Carol K. Lucas focuses her practice on healthcare law and general business law. She has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities, private placements, state and federal regulations, entity formation and corporate representation of both public and private companies in the healthcare industry. Over the last several years, Ms. Lucas has represented numerous clients in connection with issues and disputes related to payment for healthcare services. She is also an expert on the establishment and representation of Federally Qualified Health Centers and related issues such as governance requirements, issues raised by hospital sponsorship of FQHCs, application issues, and the impact of health care reform on these entities. She also specializes in the representation of ambulatory surgery centers, med spas, imaging centers, and other ancillary providers in a variety of medical specialties, and in the legal and business issues that confront independent practice associations and other physician organizations.

Ms. Lucas is Chair of the Firm’s Health Care Practice Group and former Co-Chair of the Corporate Practice Group. Ms. Lucas, is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale Hubbell and is recognized by Chambers USA as a leader in the Health Care field and one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. She was selected by Corporate Counsel as a 2012 Top Rated Lawyer in Health Care Law. Ms. Lucas was also recognized by Super Lawyer Magazine as one of the “Top 50 Women in Law” and a Southern California Super Lawyer from 2011 – 2024. In 2019, she was recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as a Nominee for the 2019 “Women’s Council” awards. Most recently, she was named one of Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Women of Influence: Health Care” in 2023. Ms. Lucas was also nominated to the Best Lawyers in America, Health Care Law, in 2023-2025

Ms. Lucas has given lectures at numerous seminars and conferences, including meetings sponsored by the State Bar of California, American Health Lawyers Association, and The Future of Health Care Delivery Conference.

  • Sale of a hospitalist and intensivist practice to a public hospital-based medicine provider
  • Sale of an emergency medicine group to a public hospital-based medicine provider
  • Acquisition of a multi-site anesthesia practice based in Southern California
  • Sale of a majority interest in a multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center to a national surgery center operator
  • A closely held teleradiology company in its merger with a public teleradiology company.
  • An IPA acquired by a large regional IPA.
  • A number of non-profit community clinic operators applying for the Federal FQHC program.
  • A laser surgery practice in its expansion through acquisition of additional practices.
  • The California Association of Physician Groups in the formation of trade association, governance issues, and general health care matters.
  • Numerous medical groups in corporate and compliance matters.
  • An orthopedic group in the buyout of a hospital partner in a joint ambulatory surgery center.
  • A major regional insurance brokerage in its sale to a significant financial institution.
  • A national pharmacy benefits manager with respect to requirements of California Knox-Keene Act.
  • A national medical laboratory company with California corporate practice of medicine issues.
  • A national surgery center and surgical hospital developer in acquisition and syndication of facilities in California, Kansas, and Texas.

Ms. Lucas received her B.A. magna cum laude in History and Film Studies from the University of Rochester in 1979. She earned her J.D. cum laude in 1982 from New York University School of Law, where Ms. Lucas was a member of the Annual Survey of American Law and the Order of the Coif.

  • U.S. District Court Southern for the District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Member, American Health Lawyers Association
  • Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Member, State Bar of California
  • State Bar Business Law Section
    • Current Secretary, Section’s Insurance Law Committee
    • Past Chair, Section’s Executive Committee
    • Past Co-Chair, Section’s Corporations Committee and Health Law Committee
    • Past Vice Chair, Section’s Opinions Committee

Additional Specialties