S. The Business of Health & the Law

This course is co-taught by Delphine O'Rourke and Christine White.

The health industry is one of the largest, most complex and heavily regulated in the United States. The health economy fuels close to a fifth of the overall U.S. GDP, spending has surpassed $4 trillion in the U.S. and expected to hit $10 trillion worldwide. The demand and spend on health and wellness is only projected to increase due to aging populations, longevity and the expansion of the well-being sector. Given the financial significance of all things health and the annual increases in spend, year over year, both in the US and globally, it is no surprise that health has truly become a high stakes business. One of most significant challenges for clients in the health business, is compliance with the highly complex, extensive and constantly changing framework of health laws and regulations. Not only is the legal framework considerable, the risk of non-compliance is high and civil and criminal penalties are significant.

Therefore, it is critically important for attorneys who are in the business of health to have a strong foundation in the key legal concepts and laws that drive the business. Whether students are pursuing careers as dedicated healthcare regulatory attorneys with a pharmaceutical company or becoming a capital markets partner with a large firm, knowledge and understanding of the legal frameworks, industry sectors and major trends are imperative and differentiators.

This seminar is also appropriate for students who have an interest in health and wellness.