Darrell Armer
Dallas Managing Partner, Healthcare Practice Group Leader

I have negotiated many challenging healthcare transactions and seen parties waste a lot of time and money going back and forth with unrealistic demands, just to arrive somewhere in the middle. I approach every deal the same way – start at reasonable and stay there. By gaining an understanding of both sides’ goals and concerns, I can keep everyone focused on the real issues at stake and close the deal in the most effective, cost-efficient way possible.

Darrell Armer serves as Gray Reed's Healthcare Practice Group Leader. An experienced dealmaker and strategic advisor for a diverse group of healthcare clients, Darrell focuses his practice on structuring complex commercial transactions that not only achieve his clients’ business goals, but also minimize risk within strict regulatory frameworks. He has over 25 years of experience managing all aspects of the organization, reorganization, funding, operation and merger/acquisition of a variety of providers, including hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, physical therapy companies, diagnostic imaging centers, medical and dental practices, and home health agencies, as well as various provider networks. He is Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Darrell has negotiated and structured numerous mergers and acquisitions of healthcare providers on behalf of both sellers and buyers. This unique experience working on both sides of the deal helps Darrell anticipate many issues that typically arise and resolve them proactively before they can impede negotiations or break the deal altogether. Darrell also serves as outside general counsel for many of his clients, guiding them through a variety of operational and administrative matters, including Medicare/Medicaid and other third-party reimbursement and appeals, licensure issues with state boards, cyber security and related breaches, vendor contracts plus much more. 

Keeping clients out of trouble is also a substantial part of Darrell’s practice. He helps clients maintain compliance with all federal and state regulations that impact entity structuring, commercial transactions and day-to-day operations, particularly the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute, HIPAA and other privacy laws, and antitrust considerations. Darrell also plays a significant role in protecting clients when they’re facing potential civil or criminal liability in government investigations or litigation involving alleged fraud or other regulatory violations. He works hand-in-hand with the firm’s white-collar lawyers, providing valuable insight on the substantive regulatory issues involved to ensure that clients achieve the best outcome possible.

Representative Experience

M&A – Physician Practices

  • Represented a Dallas-based medical practice in the sale of its assets to affiliates of one of the largest national health insurance companies.
  • Represented Texas radiology practice in $45 million asset sale to national radiology practice, which included complex reorganization of selling entities.
  • Represented Illinois radiology practice in $25 million stock sale to national health care entity.
  • Represented vascular medical practice in $40 million asset sale to national, publicly traded health care system.
  • Represented venture capital firm in several acquisitions of dermatology practices in Texas and Hawaii.
  • Represented national pathology practice and laboratory in acquisition of New England dermatopathology practice and laboratory.
  • Represented large pathology group in complex corporate reorganization and restructuring.

M&A – Ancillary Providers

  • Represented a multi-state home health provider in connection with the acquisition of Maryland and Florida home health agencies.
  • Represented pharmacy in acquisition of assets of retail pharmacy.
  • Represented laboratory provider in acquisition of controlling membership interest in clinical laboratory.
  • Represented several entities in acquisitions of controlling membership interests in hospice providers and health home providers.

Regulatory and Other Matters

  • Successfully negotiated a settlement resulting in no repayment of funds on behalf of a Dallas-based medical clinic in connection with an alleged overpayment.
  • Represented direct primary care provider in formation and operation of family medicine clinics.
  • Represented several providers in analysis of pass-through laboratory billing issues.
  • Represented several providers in accounts receivable factoring arrangements.
  • Represented several nonprofit health organizations in formation and certification of entity by Texas Medical Board.

Securities

  • Representation of a third party administrator in the buyout of its partner in a 50/50 joint venture management company, as well as the acquisition of the membership interest in an affiliated non-profit health organization.
  • Private offering of membership interests in ambulatory surgery center.
  • Private offering of membership interests in several laboratories, pharmacies and management companies.
Thought Leadership / News
Honors
  • Recognized as a leading healthcare lawyer in Texas by Chambers & Partners USA (2020 - 2023)
  • Recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" for Health Law in Dallas by The Best Lawyers in America (2020)
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodward/White, Inc.'s The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Health Care Law (2012, 2014 – 2024)
  • Selected as a Best Lawyer in Dallas by D Magazine (2013, 2017 - 2022)
  • Named a “Super Lawyer” (2009 - 2023) and a “Rising Star” (2006 - 2009) by Texas Super Lawyers (a Thomson Reuters business) as published in Texas Monthly
Organizational Involvement
  • Dallas Bar Association
    • Health Law Section
      • Chair (2008)
      • Officer (2005 - 2008)
      • Council Member (2003 - 2009)
  • American Health Law Association
  • Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
Education
  • J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law (1994)
  • B.B.A., The University of Texas at Austin (1991)
Bar Admission
  • Texas
When I Feel Most At Home
  • Attending Longhorn sporting events, including each TX/OU football game since 1987
  • Reading Stephen Ambrose books
  • Playing a new golf course