Molly C. Johnson, Esq.
Dallas,TX
Summary
Lawyer and Business Executive with track record strengthening corporate foundations and infrastructure of rapidly growing organizations spanning diverse sectors including health care, insurance and benefits, technology, and business. More than 20 years' experience guiding companies through complex legal and business challenges while delivering confidential legal and business advice to executive leaders in healthcare. Expert in legal and regulatory compliance. Seamlessly manage expansions and restructuring. Possessing outstanding negotiation, collaboration, contract review, and consensus building skills, and able to apply outstanding communications and crisis management skills to media and public relations assignments while fostering community engagement. Extensive experience with regulatory, state, and federal compliance in human resource and employment law as well as marketing laws. Able to travel and willing to relocate in U.S. and abroad.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
2
2
State Admissions
Work History
General Counsel
Summus Holdings, LLC
Dallas, TX
02.2024 - Current
- Serving as General Counsel for Summus Healthcare, Prime DataQ Health, Texas Premier Independent Physicians, Precision Science Group, XHeliX, Sarcogenix, Prime Revival Research Institute, Summus Center for Clinical Research, LLC, Starwood Pharmacy Services, Premier Independent Physicians Group, Summus Health Network (ACO), and Practice Pathways (Medical Billing), LLC.
- C-Suite overseeing corporate governance, complex transactions, compliance, litigation, and risk management across multi-entity, international healthcare systems.
- Successfully driving strategic growth while ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations, including HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and insurance/Medicare/Medicaid frameworks.
- Known for aligning legal strategy with business objectives, leading high-performing teams, and mitigating regulatory, contractual, and reputational risks.
- Serve as executive legal advisor to CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership across a conglomerate of medical practices, mental health providers, insurance subsidiaries, and technology affiliates.
- Direct all corporate governance functions, board reporting, and compliance certifications for multi-entity operations.
- Draft and negotiate MSAs, MTAs, SaaS, cloud services, software licensing, and data-sharing agreements with Fortune 500 partners, payers, and providers.
- Oversaw $1 billion in M&A transactions, including due diligence, deal structuring, regulatory approvals, and post-closing integration.
- Built and scaled an enterprise-wide compliance program, reducing regulatory risk and achieving multiple years of clean audits from state and federal agencies.
- Negotiate complex joint ventures, payer/provider agreements, and technology partnerships to expand revenue streams and patient access.
- Lead legal and compliance strategy for creation and adoption of enterprise SaaS platforms (EHR, billing, telehealth) across multi-state operations.
- Negotiate technology licensing agreements, SaaS subscription models, and cloud-based vendor contracts, ensuring compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and state laws.
- Partner with IT and product teams to implement cybersecurity risk assessments, data privacy policies, and incident response plans.
- Advise executive leadership on AI integration in healthcare workflows, addressing regulatory and ethical considerations.
- Manage outside counsel and litigation strategy, achieving 100%+ reduction in legal spending while improving outcomes in high-stakes litigation.
- Advise on employment, labor, and physician contracting issues impacting a workforce of 5,000 employees across multiple states.
- Lead crisis management efforts, including government investigations, cybersecurity incidents, and media-sensitive regulatory inquiries.
Assistant Chief Counsel and Vice President of Compliance
Vibra Healthcare
Mechanicsburg, PA
05.2023 - 10.2023
- Guided decision-makers in developing, negotiating, and managing contracts and agreements including commercial lease agreements, consulting agreements, vendor contracts, physician agreements, master services agreements (MSA), software as a service agreements (SaaS), business associate agreements (BAA), and non-disclosure agreements.
- Oversaw company compliance issues and policies, processes, documents, and procedures in hospitals and facilities utilizing expertise in HIPAA, Stark Law and AKS.
- Guided cutting edge technology initiatives, including telemetry, neuromapping technology, and AI; drafted and negotiated national and international contracts and agreements furthering strategic goals.
- Spearheaded corporate governance and compliance initiatives, including standardized documentation and processes, for the parent company and its subsidiaries throughout the United States.
- Centralized and standardized contracting, including creation of signatory policy, contract repository and monitoring.
- Delivered expert counsel on employment and Human Resources matters related to hiring, separations, suspensions, investigations, and discipline as well as issues relating to operations, strategic planning, and risk management.
- Position eliminated during RIF
Assistant Chief Counsel
Friday Health Plans
Denver, CO
04.2022 - 04.2023
- Built and implemented internal corporate structures, policies, and business processes required to manage exponential growth of insurer.
- Guided decision-makers in developing, negotiating, and managing complex contracts and agreements including commercial agreements, consulting agreements, vendor contracts, master services agreements (MSAs), business associate agreements (BAAs), and non-disclosure agreements.
- Oversaw litigation and compliance issues.
- Ensured uniform and legally compliant operations throughout the company by drafting and editing manuals and standardized templates for internal processes, documents, and procedures.
- Recruited to eliminate legal and business issues arising from 400% growth in members and employees by building critical internal infrastructure and standardizing contracting.
- Spearheaded corporate governance and compliance initiatives, including standardized documentation and processes, for the parent company and its subsidiaries throughout the United States.
- Excelled as Legal Counsel across all operations and projects in the United States: delivered expert counsel on operations, compliance, employment and Human Resources matters related to hiring, separations, suspensions, investigations, and discipline as well as issues relating to operations, strategic planning, and risk management.
- Optimized employee performance by rolling out a Policy and Procedures Manual as well as an Employee Manual.
- Company closed April 2023
National Vice President of Corporate Affairs
NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals
South Bend, IN
09.2019 - 04.2022
- Directed all litigation and legal processes while also managing outside counsel for hospitals that integrated mental health and acute health care services for comorbid patients with mental health diagnoses.
- Delivered expert legal counsel relating to hospital operations, business activities, and corporate structures including contracts, litigation, regulatory standards, compliance, employment practices, strategy, risk management, and payer issues.
- Supported colleagues in managing separations, disciplinary actions, and investigations.
- Orchestrated contract reviews, negotiations, and development for all NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals corporate and hospital contracts.
- Negotiated, managed vendor contracts.
- Built relationships with local, state, and federal officials and government agencies while championing mental health parity at state and federal levels.
- Educated policy makers and other stakeholders on the business of mental health.
- Collaborated with advocacy groups, government partners, and other stakeholders to track, monitor, and affect changes to federal, state and hospital legislation, regulations, laws, and policies.
- Laid ground for launch of NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals subsidiary hospitals in communities across multiple states.
- Directed multichannel communications development and distribution including press materials and web content.
- Gathered and incorporated materials from subject matter experts into presentations for non-clinicians.
- Orchestrated speaking engagements on mission and targets.
- Responded to payer denials and appeals, parity breaches, and patient rights violations by insurance companies and housing agencies.
- Seamlessly expanded hospital network from one to three states: Opened a fifth hospital in Indiana, two hospitals in Texas, and two hospitals in Arizona.
- Assumed national advocacy role in promoting integration of acute and mental health care in addition to designing and implementing advocacy strategies for mental health legislation and regulatory reform.
- Turned around performance of hospital network by achieving 100% admission compliance in five weeks.
- Excelled in creating, training and coaching staff in legal compliance, internal policy, and procedures.
- Seamlessly navigated crisis communications, media management, community engagement, and public relations as media liaison and company spokesperson.
Owner
The Molly Johnson Law Office
12.2009 - 10.2019
- Founded and managed law practice specializing in civil and corporate litigation including representing ABA providers and families of children with Autism.
- Continually applied subject matter expertise in regulatory, legal and insurance issues while advising and representing clients.
- In addition to providing legal counsel to clients, created strategic plans prior to building and revamping client company structures and processes.
- Managed, assessed, and facilitated access to performance improvement for executives, directors, supervisors, and managers.
- Evaluated executive projects.
- Devised recruiting plans and strategic plans that revamped departments to enhance accountability, communications, and productivity.
- Created marketing strategies to grow clients, markets, and revenues.
- Drafted and updated Policy and Procedures and Employee Manuals, internal processes, procedures, and document templates.
- The last four years of practice were focused on two exclusive two-year commitments.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Legal Counsel
Applied Behavior Center for Autism
01.2018 - 09.2019
- Directed business and legal operations while developing vision, mission, and direction for all levels of the company.
- Managed the clinical division.
- Continually pursued opportunities to grow customer base and markets while integrating innovative business practices.
- Championed interests of clients while reaching out to public policy organizations and legislators.
- Integrated Applied Behavior Analysis to build employee and family training programs.
- Achieved project targets three months before two-year completion of contract.
- Founded a new ABA services billing entity, research division, and residential facility branch.
- Directed eight centers in IN with 250+ employees, multiple vendors, and diverse contractors.
- Launched productive partnerships and community programs such as internships which enabled high school students to earn Department of Education credits and secure career placements.
- Rolled out community-based advocacy and education programs.
- Collaborated with other Research Oversight Committee and HIPAA Compliance Team members to align standards and laws with processes and policies.
- Advocated on behalf of organization's mission and programs at community, state, and national levels.
- Played a key part in partnership between the State of Indiana and Neurological Diagnostic Institute of Community Health Network by submitting a Request for Information and Request for Submission.
President and In-House Legal Counsel
Missing Piece Billing and Consulting, Inc.
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Managed operations and legal matters while rolling out vision, mission, and goals.
- Coached and evaluated vice presidents, directors, supervisors, and management.
- Updated managers and executives about projects.
- Championed organizational interests at community, state, and national levels.
- Evaluated and improved wage and reimbursement policy.
- Saved the primary billing company serving ABA sector from bankruptcy by rebuilding processes and operations.
- Transformed hiring, retention, employee management, and training by creating Human Resources department.
- Doubled qualified workforce and client base while implementing background checks, drug testing, and training for employees and customers.
- Launched Insurance Benefits program for employees as well as Work Program for people with special needs.
- Achieved all project targets while quadrupling annual billing and launching effective marketing strategies.
- Launched new technology equipment and processes including a state-of-the-art server, data backup, software, and a company webpage that enabled better access to information and client login features.
Education
Juris Doctorate -
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Bachelors -
Purdue University
Skills
- Complex Contracts & Legal Agreements
- Systems & Infrastructure Development
- Intellectual Property & Licensing
- Risk Management & Enterprise Compliance Programs
- Government Investigations & Crisis Management
- Human Resources, Employment & Business Law
- SaaS, DUA, Software Licensing Agreement Drafting
- Legal Compliance & Legal Corporate Guidance
- Corporate Governance & Board Advisory
- Mergers & Acquisitions (due diligence, integration)
- HIPAA, HITECH, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute
- Healthcare & Insurance Regulatory Compliance
- Corporate Governance & Executive Consulting
- Legal Strategy & Litigation Management
- Policy Development & Regulatory Compliance
- Strategic Planning & Process Improvement
- Financial & Operations Management
- Marketing & Media Relations
Certification
Admitted to Bar in Indiana and Texas, Eligible for In-House registration in every State
Timeline
General Counsel
Summus Holdings, LLC
02.2024 - Current
Assistant Chief Counsel and Vice President of Compliance
Vibra Healthcare
05.2023 - 10.2023
Assistant Chief Counsel
Friday Health Plans
04.2022 - 04.2023
National Vice President of Corporate Affairs
NeuroPsychiatric Hospitals
09.2019 - 04.2022
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Legal Counsel
Applied Behavior Center for Autism
01.2018 - 09.2019
President and In-House Legal Counsel
Missing Piece Billing and Consulting, Inc.
01.2016 - 12.2017
Owner
The Molly Johnson Law Office
12.2009 - 10.2019
Juris Doctorate -
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Bachelors -
Purdue University