Amber McGraw Walsh, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP
Amber Walsh is the former Chairwoman of the firm's Healthcare Department, one of the largest healthcare practices in the United States. She sits on the firm’s Executive Committee and is Chairwoman of the firm’s Lateral Partner Integration Committee, and is a recognized leader in promoting the advancement of women in the private equity sector.
She founded and leads McGuireWoods’ Women in Private Equity & Finance Initiative and sits on the board of The Leverage Network.
Focusing her practice on corporate healthcare transactional work and regulatory matters, she represents healthcare providers such as hospitals, health systems, dialysis facilities, multi- and single-specialty medical practices, specialty hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and a variety of healthcare industry entrepreneurs, in sales and acquisitions, joint ventures, general corporate matters, contracting, securities, and regulatory matters.
Her work includes negotiating and drafting transaction documents and counseling clients with regard to the legal aspects of day-to-day operations, including general corporate matters; anti-kickback and Stark issues; self-referral, corporate practice of medicine and fee-splitting prohibitions; HIPAA, certificate of need and licensure requirements; and state and federal securities matters. In 2017, Amber was named to Mergers & Acquisitions magazine’s list of “The Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A.”
As one of the principal drivers behind McGuireWoods’ healthcare private equity initiatives, Amber co-chairs the firm’s annual Healthcare and Life Sciences Private Equity and Finance Conference, one of the largest private equity events in the U.S. healthcare market, which facilitates deals by connecting investors with surgery centers, dialysis facilities, physician practices and other industry players.
A recognized thought-leader in the healthcare/M&A and private equity arenas, Amber co-authors a regular Law360 column covering middle market healthcare and life sciences deals, co-writes McGuireWoods’ The Healthcare Investor blog, and is the lead author on a series which spotlights women private equity leaders.
What is your proudest achievement?
Conceiving of, and launching the Women in Private Equity & Finance Initiative at McGuireWoods is one of the most fun and rewarding ---- and was initially the most daunting ---- achievements of my career. Thus far!
What is the most influential piece of advice (professional or personal) you have received?
Try new things; stretch yourself. Other people will try to put you in a box where they think you belong professionally, but do not let that happen and certainly don’t do it to yourself.
What is/are your favorite extracurricular activity/activities?
For solo time, reading. But also all sports, including tennis and skiing myself, and watching all kid, college and pro sports (men and women both).
What is one thing people should know about you but don't?
The firm allowed me the unique opportunity to commute from St. Louis to Chicago when I was a young associate, and I've been doing so for 16 years. It was an extraordinary opportunity for which I will be forever grateful and which really molded my career and secured my lifelong commitment to the firm.
Name your hometown/where you were born/where you grew up and where you live now.
My hometown Marshall MO. I now live in St. Louis but will also always consider Chicago my work home.
If you were not a legal professional, what other line of work would you pursue?
Bookstore owner.
Published August 23, 2023.
