Alumni Spotlight - Kansas City Office
Erica Ash
Describe your history with Husch Blackwell.
I started my career at Husch Blackwell’s Kansas City office in 2019 in the Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance Counseling PSC. COVID hit at the end of my first year, which gave me the opportunity to work across offices. I was at the firm for about two years, and during that time received invaluable training. One of the partners I worked closely with left to work for one of her in-house clients, and I later joined her to expand the legal department.
Describe your current role/practice outside of Husch Blackwell.
I am currently general counsel at Quadrant Biosciences, a biotech and healthcare startup. My role is both legal advisor and business partner. The company has multiple business lines, including a laboratory, a pediatric telehealth provider, a pediatric therapeutic treatment center, and a business focused on artificial intelligence and diagnostics.
As you might imagine, complicated legal questions are often brought to my team. My background in healthcare regulatory work is especially helpful in answering these questions. I really enjoy being involved in the day-to-day operations, which are imperative to understanding the risks and priorities of the businesses.
What is one of the most interesting projects on which you’ve worked?
Late last year, we launched As You Are, a 50-state telemedicine practice focused on pediatric autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. It’s such an important project because early diagnosis leads to better outcomes for kids for the duration of their lives.
Given that our legal department is small, I have been involved in every aspect of the launch. We built a strong foundation by considering the regulatory landscape, including the corporate practice of medicine rules, and creating a framework for the business leaders to follow. The legal team then formed corporate entities and drafted governance documents. I prepared for hiring physicians by developing employment agreements, working on employee benefits, procuring insurance, and ensuring the team was trained on these regulatory issues. We had intellectual property to protect and had to launch websites with a privacy analysis and regulatory considerations. Those were just some of the pre-launch activities.
Post-launch, I engage regularly with the payor team by, reviewing payor agreements, and work with our marketing team on how to promote a business within the confines of healthcare laws and other regulations. New issues and opportunities arise daily and with it come new legal challenges. Part of my role has been to manage the legal work and to know when to rely on outside counsel for additional support given the scale of this project and my obligations to the other business lines. We expect the telehealth business to be nationwide by the end of 2023.
This experience has helped me see how all the pieces fit together, which can be missed in a law practice. It’s also rewarding to help parents find answers to problems their children face. As a mom, this mission is especially close to my heart.
What hobbies/activities do you enjoy outside the office?
I have an 18-month-old son, so most of our time is spent chasing him around. This is such a fun stage, and he is getting into everything. So, right now most of my free time is spent making sure he is happy and healthy (and not climbing on something dangerous). I also enjoy painting, traveling, and collecting bourbon.
With which Husch Blackwell attorneys/staff are you still connected, and how?
I am still very connected to the partners on the firm’s Healthcare team and work with them often. I really enjoyed my time at Husch Blackwell because, along with being incredibly smart and talented, everyone was very down to earth and easy to work with. I am grateful to be able to continue working with these colleagues and have numerous people I can call if something comes up. I also live next door to Larry McMullen and see him out in his garden.