Michael Schaff, chair of the Corporate and Healthcare Departments and shareholder of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer P.A., offers clients an exceptional understanding of the law, as well as a unique educational background rooted in business, finance, and taxation. These exclusive skills enable him to assess the business ramifications of any business transaction, contract, agreement or negotiation. His knowledge has been particularly beneficial to the structuring of professional practices for many healthcare professionals including physicians, dentists, chiropractors and others; for the structuring of business entities; for entities interested in buying, selling or merging businesses; and for a variety of other manufacturing, retail, and service businesses requiring legal experience. Additionally, Mr. Schaff has served as general corporate counsel for many privately-held companies.
Mr. Schaff was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) from 2006 to 2012 and was Board Chair of Practice Groups (2010-2012), on its Executive Committee (2010-2012) and Finance Committee (2011-2012), a past chair of AHLA Physicians Organization Committee and was the editor of its newsletter. Active in the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), he is a past chair (1999-2000), director (1996-2013) and currently on the Emeritus Board of the Health Law Section. In March 2008, Mr. Schaff received the Middlesex County Bar Association’s Transactional Attorney of the Year Award. Michael was the recipient of an Outstanding Physician Practice Lawyer for 2007 by Nightingale’s Healthcare News. In May 2006, Michael received the NJSBA Health and Hospital Law Section first Distinguished Service Award. Michael was appointed by the New Jersey State Legislature as the only attorney member of the New Jersey Legislature Committee for the Study of Pain Management.
Michael is currently the chair of the program planning committee for AHLA’s Physician Organization Law
Michael is the Co-chair of the program planning committee for AHLA’s Physicians and Hospital Law Institute to be held February 2014 in Las Vegas (member 2005-2010, Co-chair 2014 - ) and speaker (2003-2014). Michael also was on the planning committee & chair of AHLA’s Fundamental Health Law in Chicago (chair, 2010-2012 and speaker 2004-2013). Michael was appointed to the AHLA’s Managed Care, Medical Malpractice Insurance Subsidies Task Force, and Stark II Members Briefing Task Force. He is also a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the Computer Law Association. Michael is a past chair of the NJSBA Internet and Computer Law.
Mr. Schaff is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (formerly UMDNJ) and at St. John’s University, and on the Advisory Board of Seton Hall Law School’s Center for Health & Pharmaceutical Law & Policy (2011- ). Michael is the current Chair (2014- ), former Vice Chair (2009-2014) and member (2005- ) of the Editorial Board for the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine, was the special editor of its issues on Health Law (February 2007), Patients’ Rights (April 2007), Internet Law (December 2008), Non-Profit Law (April 2010), and Gaming Law (April 2013).
Mr. Schaff was awarded the AHLA Pro Bono Champion Award (2012), is an active volunteer in the American Cancer Society (2000- ) and was the 2011 recipient of the American Cancer Society Shining Star Award for Volunteering. Michael is on the Board of Directors for the Susan G. Komen South and Central New Jersey Affiliate (2009- ) and a former Board member for Circle of Life Children's Center (2008-2011).
Mr. Schaff is on the Board of Advisors (2008- ) of the Radiology Administrator’s Compliance and Reimbursement Insider; Ophthalmology Compliance & Reimbursement Insider, Managed Care, and Ambulatory Surgery Compliance & Reimbursement Insider Newsletters (HcPro, Inc.). Michael is on the Editorial Board of The Coding Institute’s Part B Insider (2009- ), the Board of Advisors of Imaging Economics (2009- ) and the Advisory Board BNA’s Health law Law Reports (2011- ).
Mr. Schaff has been selected for inclusion in New Jersey Best Lawyers® list 2003-2014 (2012 Healthcare Lawyer of the Year) and New Jersey Super Lawyers® list 2005-2014 (Top 100 attorneys; 2007-2014), Chambers USA 2007-2014 (Band 1, Healthcare 2011-2014) and Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in the East.
Area of Emphasis:
Professional Practice
Medical Practice Mergers
Ambulatory Care Facilities and Centers (ASCs)
Hospitals
Account Care Organizations (ACOs)
Clinically Integrated Networks (CINs)
HIPAA
HITECH, Managed Care Contracting
Healthcare Regulatory Issues
Hospital/Physician Joint Ventures
Clinical Co-Management Arrangements
Service Line Management Arrangements
Management Service Organizations (MSOs)
Hospital/Physician Affiliations
Physician Practice Management Companies (PPMCs)
Physician Compliance Programs
Physician-Hospital Organizations (PHOs)
Independent Physician Associations; (IPAs)
Provider Sponsored Organizations; (PSOs)
Corporate Transactions
Group Practice/Business Structure;
Planning and Organizations
Incorporations
Partnerships
Limited Liability Companies
Limited Partnerships
Joint Ventures
Nonprofit Corporations
Shareholder Agreements
Operating Agreements
Employment, Consulting and Independent Contractor Agreements
Internet and Computer Law
Leases, Purchase and Sale of Businesses
Acquisitions and Mergers
Consolidations
Dissolutions
Secured Transactions and Shareholder, Partner and Member Disputes.
