Vogel’s practice changes to meet client needs

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In the approximately 40 years since Charles Vogel began work at Godfrey & Kahn SC, he has watched issues affecting his health care clients change greatly.

“As the marketplace has changed, he said, “what I have done and focused on has changed as well.”

As a member of Godfrey & Kahn’s Corporate and Health Care Practice Groups in Milwaukee, Vogel said one of the primary challenges has been human. At the law firm, Vogel’s work has involved a significant amount of sales, such as physician practices and mergers with hospital systems.

“Especially when you represent physician groups, there are many different individuals involved who are partners or co-shareholders,” he said.

Many of the recent changes came with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, resulting in an increase in consolidation among health care organizations, he said. It also had an impact on physician self-referral laws, Vogel said.

Other changes include reimbursement with third-party payers and insurance companies.

Vogel also works with a variety of corporate clients, where he’s handled everything from outside general counsel work to more specific episodic transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions.

“The kinds of value and perspective I believe I bring to my practice of law have their origins in early years of practice where I was highly influenced by the founders of this law firm,” Vogel said.

Those values include putting clients first and working cooperatively with the other attorneys in the firm.

From the window of his office, Vogel said he has a great view of Milwaukee. As a lifelong resident whose family moved to the area in the late 1840s, he feels a deep connection to the city and has volunteered his time to serve on the board of SaintA, Inc., a human services agency providing family-centered care. He also has donated his time to the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

“Chuck truly defines what it means to be a leader in the law,” attorney Nicholas Wahl wrote in his nomination of Vogel, “as evidenced by his passion and dedication to both his flourishing practice and many community organizations to which he so generously gives his time and resources.”