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Ryan S. Johnson
Shareholder
Email: rjohnson@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7160
Assistant: Jaime Davis, 612.492.7619
PRIMARY SERVICES
“I help health care entrepreneurs, inventors, and investors achieve their business goals in a constantly changing regulatory environment.”
Overview
Ryan is a nationally-recognized lawyer for healthcare innovation.
Ryan helps his clients develop and launch innovative business models designed to improve healthcare quality, accessibility, and affordability. He serves as outside general counsel for digital health companies and healthcare providers who are transforming healthcare through innovation and cutting-edge science and technology. He regularly counsels investors, senior executives, and corporate boards on the strategic threats and opportunities arising from emerging technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence and blockchain) and new laws and regulations, especially those affecting the healthcare industry.
Ryan has considerable experience in structuring and negotiating healthcare transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing agreements, and financings, and advising clients on a variety of regulatory matters. His clients include leading digital health and healthcare IT companies, independent physician practices and other healthcare providers, national pharmacies and retail clinics, physician and dental management companies, medical device companies, international healthcare franchisors, private equity and venture capital groups, and many other innovative healthcare entrepreneurs and inventors.
Ryan frequently writes and lectures about issues emerging from the intersection of law, science, and technology. He has contributed many pro bono hours to charitable organizations focused on advancing the frontiers of science, technology, and medicine. He also serves as an Executive Fellow at the University of Saint Thomas Center for Innovation in the Business of Healthcare. Ryan previously studied European healthcare innovation as German Marshall Fund Memorial Fellow.
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Structuring and negotiating acquisitions, financings, equity offerings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, technology development and intellectual property licensing arrangements;
- Advising clients on a wide variety of regulatory and compliance matters (telemedicine and digital health rules and regulations, the Affordable Care Act, Stark law, FDA rules, state and federal privacy and security laws, state licensure laws, fraud and abuse prohibitions, corporate practice of medicine, etc.);
- Representing foreign companies in connection with the marketing and sale of medical device and other health care products and services in the United States;
- Leading legal strategy for clients’ national expansion efforts, including state compliance, policy-making, and government relations activities;
- Advising companies and inventors in connection with the development, licensing, and commercialization of intellectual property; and
- Representing boards of directors and independent committees on various corporate governance matters, including fiduciary duties and conflict-of-interest policies.
- Advising investors and health care companies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and related technology applications to health care.
Articles & Presentations
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- “Technology and the End of Democracy?” Governance of Emerging Technologies & Science Conference, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, May 2019
- “Digital Health: Emerging Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Issues,” Strafford Webinar, January 23, 2019
- “Digital Health: Emerging Legal, Regulatory and Ethical Issues,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, January 16, 2019
- Panelist, “Artificial Intelligence: Threats and Opportunities,” Common Good Breakfast Series, November 29, 2018
- Quoted in “Navigating State Patient Data Privacy Laws Will Only Get More Challenging,” MedCity News, November 13, 2018
- Moderator, “Fact vs. Fiction—The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care,” Executive Conference on Future of Health Care, November 2, 2018
- Moderator, “Disruptive Innovation Through A.I.—On Demand Health Plans,” Executive Conference on Future of Health Care, November 2, 2018
- Panelist, “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Myths and Realities,” Treehouse Health Breakfast Seminar, June 19, 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Digital Therapeutics: The Third Phase of Medicine?,” Fredrikson & Byron and TreeHouse Health Webinar, April 26, 2018
- Co-Presenter, “Top Legal Issues for Healthcare Investors and Business Development Teams,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, April 11, 2018
- “Innovating in a Regulated Environment: Grow Your Practice and Stay Out of Jail!,” Wisconsin Medical Group Management Association, March 15, 2018
- Moderator, “Future of Health Care Conference,” University of St. Thomas, November 2010-2017
- “Healthcare, Blockchain and Smart Contracts: Emerging Issues for Healthcare Counsel,” Strafford Webinar, October 11, 2017
- “Preparing Your Practice for Sale,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, January 18, 2017
- “Digital, Mobile and Virtual Medicine: Legal Challenges,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, May 11, 2016
- “Complying with Telemedicine Requirements,” Lorman Webinar Series, February 25, 2016
- “Structuring and Negotiating a Health Care Transaction: Key Business and Regulatory Considerations,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, January 13, 2016
- “U.S. Health Care Regulatory and Health Care Innovation Policy,” University of Saint Thomas Mini-MBA, July 17, 2015
- “Health Care Financing: Practical Tips and Considerations,” Minnesota Cup Semi-Finalist Panel Discussion, July 15, 2015
- “U.S. Health Care Laws and Regulations: Innovating and Managing in a Regulated Environment,” University of Saint Thomas Mini-MBA, July 14, 2015
- “Health Care Regulatory Update,” CliftonLarsonAllen Nonprofit and Health Conference, May 4, 2015
- “US Health Care Policy—DC Seminar,” University of Saint Thomas, April 26-28, 2015
- “U.S. Health Care Laws and Regulations: Innovating and Managing in a Regulated Environment,” University of Saint Thomas Mini-MBA, April 21, 2015
- “U.S. Health Care Regulatory and Health Care Innovation Policy,” University of Saint Thomas Mini-MBA, April 20, 2015
- “Digital Health: Key Legal and Regulatory Considerations,” MobCon Digital Health Conference, April 8, 2015
- “Telemedicine: Legal Considerations and Government Oversight,” National Business Institute CLE, March 25, 2015
- “U.S. Health Care Laws and Regulations: Innovating and Managing in a Regulated Environment,” University of Saint Thomas Mini-MBA, November 4, 2014
- “Digital Health: Legal and Regulatory Issues Overview,” healthcare.mn, September 3, 2014
- “Strategic Consolidation: A Case Study,” MMGMA Summer Conference, July 18, 2014
- “Health Care Financing: Practical Tips and Considerations,” Minnesota Cup Semi-Finalist Panel Discussion, July 10, 201
- “Telemedicine and Telehealth,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, July 9, 2014
- “Health Care Regulatory Update,” CliftonLarsonAllen Nonprofit and Health Conference, May 12, 2014
- “Physician/Hospital Joint Venture: Key Considerations,” Fredrikson & Byron Health Law Webinar Series, April 9, 2014
Honors & Education
EDUCATION
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D. 1999, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Minnesota Law Review, Articles Editor
- Gustavus Adolphus College, B.A., 1996, Political Science/Philosophy, summa cum laude
- Oxford University, Mansfield College
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Minnesota
HONORS
- Minnesota State Bar Association, North Star Lawyer, 2015
- German Marshall Fund Fellow, October 2012—focus on health care innovation
- Cancer Legal Line, Advocate Award, 2013
- Minnesota Law & Politics, repeatedly named a Rising Star
- NASA Grant for Science Education and Innovation, 2011
- Amigos de Latino Economic Development Center Award, 2004
Professional Activities
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- University of St. Thomas, MBA in Medical Group Management, Adjunct Professor, Healthcare Policy and Legal Environment of Healthcare Management, 2005-present
- American Health Lawyers Association, Life Sciences Practice Group, Executive Committee
- Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), Fellow (2011 to present)
- University of Minnesota Joint Degree Program in Law, Health and the Life Sciences, Advisory Board,
- Life Science Alley, Alley Institute, Advisory Board, 2014
- University of Minnesota Law School, Adjunct Professor, Health Care Transactions, 2006-2010
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Health Law and Business Law Sections, Health Law Section Governing Council
- Strafford Publications, Health Law Advisory Board
- American Bar Association, Health Law and Business Law Sections
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Visiting Instructor, “Biomedical Research, Ethics and Law”
- Lead Sponsor and Judge, 2011-2015 Minnesota Cup, Biosciences Division
- Judicial Clerkship, Honorable Frank J. Magill, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1999-2000
COMMUNITY
- healthcare.mn, Board Member and Counsel
- Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence, Board Member and Counsel
- The Planetary Society, Advisory Council
- Northstar Science Film Festival, Founder and Chairman
- sciencedebate.org, Board Member and Counsel
- BHALDI, Founder and Officer
- *Minnesota Marshall Fellow Alumni Planning Committee
- Friends of The Works, Co-Founder and Past Member
- Young Scientist Roundtable, Committee Member
- Science Museum of Minnesota, Past Member of Presidential Advisory Board and Young Professionals Committee