Former Jackson Walker litigation partner Brad Nitschke has joined Parkland Health and Hospital System as an associate general counsel.
Nitschke, a Dallas native and University of Texas School of Law grad, practiced at Jackson Walker for almost 14 years. At Parkland, he will primarily support the public health system’s operations and regulatory functions. He is the ninth lawyer in the legal affairs department.
The Texas Lawbook caught up with Nitschke about what attracted him to Parkland and what he’s currently working on.
The Lawbook: Why did you decide to join Parkland?
Nitschke: I’m a Dallas native and have always admired Parkland’s mission to keep our community healthy and safe. When the opportunity arose to support the day-to-day operations of the providers and staff who carry out that mission, I couldn’t pass it up. It was tough to leave my longtime home and friends at Jackson Walker, and I think only a place as special as Parkland could have pulled me away.
The Lawbook: How did the opportunity come about?
Nitschke: My practice at Jackson Walker had focused on serving healthcare clients for several years, but primarily in litigation and investigations. As chair of the firm’s Covid-19 Task Force, I found myself offering much more operational advice (literally, “how do we stay open tomorrow?”) and I realized how much I enjoyed walking alongside clients in those very pragmatic, tactical decisions.
When Parkland posted this job, I read the description and realized there were lawyers who got to do that important and compelling work fulltime. Fortunately for me, Parkland saw how someone with my experience could fill this need.
The Lawbook: Any highlights from leading Jackson Walker’s Covid-19 Task Force?
Nitschke: Well, Covid began for me and my husband with the unexpected, early arrival of our first daughter, so the JW Covid Task Force’s first few Zoom meetings were led from a very small room in a locked-down hospital. That was both a highlight and a very interesting way to begin both parenthood and a major, firmwide project.
The first few months of the pandemic were a real challenge to Texas businesses, healthcare providers, and other employers, who were all trying to digest constantly-evolving medical guidance and public health regulations. It provided a real opportunity for our team to work across offices and practice areas to fashion novel solutions to a dynamic set of client challenges. Law is ultimately a service profession, and it was very rewarding to have the opportunity to serve clients in a moment of real need.
The Lawbook: What are the emerging trends or key developments relevant to your practice that you are closely following?
Nitschke: Just as developments in the ongoing pandemic are still an unfortunate reality for our front line staff, we lawyers are still paying careful attention to legal and regulatory developments related to Covid-19.