MinterEllison has further strengthened its market-leading Health Industry practice with the appointment of Katrina Cunningham, previously Australian General Counsel and Company Secretary at Ramsay Health Care Australia.

Ms Cunningham, based in Sydney, has joined as a Partner in the Firm’s Competition Risk & Regulatory team.

During her time at Ramsay, Katrina led hospital infrastructure projects, construction, property transactions, mergers and acquisitions, risk management and governance-related initiatives, negotiated significant commercial agreements, established public-private partnerships and community pharmacy operations and, more recently, was closely involved in the company’s diversification into community-based care services.

MinterEllison Health Industry Lead, Shane Evans said: “With the rapid rate of change the health industry is experiencing, Katrina’s unique combination of direct health sector experience, understanding of the risk, regulatory and funding issues apparent to the sector, deep legal expertise and background in nursing, is a real asset to our clients and the Firm.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has not only demonstrated the importance of the health sector, socially and economically, it has also accelerated by at least 5-10 years health service delivery, changing models of care, integration of new technology and digital transformation.

“Associated with this are transformational regulatory, governance and funding changes across all sub-sectors of the health industry, with a surge in activity from transactions, significant projects planned and underway, and consolidation of sector participants. The rate of change has been phenomenal and is expected to continue. Katrina will be integral in supporting our clients on their new developments, the large-scale transformation of their sectors and how to take advantage of the many opportunities.”

Katrina Cunningham said of her appointment: “MinterEllison has an exceptional reputation in the healthcare sector. I’ve always valued their approach to working with clients, having worked closely with the Health team for more than 15 years. I’m proud to be joining the firm as a Partner and look forward to helping clients navigate the opportunities, challenges and emerging developments at play in today’s rapidly evolving health industry.”

MinterEllison’s Health Industry group, which has experienced significant growth over the past 2 years, now counts 11 Partners and over 40 lawyers.