University of Florida Health Shands Deputy General Counsel Bernabe A. Icaza Joins Carlton Fields in Tampa

Icaza Brings More Than a Decade of In-House Experience to Firm’s Nationally Recognized Health Care Practice

Tampa, Fla. – Carlton Fields is pleased to welcome health care attorney Bernabe A. Icaza to its Tampa office. Icaza has more than a decade of in-house experience at large health care organizations, most recently serving as deputy general counsel at University of Florida Health Shands.

Prior to his work at Shands, Icaza served as in-house counsel for one of the largest investor-owned health care services companies in the United States and for one of the largest public not-for-profit healthcare systems in the United States. He also previously worked for the State of Florida in the Office of the Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health.

“Bernabe is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about navigating the transactional and regulatory needs of today’s health care systems, including unique challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said James J. Kennedy III, who leads Carlton Fields’ nationally recognized Health Care Practice. “His in-house experience makes him a valuable resource to our clients.”

Icaza joins a nationally ranked health care law team (U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2021) of experienced health care attorneys, including others with in-house experience. Carlton Fields represents the full range of health care industry participants, and its services run the gamut, including compliance, administrative, regulatory, transactions, and litigation.

“I’ve had the good fortune to work with Carlton Fields’ health care team over the years, and I am excited to join the firm’s robust group of talented and collaborative attorneys,” Icaza said.

Icaza represents health care systems, including hospitals and physician group practices, in a variety of transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other complex business transactions. He also advises for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals and academic medical centers in strategic transactions and operational and regulatory matters.

He has experience with all types of corporate acquisitions and divestitures, including asset and equity transactions and joint ventures. He is well-versed in handling issues related to the Stark and anti-kickback laws, antitrust, tax-exempt organizations, managed care, labor, licensure, medical staff, patient care related legal matters (such as informed consent, bioethics, privacy, and EMTALA), compliance, and real estate and corporate transactions. He also has experience with all types of physician alignment opportunities. Additionally, Icaza represents health care systems and principal investigators in clinical research negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. Fluent in Spanish, Icaza has additional experience in advising clients in cross-border health care matters.

Icaza is a past chair of The Florida Bar Health Law Section and a past chair of The Florida Bar Health Law Certification Committee. He is board certified in Health Care Law by The Florida Bar. He earned his J.D. with a health law concentration; his M.A. in economics; and his B.A., cum laude, from Saint Louis University.