcare industry is the length of time it takes to get a claim paid. For instance, the lags in California’s worker’s compensation program typically run two years or more. Anticipating that the advent of Labor Code 4903.8 would bring factoring to a halt in 2017, Rob designed a lending program with multiple exit strategies which did not rely on accounts receivables as collateral. By creating new cash flow models and the ability to create cash flow rights after accounts had been monetized, Rob’s design ensured that Nelson Hardiman clients were secured in over $100 million in facilities. The same kind of foresight has allowed him to create bond-equivalent securities for hedge fund investors seeking counter-cyclical healthcare related investments.
Extensive General Business and Trial Experience
Beyond core healthcare issues, Rob also advises clients on general business matters including antitrust, corporate governance, nonprofit regulation, general commercial and real estate law. In addition, he has an extensive trial and appellate background including criminal defense. Rob is admitted in California and New York, and is a member of the bars of numerous federal district and circuit courts, as well as the United States Supreme Court.
Dedicated to advancing healthcare management excellence, Rob is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations.
Accolades
Rob was selected to the 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers list for the third consecutive year.
Life Outside the Firm
Outside of his stellar healthcare practice, Rob can be found chasing a golf ball during the day and indulging in astrophotography at night as an active member of an astronomy club. Rumors are that he is a closet math geek, and enjoys analyzing data and keeping up with the universe. He also spends his free time off-roading in the desert and raising rescued dogs.
Credentials
Fordham Law School, J.D. (Articles Editor of the Fordham International Law Review)
Dartmouth College, A.B. (with highest distinction in a Government Honors major)
State Bar of California
State Bar of New York
US Supreme Court Bar
US Court of Appeals, First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth
Adaptive Healthcare Fund (Investment Committee Co-Chair)
American College of Healthcare Executives (Fellow)
Hospital Association of Southern California
Experience
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