Veteran Healthcare Information Technology Attorneys Steve Blumenthal and Kristen Johns Join Waller

NASHVILLE, TN--(Marketwired - Sep 22, 2014) - Waller, one of the nation's preeminent law firms serving the healthcare industry, announced today that Steven E. Blumenthal and Kristen F. Johns have joined the firm's Nashville office. Blumenthal is a veteran transactional attorney with extensive healthcare information technology (HIT) and data privacy and security experience. Johns most recently served as Assistant General Counsel with Emdeon, a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions.

"Our clients -- particularly healthcare clients -- are increasingly facing HIT, patient privacy and data security matters arising in connection with transactions, disputes and day-to-day operations," said Waller chairman Matt Burnstein. "Steve and Kristen are significant additions for us and increase our depth and capabilities in this very important area."

Over the past 18 months, Waller has represented clients in numerous high-profile transactions in the rapidly expanding HIT market. The firm also has a long history of representing hospitals and health systems in information technology and intellectual property matters.

Blumenthal's law practice has focused on the negotiation of electronic health record (EHR) agreements, HIT interface development agreements, HIPAA business associate agreements and acquisitions of information technology systems. Previously, he served as General Counsel of Carfax, the provider of automotive vehicle history reports, where he negotiated software and data license agreements, managed the company's intellectual property assets and was responsible for privacy and security compliance. Blumenthal's experience also includes the negotiation of EHR system licenses as corporate counsel for Epic Systems, one the nation's largest EHR providers. Blumenthal earned his J.D. in 1995 from the University of Virginia School of Law. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in 1992 from Tulane University. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Georgia.

Johns has spent her entire legal career strategically protecting and maximizing intellectual property assets, both in private practice and in-house roles. With Emdeon, she advised product development teams on a broad range of matters related to intellectual property, including branding, marketing, privacy and data rights. As corporate counsel for a life sciences company she structured and negotiated numerous multi-million dollar collaboration agreements and commercial alliances in addition to managing the intellectual property portfolio. Johns earned her J.D. in 2000 from the Saint Louis University School of Law. She earned her B.S. in 1995 in engineering science from Vanderbilt University. She is a member of the United States Patent Bar and licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Missouri.

About Waller
Waller, a leading provider of legal services to the healthcare, financial services, retail and hospitality industries, is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with offices in Birmingham, Ala., Austin, Tex., and Memphis, Tenn. With approximately 200 attorneys, Waller helps clients navigate a diverse range of complex transactional, regulatory and litigation issues. For more information, please visit www.wallerlaw.com.