Longtime General Counsel of Arizona Health System Returns to Lewis Roca

Press Release

07/20/2023

PHOENIX (July 20, 2023) – Lewis Roca is pleased to announce the return of David Bixby to the firm’s healthcare industry team. For nearly 25 years, Bixby served as the Chief Legal Officer of Banner Health, a multi-state health system based in Arizona, and he previously worked at Lewis Roca as an associate and partner in its healthcare and corporate practice from 1981 to 1998. Bixby rejoins as a partner in the firm’s Phoenix office.

During his tenure at Banner Health, Bixby played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the nearly $13 billion multi-state integrated healthcare system, which is comprised of 33 hospitals, physician clinics, numerous healthcare plans, and a wide range of affiliated entities. His responsibilities included overseeing all legal affairs, corporate governance, merger, acquisition, joint venture and financing transactions, and compliance functions, and he served as an integral member of the organization’s leadership team during his entire tenure. Bixby facilitated the creation of the Banner M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and the development of an academic affiliation with the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine in Tucson and Phoenix. Additionally, he successfully oversaw multiple acquisition transactions, including the successful integration of the Samaritan Health and Lutheran Health Systems into Banner Health, as well as several joint ventures.

Lewis Roca’s Managing Partner, Kenneth Van Winkle, said, “We are honored to welcome David back to our firm. Over the past quarter-century, David has earned a reputation as one of the top in-house healthcare and corporate lawyers in the country and brings unique in-house perspective to our clients. His deep understanding of the complexities of healthcare and corporate/transactional law and his ability to navigate regulatory frameworks have made him a highly sought-after legal advisor in the corporate community and healthcare industry.”

Bixby is a member of the State Bar of Arizona, the American Health Lawyers Association, the Arizona Society of Health Care Attorneys, and the Arizona Bar Business Law Section. He has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to the legal profession, having received the Arizona Corporate Counsel of the Year award in 2015 and the Arizona Corporate Counsel Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

“After more than two decades in-house and working inside the healthcare industry as it underwent profound changes, I am excited to return to Lewis Roca and join its exceptional team of legal professionals,” said Bixby. “I look forward to using my experience and the insights gained as general counsel of Arizona’s largest health system to further support our clients on a range of healthcare-related and other corporate matters.”

Bixby received his J.D. from Yale Law School, his B.A. (Hons), first class, from the University of Cape Town, and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College.

About Lewis Roca

Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, San Francisco, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at www.lewisroca.com.

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