Jim likes to listen to what people need and think of how best to get them where they want to be as simply and effectively as possible.

Jim Flynn is the chair of the firm's Health Care Practice Group, a position he has held since 2012. He has been with the firm since he started practicing law in 1990. His practice is focused on transactions, board governance, executive compensation, and health care regulatory issues.

Jim has earned a statewide and national reputation as a leading advisor in business, health care law, and governance. He represents health care providers (such as hospitals, health systems, and senior living providers), trade associations, health information exchanges, and non-profit organizations. He has extensive experience counseling clients on matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, governance practices, long-term care, executive compensation, strategic planning, public-private partnerships, regulatory, and reimbursement.

Jim previously served as the firm’s Managing Partner for over seven years, during which he helped orchestrate the merger of Columbus-headquartered Bricker & Eckler and Cincinnati-headquartered Graydon, Head & Ritchey, after which he was selected as the Managing Partner for the combined firm.

Education

University of Notre Dame, J.D. (1990)

University of Notre Dame, B.A. (1987)

Distinctions

Ranked, Chambers USA – Health Care: Band 1 (2013–2025); Band 2 (2012)

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® – Health Care Law (2005–2025)

Listed, Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters® – Ohio, (Health Care), (2004, 2007–2021); Top 5 Columbus, (2013); Top 50 Columbus, (2010–2015); Top 100 Columbus, (2009–2014)

Listed, Client Service All-Stars, BTI Consulting Group (2019–2020)

Columbus Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America® – Health Care Law (2015, 2018)

Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated™

Professional Activities

• Member, Columbus Bar Association
• Member, Admissions Committee - Columbus Bar Association (2005–present)
• Managing Partner, Columbus Bar Association - Diversity Initiative (2018–present)
• Harry C. Moores Foundation Trustee (2018–present)
• American Health Law Association: Board of Directors (2015–2021); Executive Committee (2019–2021); Chair of Education Committee (2019–2021); Chair of Regulation, Accreditation and Payment Practice Group, 2013–2015; Vice Chair (2006–2013)
• Cristo Rey Columbus High School Professional Work Study Program (2013–2020)
• Society of Ohio Hospital Attorneys (2002–present)
• Leadership Columbus, Class of 2007 graduate
• Columbus Christmas in April (now known as "Modcon Living") co-founder and past president (1990–1999)
• Alzheimer's Association of Central Ohio Board Member, President, and Treasurer (2000–2011)

• 2025 – helping to launch a 20-hospital clinically integrated network (CIN)
• 2024 – represented a public hospital in a conversion and merger into a large health system
• 2024 – represented 18 skilled nursing facilities in asset and operations transfer to a publicly traded senior living provider
• 2023 – led law firm merger of Bricker & Eckler with Graydon Head & Richey
• 2022 – represented a senior living provider acquiring a portfolio of skilled nursing facilities from a private equity seller
• Serve as outside general counsel and Board counsel to three organizations
• Conduct executive exit interviews
• Led or was significantly involved in five of the 9 transactions in which the firm was involved, where a public hospital converted to a private hospital.
• Facilitated and led a hospital strategic planning development in 2022.
• Developed a long-term incentive plan for a non-profit business in 2019 and continue to advise on its implementation.
• Helped launch a non-profit, public-private partnership health information exchange in 2010 and continue to advise its governance and strategy on the use of electronic medical records and community health.

News

Resource Centers

Speaking Engagements

Publications

Additional Items

• Speaker, “Enhancing Governance and Leadership in the Current Environment,” Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (May 2025)
• Co-Presenter, “Governance Pitfalls and Best Practices,” Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2024)
• Co-Presenter, “Governance Pitfalls and Best Practices,” Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2024)
• Speaker, “Corporate Governance: Heightened Duties in a Post-Pandemic World,” American Health Law Association Annual Meeting (June 2023)
• Speaker, "ESG in the Hospital Industry: What it Means and How it Works," Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2023)
• Speaker, "The Private Equity Influence: Glimpse into Health Care Transaction Activity," Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2023)
• Speaker, "Trends and Opportunities in Executive Compensation," Ohio Hospital Association Annual Meeting (June 2023)
• Speaker, “ESG Overview for Health Care Organizations,” American Health Law Association webinar (February 2023)
• Speaker, multiple Board retreats, and governance training (e.g., “Governance Do’s and Don’ts and Best Practices” (January 2021)

Faith, family, and sports. No three words better define how Jim became who he is today. He strives to live his faith in how he interacts with and serves others. From a family of five kids, he now has five of his own by virtue of the addition of a son-in-law in 2023. Jim met his life partner of well over 30 years in law school at Notre Dame. Either on the flag football field of law school intramurals or the law school chapel, depending on which version of the story you want to believe. Humility, humor, and usually a card or board game fill family time and Jim’s tank.

His athletic days are well behind him, but he still draws on his years of playing and coaching team sports in the way that he leads, serves others, and sees life. After coaching other kids for a number of years before starting to have his own, Jim coached all of his kids in multiple sports. Now, he attends the soccer games his twin girls are still playing in college, and makes it to many of his favorite college and pro sports team games. Former teammates and kids he coached form a solid network of ongoing friendship and loyalty.

What most people would not know or expect is his narrow niches of expertise in the kitchen, including sourdough bread (thanks to colleague Tom Prewitt), strombolis, crème brulee, waffle creations, and all things grillin’. Yardwork provides a remarkable sanctuary of peace on the weekends, and his flower beds are not shabby. Those are the closest things to hobbies Jim has to this point.

Jim had no connections to Ohio before moving there in 1990, and his two degrees from Notre Dame do not score many points in the Columbus area where he lives, similar to how his alma mater’s football team has had fewer points every time they have faced Ohio State in that time. This has cost him some wagers and a lot of grief, but he welcomes that “sport” as well.