Professional Experience

Aaron Besen has extensive experience representing long-term care providers (skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living facilities), landlords to these providers and related businesses. For eight years he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Evergreen Healthcare Management, L.L.C. and its affiliated companies which managed or operated over 60 skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in eight western states, including Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Montana. He has handled the acquisition and sale of operations or real estate of nearly 180 long-term care facilities, has represented long-term care borrowers in asset-based, cash flow, real estate and HUD-guaranteed finance transactions, and has represented management companies and operators in the negotiation of management agreements.

Aaron has also been involved in numerous health care regulatory, licensure and certification issues, including the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Law and the False Claims Act.

During his tenure at Evergreen, Aaron managed the company's general, professional and employment litigation and he counsels companies on risk management strategies and on insurance issues, including captive programs.

Aaron has represented CEOs and other senior executives in the long-term care industry in negotiating employment agreements. He is also familiar with issues unique to business owners sued under alter ego theories and has successfully defended such cases in the long-term care industry.

Prior to becoming General Counsel for Evergreen, Aaron had a general business practice where he represented corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships in entity formation and maintenance matters, the purchase and sale of businesses, finance transactions and real property matters.

Aaron also represents tax-exempt entities with regard to taxation, governance and general business issues.

Professional Organizations
Director and Chair of the Compensation and Governance Committee, EmpRes Healthcare, Inc.
American Health Lawyers Association
Oregon Healthcare Association
Washington Healthcare Association

Education
Duke University School of Law - J.D., 1985
Columbia University - M.A., 1981
Colgate University - B.A., magna cum laude, 1980

Civic Organizations
Director, Oregon Health Care Foundation
Congregation Havurah Shalom (Finance Committee)
Crowne Point Homeowners Association (Director and Secretary)

Admitted To Practice
Oregon State Bar
Washington State Bar
U.S. Tax Court

Past Speaking Engagements
In his capacity as General Counsel of Evergreen Healthcare, Aaron Besen frequently addressed nursing home administrators and directors of nursing regarding risk management issues and as both General Counsel and later as outside counsel, Aaron Besen has annually addressed the company's panel defense counsel at meetings held in conjunction with the Defense Resource Institute Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Litigation Seminars.

Aaron J. Besen
Special Counsel, Chair: Health Care
1000 SW Broadway
Suite 1400
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 227-1111 Main
(503) 243-1661 x 155 Direct
E-mail: abesen@sussmanshank.com