In-House Counsel Virtual Training

Schedule

This training is designed to be highly interactive, encouraging participants to fully engage throughout the training.

Attendees will take part in group exercises, discussions, and problem-solving activities that promote collaboration, practical skill development, and the confidence to apply what they've learned in their daily work.

Please Note: This training does not qualify for continuing education credits. All times are Eastern Standard time.

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Welcome and Introductions

Julie Kass, Vice President and Chief Counsel Walmart Health & Wellness, Walmart Health & Wellness
Michelle Johnson-Tidjani, SEVP, Chief Administrative Officer, Commonspirit Health
Greg Matis, EVP/Chief Legal Officer, Intermountain Health

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Attendee Introductions

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

In-House Counsel Lens 101

Jolee Bollinger, Deputy General Counsel, Sharp HealthCare
Marliena Davis, The Joint Commission
Denise Zamore, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary, Agilon Health

Define the in-house counsel role and how it differs from outside counsel, including internal processes, expectations, and day-to-day operational support
Cover core functional areas such as contracts, compliance, governance, employment/medical staff issues, and collaboration with business leaders
Navigate the contracts workflow—from intake and review to approval processes—while supporting broader organizational priorities like M&A, real estate, tax, and strategic initiatives
Manage and mitigate risk through proactive issue-spotting, effective communication with leadership, and coordinated approaches to litigation and outside counsel management

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch Break

1:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Building Trust with Group Activity

Kristin Carter, Senior Counsel, Johns Hopkins Health System
Adam Kent, Head of Legal – Healthcare, Rula
Melinda Hatton, former General Counsel, American Hospital Association

Build credibility by understanding the organization’s business model, culture, priorities, and pain points, and using that insight to shape your advice
Strengthen relationships across departments through transparency, active listening, and spending time with operational teams to understand their needs
Translate legal guidance into clear, practical, business-focused solutions that connect legal risk to operational impact and support organizational goals
Provide direct answers— including “no” when necessary—paired with workable alternatives, and navigate difficult conversations in ways that preserve trust and partnership

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Break

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Governance Basics

Michelle Johnson-Tidjani (Moderator), SEVP, Chief Administrative Officer, Commonspirit Health
Rob Gerberry, Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Summa Health System
Michael Peregrine, McDermott Will & Schulte LLP (Ret.)

Understanding the Board’s Role and Responsibilities within hospitals, health systems, and health plans
Identifying Key Governance Documents and Structures and how they guide decision-making
Supporting Board–Management Relationships through effective communication and issue framing
Navigating Common Governance Challenges such as conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties, and oversight expectations

Thursday, January 22, 2026

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Financial Basics for In-House Counsel

Greg Matis, EVP/Chief Legal Officer, Intermountain Health
Clay Ashdown, Chief Financial Officer, Intermountain Health

Understanding the key financial metrics and ratios that matter most for health systems and health plans
Linking legal work to financial impact across contracts, transactions, and operations
Managing legal budgets and costs in partnership with finance and outside counsel
Supporting major strategic and financial initiatives with informed, business-focused legal guidance

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Managing Outside Counsel

Tom Donohoe, VP, Legal Services and Deputy General Counsel, Banner Health
Tom Karnes, Chief Legal Officer, PeaceHealth

Effective methods of communication with outside counsel
Discussing and managing rates and spend
The value of outside counsel guidelines (formal and informal)
Feedback loops and performance improvement
Partnering on value-adds beyond the legal work (CLEs, KPI development, etc.)

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Compliance vs Legal

Nima Davis, Executive Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer, Commonspirit Health
Howard Hacker, Legal, Compliance and Risk Leader, Walmart

Clarifying the distinct roles and responsibilities of compliance and legal functions within health care organizations.
Understanding where the two functions intersect and how to collaborate effectively on investigations, reporting, and operational issues.
Navigating gray areas where compliance and legal perspectives may differ, and aligning on approaches that support organizational integrity and risk management.
Feedback loops and performance improvement
Building strong partnerships through communication, shared priorities, and clear escalation pathways to ensure consistent, defensible decision-making.

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Lunch Break

2:00 PM - 3:15 PM

Executive Communication and the Client

Julie Kass, Vice President and Chief Counsel Walmart Health & Wellness, Walmart Health & Wellness
Brian Setzer, CEO, Newport Health Care

Tailoring communication for executive audiences by focusing on clarity, brevity, and business relevance
Framing legal issues as actionable options that support strategy, operations, and decision-making
Building trust and credibility through consistency, preparedness, and understanding leadership priorities
Navigating difficult conversations by conveying risk, uncertainty, and trade-offs in a way that enables confident decisions

3:15 PM - 3:30 PM

Break

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Legal Operations

Stacy Bratcher, Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer, Cottage Health
Lindsey Franklin, Director of System Contracting, CoxHealth
Lindsey Ridgway, Deputy General Counsel, Integris Health

Building efficient workflows and processes to support timely, consistent legal services across the organization
Using data and KPIs to measure demand, manage workload, and demonstrate value to leadership
Enhancing client satisfaction through clear service expectations, communication practices, and responsiveness
Leveraging tools and technology to streamline work, improve collaboration, and reduce operational friction

Friday, January 23, 2026

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Day in the Life Hypothetical Introduction

Flo Di Benedetto(Moderator), Former General Counsel, Sutter Health, Strategic leader, executive coach, business and legal consultant, General Counsel, Di Benedetto Solutions, Inc.
Julie Kass, Michelle Johnson-Tidjani, Greg Matis

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Group Activity

12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Break

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Participant Open Discussion: Hypothetical and Solutions

Flo Di Benedetto(Moderator), Julie Kass, Michelle Johnson-Tidjani, Greg Matis, and Participants