The HCTL Spotlight is a series of interviews with lawyers who practice healthcare transactional law, providing an in-depth look at the professionals within the field.
Joshua Kaye is a Partner in DLA Piper’s Miami, FL, office. He concentrates his practice in healthcare mergers and acquisitions and the development of innovative business models within the healthcare industry.
Where are you from?
I live in Miami, FL.
Where did you receive your undergraduate? Where did you study law?
I received my undergraduate from the University of Florida. I studied law at University of Miami School of Law.
How and why did you get into healthcare transactional law?
Coming out of law school, I wanted to practice in a niche area that required specialization. The health care industry requires understanding and managing a complex web of evolving federal and state laws, the intricacies of an industry, and the interplay among a diverse set of healthcare providers, payors, and investors. As the chair of DLA Piper’s health care sector, we have developed a client-centric approach that allows us to match our Firm’s attorneys and other resources to our broad range of clients in the health care industry by the establishment of the following four primary areas of excellence: (1) the deployment of capital into the health care industry (i.e., private equity, venture capital, finance/credit), (2) health systems, physician groups and other providers, (3) payors, and (4) vendors, health care information technology and entities that service providers or payors. There is never a dull moment and it takes considerable time to keep up to pace with the ever-changing health care laws and developing trends in the healthcare industry. Doing so allows me to be a trusted advisor and valuable extension of a client’s business team which is a privileged and honorable position to earn.
Are you involved in any volunteering efforts? If so, what?
Yes. DLA Piper is deeply committed to pro bono. In fact, the firm is one of the largest providers of pro bono legal services in the world. I volunteer in a number of different efforts. One of the more meaningful is my work with the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship – Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities. I regularly speak to post-9/11 veterans who have disabilities resulting from their service to our country, talking about legal and business issues they may encounter when starting a business.
Have you received any awards or recognitions?
- Repeatedly named in Chambers USA, which graciously has said I earn a “ten out of ten” from clients
- Florida Bar Board Certified Health Law Attorney
- Repeatedly recognized in The Best Lawyers in America
- Named in The Legal 500 United States
- Law360‘s “Rising Stars” list, recognizing lawyers under the age of 40 with impressive legal accomplishments in their respective practice groups – one of only three healthcare lawyers honored by Law360
- Daily Business Review’s 2014 “Rising Stars” list, recognizing lawyers under the age of 40 with impressive legal accomplishments
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 40 Under 40 Outstanding Young Lawyers of Miami-Dade County
What do you like to do in your spare time?
With four children and serving as co-chair of DLA Piper’s healthcare sector, spare time is truly hard to come by. I am an avid sports enthusiast and believe that playing team sports really teaches valuable lessons about coping with success and failure in both business and life. I enjoy coaching my sons’ sports teams and attending my daughters’ gymnastics competitions and ballet rehearsals. It is so moving to watch my children succeed at something they have worked hard at, and also moving to help them cope with the agony of defeat when things don’t work out. I also enjoy traveling, snorkeling, and of course a dinner with clients, friends and colleagues to celebrate a closing or other momentous occasion.
Who has influenced you the most?
My mother, Dina, who unfortunately succumbed to pancreatic cancer in 2002. She gave so much to her community, could befriend anyone and always found the good virtues of a person. She stressed the importance of a close-knit family, communication as a means to resolve conflicts, the value of a good education, and understanding differing points of view. All of these are values I find so important to my career, family life, and personal well-being.
What do you love the most about what you do?
Figuring out new solutions to complex issues. I recently was engaged by a healthcare company that had been using other counsel to try to get a deal done over the course of 14 months. The previous counsel had been unable to navigate all the business and legal complexities that the deal presented. Within 90 days of being engaged, we were able to quickly assess the situation and drive a successful outcome. The sense of accomplishment associated with driving a successful outcome and the camaraderie that I share with my team and a client is just awesome.
What do you do better than everyone else?
First and foremost, listen; then find a practical and innovative solution. So many clients and lawyers prefer to rely upon a solution or structure that may have worked in a prior project without understanding the subtle differences in the facts of a new project. But health care transactions and compliance are entirely built around each unique set of facts. By keenly listening, I find myself to be in a better position to find common ground between parties, drive a successful negotiation or outcome, and build practical compliance safeguards to mitigate health care regulatory hazards. I’m not sure that makes me better but it certainly makes what I have to say worthwhile to consider.