Kenneth M. Vorrasi

Health Care M&A, Advisory and Regulatory Experience

Ken has extensive experience advising and representing health care industry clients as they contemplate and carry out major transactions. He guides clients through antitrust scrutiny and secures regulatory approvals relying on his knowledge of the legal and regulatory changes that emerge so often in the health care industry. He has led M&A transactions on behalf of some of the largest health care companies and nonprofit health systems in the U.S. and defends clients in antitrust investigations and litigation involving relationships involving providers, insurers, suppliers and business partners. Ken understands that different health care entities face distinct challenges, and he delivers strategies tailored to specific market segments, including hospitals, health systems, private clinics, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, health insurers, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, and information technology companies.

Antitrust Investigations and Litigation

In addition to his antitrust M&A and transactional work, Ken has extensive experience at trial and and in investigations that allow him to help clients navigate the complexities of federal, state, and foreign antitrust laws to help businesses minimize risk while expanding operations. Ken’s experience includes FTC/DOJ antitrust investigations and defending clients facing antitrust and class action competition claims.

Representative Experience

Ken's recent notable matters include:

Thomas Jefferson University (Jefferson)

Ken is antitrust counsel and advisor to Jefferson, most recently advising Jefferson on its landmark merger with Lehigh Valley Health Network, which formed one of the largest and most significant nonprofit health systems in the U.S. One of the biggest health care mergers of 2024, this was cleared by the FTC and Pennsylvania Attorney General.

Prior to this, Ken served as lead antitrust and trial counsel for Jefferson in its precedent-setting acquisition of Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. This included a protracted investigation by the FTC and Pennsylvania Attorney General, both of whom subsequently filed suit to block the merger. Ken led a team that was able to defeat the FTC challenge, the first FTC antitrust action to be defeated in the health care hospital/provider space in nearly two decades and named in Law360’s “Top Merger Challenges to Watch in 2021.”

Ken has represented Jefferson throughout its growth as an integrated provider-payor delivery and financing system, including its mergers and acquisitions of Health Partners Plans, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Philadelphia University, Kennedy Health System, Aria Health and Abington Health.

Mission Health / ANC Healthcare

Named as one of Law360’s “cases to watch” in June 2023, Ken represented ANC Healthcare, the former parent and owner of Mission Health System, in federal and state class action antitrust litigation alleging that Mission Health abused its monopoly power through anticompetitive contract provisions with insurers.

Prior to the sale and this litigation, Ken was lead antitrust counsel to Mission Health in ANC’s sale of the system to HCA Healthcare in 2019 for $1.5 billion.

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH)

Ken represents HMH in antitrust M&A and regulatory matters, including recently in HMH’s sale of its post-acute and long-term care businesses and as lead antitrust and trial counsel for HMH in an FTC investigation and lawsuit to block its proposed acquisition of Englewood Healthcare. He has served as HMH’s antitrust advisor during its expansion, including acquisitions of Carrier Clinic and JFK Health, and in the formation of HMH through the merger of Meridian Health and Hackensack University Health.

Elevance Health

Ken led an antitrust team in advising Elevance Health, the second largest U.S. health insurer, on antitrust matters and securing antitrust approval for its acquisition of Paragon Healthcare, a provider of infusion services and specialty pharmaceuticals.

Ansell Healthcare

Ken led an antitrust team in the antitrust work for Ansell Healthcare Products in its $640 million acquisition of Kimberly-Clark’s personal protective equipment (PPE) business. The transaction, spanning over 40 countries, was cleared by the U.S. Department of Justice without extended antitrust review.