Rosecrance hires attorney Kelly J. Epperson as first in-house general counsel

Rosecrance has hired a local attorney with extensive experience representing physicians, hospitals and behavioral health providers as its first-ever in-house general counsel.

Kelly J. Epperson, formerly with the law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson, will provide comprehensive legal services to Rosecrance, including directing corporate activities to protect Rosecrance’s legal interests; assisting with global joint ventures, strategic partnership deals, and mergers and acquisitions; analyzing novel legal issues that uniquely impact behavioral healthcare providers; researching and influencing legislative changes at the state and federal levels; working to minimize legal exposure while maximizing legal rights; and positioning Rosecrance to be a legally sound not-for-profit so it can continue to fulfill its mission.

Epperson is a 2008 graduate of the Northern Illinois University College of Law, where she was Symposium Editor of the Law Review and received the Outstanding Woman Student Award. Prior to law school, she received a bachelor ‘s degree in East Asian Studies, Economics and History from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Rosecrance President/CEO Philip Eaton welcomed Epperson as part of the organization’s leadership team.

“Healthcare issues are complex and the field is rapidly changing,” Eaton said. “It was time for us to have full-time counsel to guide us through such issues as parity, affordable care, government regulations and a variety of legal matters that arise in the behavioral health industry.”

Epperson joined the Rosecrance staff on Dec. 7.