Mike Lappin joins Foley transactions practice group as of counsel

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Michael Lappin, formerly of Advocate Aurora, has joined Foley & Lardner’s Transactions Practice Group as of counsel at its Milwaukee office.

Lappin comes to Foley with nearly 30 years of legal experience and more than a decade serving in senior executive roles at Advocate Aurora Health and Aurora Health Care, one of Advocate Aurora’s predecessor organizations. Aurora hired Lappin in 2009 as its first general counsel, and Lappin went on to establish the organization’s legal department.

He served as the co-executive lead on all significant Aurora mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, including the formation of Aurora Health Care Medical Group. He later took on additional duties as chief administrative officer, overseeing legal and several other administrative departments. In 2018, Lappin led a 60-person team in developing and implementing a merger-integration plan to combine Aurora with Advocate Health Care to form Advocate Aurora Health.

Mike Okaty, co-chair of Foley’s Transactions Practice Group, said Lappin’s provider-side experience will provide the firm’s clients with unmatched health care transactional know-how and “objective yet creative” counsel on strategic business and legal matters.

Lappin said the firm was a clear choice for him due to its reputation, collaborative culture and national leadership in transactions practice and health care.

In addition to his professional background, Lappin sits on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee and Jewish Family Services. He also has been involved with many other youth, health and education nonprofit groups over the years.