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Thomas N. Shorter

Thomas N. Shorter

Partner
Overview

A recognized leader in representing and supporting healthcare organizations, Tom knows that teamwork is the key to streamlining complex legal matters.

Tom is trusted by healthcare systems, hospitals, research institutions, physician groups and health care associations for his deep understanding of how healthcare operations and the law intersect. Actively involved in numerous healthcare industry organizations, Tom has been called upon to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and President (2022-2023) of the American Health Law Association (AHLA), as well as a member, Past Chapter President and Regent with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). Tom has also been granted status as a Fellow with ACHE (FACHE), as well as the American Bar Foundation. Tom is particularly proud that he was one of only 335 attorneys in the United States to receive the 2019 BTI Client Service All-Star Award, a recognition awarded to leaders in superior client service and identified solely and exclusively by corporate counsel. Delivering optimal legal strategies and solutions to clients requires teamwork, and Tom is a recognized collaborator.

In his work for clients, Tom advocates for major healthcare organizations in sophisticated restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, affiliations and joint ventures, among other corporate and employment matters. Tom also represents independent practitioners and their investors on establishing, maintaining and growing their practices. Experienced with fraud and abuse law compliance, Tom also counsels healthcare clients of all sizes on regulatory matters as well as labor and employment issues.

Tom is a member of the firm’s Executive Board and also served on the firm's Governance and Nomination Committee from 2021-2023. He also serves as executive sponsor of HB Unidos, the firm’s Hispanic and Latine Employee Resource Group, and is a member of HB Vets, a similar group for military veterans.

Industry

Services

Recognition

  • The Legal 500 United States
    • Healthcare: Service providers, Recommended attorney, 2024
  • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Recognition Program, Exemplary Service Award, 2021
  • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Healthcare Management Excellence, 2015, 2019
  • BL Rankings’ The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Education Law, 2007-2025
    • Health Care Law, 2007-2025
    • Best Lawyers® Health Care Law "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2025
    • Best Lawyers® Education Law "Lawyer of the Year," Madison, 2012
  • In Business Magazine, 40 under 40, 2006
  • Madison Magazine, Top Lawyer Education & Health Law, 2007-2009
  • Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer, 2023 and 2024
  • Who's Who in American Law

Education

  • J.D., Northeastern University School of Law
    • Phi Delta Phi
  • B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Admissions

  • Wisconsin
  • Minnesota
  • Arizona
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), member; Fellow; Chapter Past President; Regent, 2019-2024; Wisconsin Regent Advisory Council, 2024-2025; Nominating Committee, District 3, 2025
  • American Health Law Association (AHLA), President (2022-2023); Nominating Committee, 2023-2025; Past Vice-Chair of Labor & Employment Practice Group; Past Chair of Labor & Employment Practice Group; Past Diversity + Inclusion Council Co-Chair; Board of Directors; Board Secretary 
  • American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA)
  • American Bar Foundation, Wisconsin Life Fellow
  • Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA)
  • Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Collaborative of Wisconsin (HIPAA COW), Past Board of Directors
  • Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA)
  • National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE), Board of Directors
  • State Bar of Wisconsin, Health Law Section Board Member; Past President
  • Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA)


*By appointment only.
**By appointment only.

Husch Blackwell does everything it can to foster an environment where mentoring relationships can succeed.

Experience

Corporate Healthcare

  • Navigated multi-million dollar merger between provider-owned health plans, representing system owner provider.
  • Represented numerous healthcare clients in multi-million-dollar integrated system mergers.
  • Assisted client with proposed multi-billion-dollar health system merger.
  • Represented leading health care system in numerous hospital affiliations.
  • Counseled large health care system in navigating joint venture with insurance company and other health care systems.
  • Assisted multiple physicians in organizing specialty and multi-specialty practice groups.
  • Helped numerous physicians establish joint venture specialty hospitals, free-standing diagnostic facilities and ambulatory surgery centers.
  • Represented physicians and physician groups in developing successful contracts with payors and health systems.
  • Assisted Sutter Health in negotiating the acquisition of five radiation oncology centers—arising out of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding—from GenesisCare.
  • Served as counsel to a consortium of orthopedic practices—The Orthopedic Institute of Wisconsin—in the roll up and sale of 14 Wisconsin-based groups and two ambulatory surgery centers to Surgery Partners.

Healthcare Compliance/Labor & Employment

  • Guided healthcare clients of all sizes and at all growth phases through Medicare compliance, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute, among other state and federal regulatory issues.
  • Advised healthcare clients on wide array of labor and employment matters including physician and staff recruitment, review and compensation.
Blog | September 23, 2020
Updated Guidance on FEMA Public Assistance
Speaking Engagements | September 9, 2022
Speaker, "A Health Law Update," WISCA 2022 Leadership Summit
Webinar | October 2020
Health Law & Innovation Virtual Series - Vaccine: Hope and Controversy

Health Law & Innovation Virtual Series

Media Mentions | October 2020
Best Lawyers® 2021: The Midwest Issue
News Releases | January 13, 2020
Husch Blackwell Lands Two Healthcare Groups in Wisconsin

“That two prominent groups of lawyers from two different firms see the same potential and opportunity at Husch Blackwell speaks volumes about our firm’s commitment to Madison and the larger Wisconsin market,” said Paul Eberle, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Executive.

Outside the Office

If Tom has three spare hours and good weather, odds are he’s on the golf course (or skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains).

Tom and his family maximize Wisconsin’s limited golf season. He and his wife, Stacey, have enjoyed cheerleading their four children through the PGA Junior Tour and now collegiate golf tournaments, where two of his children play Division 1 and Division 3 golf. In Wisconsin winters, Tom and his family enjoy downhill skiing at the Sierra Nevada resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, or playing golf in South Carolina.

Community Leadership
  • American Heart Association, Board of Directors, 2017-2023
  • Independent Living Inc., Board of Directors, Past President
  • Madison Club Foundation, Board of Directors, President
  • Madison Country Day School, Board of Trustees, Past Secretary
  • Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, Past Board of Trustees, Vice-Chair