Since his graduation from Emory Law School nearly 30 years ago, Mark Ford has been an active healthcare attorney, business attorney and trial lawyer.  Through his extensive practice and representation of a diverse range of clientele, Mark has gained vast experience in healthcare law, business law, contract law, family law, civil litigation, trial representation, and arbitration.

 

Mark is a seasoned business attorney and healthcare lawyer.  He served as Vice President and General Counsel of a 128-hospital operating company, after having served as the company's Senior Litigation Counsel and Senior Regional Counsel.  In these positions as well as his private practice, Mark has gained experience and expertise in healthcare fraud and abuse laws, Stark and Antikickback Statute requirements, state and federal healthcare regulations, HIPAA compliance, EMTALA laws, provider peer review, corporate compliance, provider contracting, practice acquisitions, business disputes, business torts, intellectual property rights, restrictive covenants, employment matters, and general corporate legal issues. 

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Mark also is an experienced and accomplished litigation attorney.  He has successfully arbitrated, litigated and tried a wide range of civil actions including complex, multi-million dollar business disputes, trademark infringement actions, real property matters, contract disputes, construction claims, land use disputes, sales commission claims, family law matters, and personal injury cases.  Mark has litigated cases in Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia before state courts, federal district courts, and courts of appeal, as well as private arbitration services including the American Arbitration Association and the National Health Lawyers’ Association.  While serving as in-house Senior Litigation Counsel, Mark applied his litigation experience and knowledge to track, manage, and resolve hundreds of commercial litigation and healthcare cases arising from the operations of over 120 hospitals nationwide and internationally.

 

Mark also is dedicated to volunteering his time to his neighborhood and community.  He assisted in the formation of the City of Dunwoody, Georgia by contributing funds for the initial feasibility study, working closely with his partner, Sen. Dan Weber, to organize the effort to obtain cityhood, and serving as Secretary of the Dunwoody Charter Committee, the body that debated and drafted the City of Dunwoody's initial city charter.  Mark coached and managed little league baseball at Murphey Candler Little League from 2006-2013, assisted in organizing and coaching youth travel baseball team that competed at the Cooperstown Dream Park, and served as the Music Director for the Dunwoody Lemonade Days annual fair. 
 

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Experience

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Private Law Practice, 2000-Present

V.P. & General Counsel, Charter Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.

Sr. Litigation Counsel, Charter Behavioral Health Systems, Inc.

Sr. Director, Pennsylvania Region Legal Counsel, Tenet Healthcare Corporation

Litigation Associate, Dow Lohnes & Albertson, PLLC

Litigation Associate, Phears & Davis, LLC

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Bar & Professional Affiliations

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State Bar of Georgia

Atlanta Bar Association

Georgia State & Superior Courts

Georgia Court of Appeals

Georgia Supreme Court

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia

Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

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Education

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Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia

Juris Doctorate (1989)
Member, Moot Court Society
National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA)

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University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware

Bachelor of Arts, Major: Political Science, Minor: History (1985)
Member, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
Member, Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society

Member, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

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