Gerald H. Fornwald

I represent a variety of healthcare providers in sub-specialties ranging from radiology to dentistry to mental health. I help new practitioners start practices, acquire practices, and hire new associates.  I also help established providers sell their practices, working with them to reap the rewards of what they have built, while also preserving their well-eared legacy. In between, I counsel health care practitioners and providers regarding avenues for risk mitigation in their health care operations spanning a wide array of topics, including the use and dissemination of patient health information, contract concerns, employment matters, regulatory and licensing issues, and billing and compliance matters, among other things. My familiarity with state and federal regulations governing health care providers, and in particular privacy regulations such as HIPAA and 42 C.F.R. part 2, enables me to counsel clients regarding the issues at hand, while also helping them avoid mistakes that could lead to future disputes. I also provide privacy compliance training and advice to health care providers, including drug and alcohol treatment centers, in order to assist them in navigating the complexities and ever-changing landscape of handling patient health information.

The legal landscape for cannabis is ever-evolving around the country, and nowhere is that more true than Minnesota. Anytime laws change, there are new business opportunities for entrepreneurs, and cannabis is a leading example.  In my practice, I have represented a variety of businesses and licensees in the cannabis industry on matters involving corporate formation and governance, licensing, risk mitigation, distribution and labeling issues, and unwanted attention from regulators.  Our experience navigating regulatory issues across multiple industries, and interfacing with agencies like the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Health gives us knowledge and credibility that can prove invaluable when clients are faced with licensing challenges.

I represent clients in ownership disputes involving closely-held companies. I have represented minority owners, 50/50 owners, controlling owners, and even the companies involved in such disputes. These have spanned numerous industries, including construction, real estate, restaurants, manufacturing, and health care, and have included enforcement of the reasonable expectations of owners (including expectation of ongoing employment and voice in management), appointment of neutral appraisers, actions for court-sanctioned buy-outs, negotiation and enforcement of buy-sell agreements, enforcement of contractual and fiduciary obligations owed between owners, and enforcement of statutory protections under the Minnesota Business Corporation Act.

I represent clients in a range of regulatory matters, including matters before professional licensing boards and in matters of regulatory compliance.