Andrea Zazulia
Practice Focus Area: Healthcare Transactions and M&A
Office: Miami
Years at Firm: 5+
What is your favorite part about practicing healthcare law at McDermott?
I am grateful to be part of a health and life sciences team that is truly world-class. Our group is intentional about collaboration and innovation. Having a bench of thought leaders in every niche of healthcare is an invaluable resource for providing comprehensive and cohesive counsel to our clients, and for training and career growth. I also think our overlap between healthcare regulatory and transactional knowledge is unmatched and allows us to provide practical guidance to clients, whether they are trying to get deals done or build and run their businesses.
What is the biggest opportunity and greatest challenge facing clients in your area of focus today?
The effective implementation of artificial intelligence and the security and use of protected health information are undoubtedly going to be among the biggest drivers of success and failure in the health industry over the next five to ten years. There is incredible potential for improvement in efficiency and quality of care, but as we have seen, there is also significant risk. The health services sector (e.g., physician and dental offices, hospitals) could particularly benefit from leveraging this technology to lower costs and improve patient outcomes. However, implementation will require a thoughtful and measured approach that involves all stakeholders as well as advisors who are knowledgeable in the technical function and exposure areas of the technology and in the practical realities of use in a business setting.
What advice would you give to junior lawyers looking to build their practice in your focus area?
When I started practicing, I was very surprised by the wide range of focus areas within health law – transactional M&A (my focus), fraud and abuse, physician practices, ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals and health systems, HIPAA/data privacy, life sciences, and more. I think it’s crucial for junior lawyers to get some exposure to a little bit of everything early on to identify an area that they find interesting, because in a regulated industry such as healthcare, you need to be passionate about learning the minutia and staying on top of the frequent regulatory changes. For those who take a more transactional path, having solid regulatory chops also really helps set you apart from generalist M&A lawyers when you’re handling a healthcare deal.
What is the proudest moment of your career to date?
There have been a number of great moments, but most recently, I helped lead several hospital sale transactions in connection with a nationwide health system bankruptcy. The deals were complex and had added time sensitivities, bankruptcy limitations, government involvement, and public scrutiny, but ultimately we were able to keep dozens of facilities open, saving thousands of jobs and ensuring availability of care for patients.
What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?
How you do something is how you do everything. It’s simple but has always stuck with me. Who you are with the mundane things when no one is watching is how you show up everywhere else. My family has always joked that I am meticulous when making a PB&J, but why would I not try to make it the best every time?
Learn more about Andrea’s practice and explore McDermott’s health transactions resources for further insights:
