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Darren Skyles
Partner
Heritage Plaza
1111 Bagby Street
Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77002
1111 Bagby Street
Suite 2100
Houston, TX 77002
darren.skyles@nelsonmullins.com
Darren has deep knowledge and experience in healthcare legal matters, including mergers & acquisitions, transactional enterprises, regulatory issues, compliance/governance, operational matters, corporate transactions, fraud and abuse, privacy and security, medical staff issues, governmental entity laws, litigation, and outside general counsel services. Darren also collaborates with clients on value-based care payment models and advises on specialized...
Darren has deep knowledge and experience in healthcare legal matters, including mergers & acquisitions, transactional enterprises, regulatory issues, compliance/governance, operational matters, corporate transactions, fraud and abuse, privacy and security, medical staff issues, governmental entity laws, litigation, and outside general counsel services. Darren also collaborates with clients on value-based care payment models and advises on specialized corporate transactions in the healthcare space.
Darren maintains a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) governance issues. As clients’ risks and vulnerabilities with the rapidly advancing pace of AI development and application increase, Darren counsels clients on its expansion and challenges, helping them develop effective AI governance programs.
corporate transactions in the healthcare space.
Darren maintains a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) governance issues. As clients’ risks and vulnerabilities with the rapidly advancing pace of AI development and application increase, Darren counsels clients on its expansion and challenges, helping them develop effective AI governance programs.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Matters
- Oversaw the legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs of two healthcare systems which grew, during his representation and oversight, into significantly larger health care systems
- Negotiated and transacted multiple deals for the purchase or sale of a healthcare practice (medical, dental, senior living, and veterinary space)
- Represented large corporations in the acquiring of healthcare provider practices in multiple states, drafting the documentation, forming the corporate structure, and counseling on the development of a Management Services Organization including:
- Advising and transacting deals for a national chiropractic provider on both MSO and franchise models of organization
- Counseling, guiding and transacting for the purchase and acquisition of a large, multi-state urgent care practice via MSO model
- Transacting for and drafting the required documentation for the purchase and acquisition of senior living facilities in multiple states.
- Negotiating joint Ventures between hospitals and medical practices
- Assisting with Clinically Integrated Network among healthcare providers
- Counseling on merger of medical practices (multi-specialty and single-specialty)
- Analyzed, audited, and provided counsel on large healthcare systems’ healthcare compliance programs
- Counseled three large healthcare systems on healthcare regulatory matters in the areas of Stark, Anti-Kickback, and HIPAA as well as hospital and physician operational matters
- Represented hospitals and physicians in physician employment and physician recruitment agreements
- Counseled a medical center on its efforts in moving its clinical research toward commercial realization
- Counseled software start-up company on its business marketing plan and its legal position during its evolution toward the market
Previous Professional Experience
- Vice President of Legal Affairs, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Law Firm Healthcare practice group leader
- Director, Division of Public Affairs of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Education
- University of Houston, JD (2004)
- University of Houston, BA, magna cum laude (1991)
Admissions
- Texas
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Representative Matters
- Oversaw the legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs of two healthcare systems which grew, during his representation and oversight, into significantly larger health care systems
- Negotiated and transacted multiple deals for the purchase or sale of a healthcare practice (medical, dental, senior living, and veterinary space)
- Represented large corporations in the acquiring of healthcare provider practices in multiple states, drafting the documentation, forming the corporate structure, and counseling on the development of a Management Services Organization including:
- Advising and transacting deals for a national chiropractic provider on both MSO and franchise models of organization
- Counseling, guiding and transacting for the purchase and acquisition of a large, multi-state urgent care practice via MSO model
- Transacting for and drafting the required documentation for the purchase and acquisition of senior living facilities in multiple states.
- Negotiating joint Ventures between hospitals and medical practices
- Assisting with Clinically Integrated Network among healthcare providers
- Counseling on merger of medical practices (multi-specialty and single-specialty)
- Analyzed, audited, and provided counsel on large healthcare systems’ healthcare compliance programs
- Counseled three large healthcare systems on healthcare regulatory matters in the areas of Stark, Anti-Kickback, and HIPAA as well as hospital and physician operational matters
- Represented hospitals and physicians in physician employment and physician recruitment agreements
- Counseled a medical center on its efforts in moving its clinical research toward commercial realization
- Counseled software start-up company on its business marketing plan and its legal position during its evolution toward the market
Previous Professional Experience
- Vice President of Legal Affairs, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Law Firm Healthcare practice group leader
- Director, Division of Public Affairs of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Media
Insights
| Clinically Integrated Networks and the Triple Aim: Better Healthcare, Reduced Costs, Co-Author (January 2022) |
| Enforcement Trends and Caution Points in Healthcare Private Equity Investing, Co-Author (March 2023) |
| Healthcare Compliance Due Diligence Essentials for Private Equity Investment, Co-Author (May 2023) |
| Healthcare Compliance Precautions in Private Equity: An Ounce of Prevention, Co-Author (December 2022) |
| Legal and Payer Changes Focus on Addressing Social Determinants of Health, Co-Author (April 2022) |
Events / Speaking Engagements
| Darren Skyles and Jake Kohn to Attend Houston Healthcare Leadership Quorum, HCLQ, Moderator (June 5, 2025) |
| Nelson Mullins 2024 Value-Based Care Conference: Evolving Value-Based Strategies, Speaker (Nov. 7, 2024) |
| Texas Health Law Conference, State Bar of Texas, Speaker (Oct. 6, 2024) |
| 2024 Los Angeles Healthcare Leadership Quorum, Chair and Moderator (Oct. 3, 2024) |
| Leading Through Mergers and Acquisitions, ACHE CTX, Speaker (June 20, 2024) |
News
| Nelson Mullins Expands in Texas, Opens New Office Location (April 1, 2024) |
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Health Care Law (2024-2025)
- Houston’s Top Lawyers List, Houstonia Magazine, Health Care Law (2022)
Professional Activities
- American Health Law Association
- Texas State Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association, Co-Chair, Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger
- Houston Christian Legal Society
Darren has deep knowledge and experience in healthcare legal matters, including mergers & acquisitions, transactional enterprises, regulatory issues, compliance/governance, operational matters, corporate transactions, fraud and abuse, privacy and security, medical staff issues, governmental entity laws, litigation, and outside general counsel services. Darren also collaborates with clients on value-based care payment models and advises on specialized... corporate transactions in the healthcare space.
Darren maintains a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) governance issues. As clients’ risks and vulnerabilities with the rapidly advancing pace of AI development and application increase, Darren counsels clients on its expansion and challenges, helping them develop effective AI governance programs.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Representative Matters
- Oversaw the legal, compliance, and regulatory affairs of two healthcare systems which grew, during his representation and oversight, into significantly larger health care systems
- Negotiated and transacted multiple deals for the purchase or sale of a healthcare practice (medical, dental, senior living, and veterinary space)
- Represented large corporations in the acquiring of healthcare provider practices in multiple states, drafting the documentation, forming the corporate structure, and counseling on the development of a Management Services Organization including:
- Advising and transacting deals for a national chiropractic provider on both MSO and franchise models of organization
- Counseling, guiding and transacting for the purchase and acquisition of a large, multi-state urgent care practice via MSO model
- Transacting for and drafting the required documentation for the purchase and acquisition of senior living facilities in multiple states.
- Negotiating joint Ventures between hospitals and medical practices
- Assisting with Clinically Integrated Network among healthcare providers
- Counseling on merger of medical practices (multi-specialty and single-specialty)
- Analyzed, audited, and provided counsel on large healthcare systems’ healthcare compliance programs
- Counseled three large healthcare systems on healthcare regulatory matters in the areas of Stark, Anti-Kickback, and HIPAA as well as hospital and physician operational matters
- Represented hospitals and physicians in physician employment and physician recruitment agreements
- Counseled a medical center on its efforts in moving its clinical research toward commercial realization
- Counseled software start-up company on its business marketing plan and its legal position during its evolution toward the market
Previous Professional Experience
- Vice President of Legal Affairs, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- Law Firm Healthcare practice group leader
- Director, Division of Public Affairs of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Education
- University of Houston, JD (2004)
- University of Houston, BA, magna cum laude (1991)
Admissions
- Texas,
Practice Areas
Insights
| Clinically Integrated Networks and the Triple Aim: Better Healthcare, Reduced Costs, Co-Author (January 2022) |
| Enforcement Trends and Caution Points in Healthcare Private Equity Investing, Co-Author (March 2023) |
| Healthcare Compliance Due Diligence Essentials for Private Equity Investment, Co-Author (May 2023) |
| Healthcare Compliance Precautions in Private Equity: An Ounce of Prevention, Co-Author (December 2022) |
| Legal and Payer Changes Focus on Addressing Social Determinants of Health, Co-Author (April 2022) |
Events /
Speaking Engagements
Speaking Engagements
| Darren Skyles and Jake Kohn to Attend Houston Healthcare Leadership Quorum, HCLQ, Moderator (June 5, 2025) |
| Nelson Mullins 2024 Value-Based Care Conference: Evolving Value-Based Strategies, Speaker (Nov. 7, 2024) |
| Texas Health Law Conference, State Bar of Texas, Speaker (Oct. 6, 2024) |
| 2024 Los Angeles Healthcare Leadership Quorum, Chair and Moderator (Oct. 3, 2024) |
| Leading Through Mergers and Acquisitions, ACHE CTX, Speaker (June 20, 2024) |
News
| Nelson Mullins Expands in Texas, Opens New Office Location (April 1, 2024) |
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Health Care Law (2024-2025)
- Houston’s Top Lawyers List, Houstonia Magazine, Health Care Law (2022)
- American Health Law Association
- Texas State Bar Association
- Houston Bar Association, Co-Chair, Campaign to End Homelessness & Hunger
- Houston Christian Legal Society
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