John O. Chesley
Senior Counsel
John Chesley has been a member of the health care group at Ropes & Gray since 1985. For over 25 years he has focused on meeting the needs of clients in complex transactions and challenging regulatory contexts. Most recently, he has been advising clients on critical legal and regulatory issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
John blends transactional skills with knowledge of tax-exempt organizational law, regulatory issues and securities law.
John's practice is broad. He has served as lead transaction counsel in nonprofit mergers and affiliations (including a major provider-insurer affiliation noted by Modern Healthcare, the Wall Street Journal and others as a "game changer"), as outside general counsel to a health care system, and as borrower's counsel and underwriter's counsel on numerous higher education, health care and other 501(c)(3) financings. He advises a leading university on capital finance matters. He counsels boards on governance matters. His practice ranges from AAA-rated institutions to distressed credits, with a particular emphasis on complex structuring and strategic relationships at the intersection of industry change.
Publications
- Profiled, “California Trailblazer,” The Recorder (October 5, 2020)
- Profiled, “Top Health Care Lawyers in California: John Chesley,” Daily Journal (April 22, 2020)
- Co-author, “The New Gov’t Policies Easing Deployment of Health Workers,” Law360 (April 14, 2020)
- Featured, “Top Health Care Lawyers: John O. Chesley,” The Daily Journal (December 4, 2019)
- Quoted, “Mergers and Acquisitions Activity Creates Safety, Liability Risks for Hospitals,” Healthcare Risk Management (October 1, 2018)
- Quoted, “Aetna / CVS: California officials studying reach of new merger law on pending deals,” PaRR Global (September 21, 2018)
- Co-author, “California’s New Focus on Drug Pricing Transparency,” Law360 (November 16, 2017)
- Co-author, “Blurring the Line Between Health Care Provider and Payor,” Law360 (September 20, 2017)
- Co-author, “Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions: The Transactional Perspective,” Bloomberg BNA Health Law & Business Series Portfolio 2100 (2nd edition) (2017)
- Quoted, “GOP Repeal-And-Delay Plans Spell Uncertainty For Insurers,” HealthcareDive (December 14, 2016)
- Quoted, “How GCs Should Prepare for Trump's ACA Repeal,” Corporate Counsel (November 11, 2016)
- Featured, “Top 100,” Daily Journal (September 21, 2016)
- Author, “Merger Mayhem in Health Insurance,” Daily Journal (September 15, 2016)
- Co-author, “Medicaid Premium Assistance Programs: Recent Developments and Compliance Concerns,” Bloomberg BNA’s Health Care Policy Report (April 2014)
- Co-author, “A Primer on Premium Assistance Programs Used to Privatize Medicaid Expansion,” Bloomberg BNA’s Health Care Policy Report (September 2013)
- Panelist, “California Lawyer 2013 Roundtable Series: Health Care,” California Lawyer (January 2013)
- Co-author, “Guide to HIPAA Compliance,” The Recorder (August 2012)
- John O. Chesley, “Health & Benefits: Reform’s momentum,” San Francisco Business Times (quoted) (July 2012)
- Co-author, “Troubleshooting Calif.'s Health Benefit Exchange,” Law360 (2011)
- John O. Chesley, “The Auction Rate Securities Debacle,” American Health Lawyers Association Teaching Hospitals and Academic Medical Centers, Vol. 6, Issue 1 (June 2008)
- John O. Chesley, “Use of Tax-Exempt Bonds for Facilities or Equipment Used in the Conduct of Embryonic Stem Cell Research,” Medicare Research Law and Policy Report, BNA pp. 374-376 (May 17, 2006)
Presentations
- Speaker, “COVID-19: Liquidity and Municipal Bond Considerations for Hospitals,” Ropes & Gray Webinar (March 2020)
- Presenter, “California Knox-Keene Plans and Risk Bearing Organizations,” Ropes & Gray Webinar (September 2017)
- Co-presenter, “How Can I Say This Charitably?: The Background and Current State of Attorney General Supervision of California Nonprofit Health System Transactions,” California Society of Health Care Attorneys Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA (April 2017)
- Speaker, “Winners and Losers in the Provider Sector in the Movement to Value-Based Health Care,” Ropes & Gray Teleconference (April 2017)
- Speaker, Bloomberg BNA’s “2017 Health Care Outlook,” Los Angeles, CA (January 26, 2017)
- Speaker, “Overpayments and the 60 Day Rule in the Transactional Context,” Los Angeles County Bar Association 13th Annual Healthcare Compliance Symposium, Los Angeles, CA (October 6, 2016)
- Speaker, “Tips and Tricks for Managing the Unique Elements of Health Care Transactions,” Bloomberg BNA Webinar (October 5, 2016)
- Moderator, Bloomberg BNA’s “2016 Outlook on Health Care” (January 28, 2016)
- Speaker, “The General Counsel in the Board Room,” Chief Legal Officers Forum, Children’s Hospital Association, Phoenix (November 6, 2015)
- Speaker, “Ropes & Gray West Coast Lunchtime Legal Briefing: The Impact of Market Dynamics on Health Care and Pharmaceutical Acquisitions” (November 2012)
- Moderator, “Private Sector Responses to Health Reform Panel,” Northeastern University School of Law Health Systems in Reform Conference, Boston, Massachusetts (March 16, 2012)
- Speaker, “The Bond Buyer's 2nd Annual Healthcare, Higher Education & Cultural Institution Super Conference,” New York, New York (October 16-18, 2011)
- Speaker, “National Association of Health and Educational Finance Authorities 2011 Fall Conference,” San Diego, California (October 4, 2011)
- Speaker, “Physician Strategies Alignment Summit,” Scottsdale, Arizona (February and October 2011)
Education
- JD, Northeastern University School of Law, 1984
- AB, magna cum laude, Harvard College, 1978
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- California, 2003
- Massachusetts, 1985
Awards
- California Trailblazers – The Recorder (2020)
- Turnaround Management Association “Non-Profit Turnaround of the Year” Award (2020)
- Daily Journal’s Top Health Care Lawyers in California (2019-2020)
- Daily Journal’s Top 100 Lawyers in California (2016)
- Legal 500 (2015-2018)
- The Best Lawyers in America (2005-2014, 2016-2022)
- The Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” (2017, 2022)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business (2008-2021)
- Northern California Super Lawyers (2013-2014)
