Winston & Strawn LLP announced today the addition of Banee Pachuca as a partner in the Houston office. Banee joins the firm as a member of the firm’s Transactions Department with a focus in health care. Pachuca joins the firm from the Houston office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.

Banee focuses her practice on health care law, including transactional, regulatory, and compliance matters. She brings significant experience representing private equity and financial investors in health care transactions, as well as hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and large physician groups in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other collaborative and alignment strategies.

“I’ve worked with a number of Winston partners on previous transactions, and the firm has an outstanding reputation,” said Banee. “I am excited to join the team and look forward to working together to add value and drive positive outcomes for our health care sector clients.”

Additionally, Banee frequently advises clients with respect to fraud and abuse laws, including the Stark Law and state and federal anti-kickback laws, billing compliance, as well as state and federal privacy laws. She assists health care clients with internal investigations, analyzing potential self-disclosures, responding to government subpoenas, and developing compliance programs.

The firm is committed to further expanding its health care transactional footprint and Banee’s arrival is the latest example of Winston’s investment in this space. Earlier this year, partner Justin Levy was appointed co-chair of Winston’s Health Care & Life Sciences Industry Group.

“Banee brings unique capabilities to our transactions and health care team in Houston and will be integral to our continued growth,” said Mike Blankenship, Houston office managing partner. “We’re pleased to have her on board and look forward to her contributions in this critical sector.”

“Banee is an experienced attorney with a clear understanding of the growing complexity and changing dynamics of today’s health care industry,” said Transactions Department Co-Chairs Tim Kincaid and Brad Vaiana. “Her impressive combination of M&A, regulatory, and health care experience strengthens our bench and will benefit our clients as they navigate challenges in the active marketplace for health care transactions.”