February 8, 2012

The City of Colorado Springs’ City Attorney Chris Melcher announced today the City has hired the International Law Firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP to assist in the negotiations of a potential lease of Memorial Health System to the University of Colorado Health System (UCH).

Melcher said, “My office carefully considered suggestions from Council and Memorial representatives on the retention of experienced outside attorneys to assist in the Memorial negotiation. We interviewed numerous highly qualified national and local firms with a wealth of experience in similar projects. Fulbright’s health law practice is nationally recognized as a leader in developing health care system affiliations, particularly those that involve municipal health systems like Memorial and academic medical centers like UCH.”

Fulbright’s team will be led by James G. Wiehl, a Fulbright Health Care Partner with more than 30 years experience representing hospitals, health systems and academic medical centers.

“This is a very exciting potential affiliation between two partners, both deeply rooted in delivering quality medical services to the communities they serve. In the current times of finding innovative ways to deliver quality care in a very cost efficient way, exploring this affiliation is a smart choice by both parties,” said Wiehl.

The City Attorney's Office will start conversations immediately with UCH, and expects the negotiations to move forward quickly, with assistance from Fulbright and the City Council Liaisons, Merv Bennett and Brandy Williams. City Attorney, Chris Melcher stated he will continue to closely consult the Council, the Mayor, and Memorial as the negotiations move forward. "I am extremely pleased to have the deep experience and superb judgment of Jim Wiehl and the Fulbright firm to assist us in this critical effort," said Melcher.

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