Meet Matt

For more than 30 years, Matt Utecht has devoted his practice to representing healthcare providers. As the industry’s delivery models, payment systems and regulatory framework have evolved, so has Matt's professional focus. Currently, he concentrates his practice on provider mergers, acquisitions and innovative integration strategies and advises clients on regulatory requirements and business considerations unique to healthcare transactions.

EXPERIENCE

• •  Merger of three independent orthopaedic surgery practices comprised of 25 physicians across multiple office locations
• •  Drafting agreements necessary to fully integrate assets and operations of small community hospitals with South Carolina's largest health system
• •  Joint ventures between hospital systems for various service lines, including radiation oncology and neurosciences
• •  Sale of 29-location physical therapy practice to national provider
• •  Drafting exclusive agreements for hospital-based services, including emergency services, radiology, anesthesiology and pathology
• •  Acquisitions of physician practices, including internal medicine, bariatric surgery, oncology and radiology
• •  Dental practice mergers and acquisitions

Additionally, Matt has represented providers in reimbursement disputes, including matters before the Medicare Provider Reimbursement Review Board and ZPIC audits and Certificate of Need contested cases. He also frequently represents physicians in licensing matters before the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners.

Recognizing that his experience as both a litigator and a healthcare transactional attorney uniquely positions him to help clients and parties avoid and settle conflict, Matt also practices healthcare alternative dispute resolution and conflict management. He has served as a Hearing Officer in hospital medical staff privileging appeals and as an arbitrator and mediator in various disputes between healthcare providers.  

• Case Western Reserve University, J.D., 1992
• John Carroll University, B.A., magna cum laude 1989

• South Carolina, 1992
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1992

• Chambers USA Healthcare (2021-2023)
• The Best Lawyers in America© Health Care Law (2008-2024), Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants (2012-2024) and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2011-2024)
• South Carolina Lawyers Weekly 2023 Healthcare Power List
• Best Lawyers® 2021 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” Greenville
• Best Lawyers® 2017 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” Greenville
• Best Lawyers® 2013 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” Greenville
• Best Lawyers® 2012 Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” Greenville
• Greenville Business Magazine “Legal Elite of the Upstate” Healthcare Law (2015, 2018-2023)

• South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Healthcare Committee (2022-Present)
• American Bar Association
• American Health Lawyers Association
• South Carolina Bar
• Greenville County Bar Association
• St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Board of Trustees (2011-2019), Chairman (2017-2019)
• Greenville Free Medical Clinic, Board of Directors (2010-2019), President (2017-2019)
• Leadership Greenville, Class of XXVIII
• Greenville Humane Society, former Board Member and President

• “EMTALA and the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act,” HSB Blog, July 18, 2022
• “CMS Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations for Health Care Staff,” HSB Blog, November 5, 2021
• “Fraud and Abuse in the Practice of Medicine,” Piedmont Dermatology Society, February 2, 2016
• Utecht, M. and Riordan, M., "Hospital Consolidation via Long-Term Lease Arrangements," AHLA Business Law and Governance, 8:6-7, March 2015
• “Disclosure of Adverse Events: Creating a Culture of Honesty Without Fear of Apology,” Agape Senior, May 6, 2015
• “Avoiding Medicare and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse,” “Physician Employment and Recruitment Contracts,” and “Medical Malpractice,” delivered annually to Greenville Health System Internal Medicine Residents