General Counsel

About Haven Health Management Haven Health Management is a leading private equity-backed provider of inpatient behavioral health services, with a focused mission of delivering compassionate, clinically excellent care to individuals facing addiction and mental health challenges. Headquartered in the United States, Haven operates 23 inpatient facilities across 6 states and employs approximately 2,000 people. Haven’s clinical model integrates evidence-based treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health conditions, including dual diagnosis and co-occurring disorders. Treatment services span medically supervised detox, residential care, and a range of proven modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), TMS, and advanced interventional therapies. Haven’s facilities are built around the belief that every patient deserves individualized, dignified care at the most critical moments of their lives. The Opportunity This is a foundational hire. The incoming General Counsel will be the first GC for this PE‑backed entity — establishing the legal function’s strategy, infrastructure, and standards from the ground up. This is not a caretaker role. It is an opportunity for an experienced healthcare attorney to put their stamp on the legal architecture of a $200M+ behavioral health platform with significant room to grow. The GC will serve as the company’s chief legal officer and primary advisor to the CEO, executive team, and PE sponsor. There are no direct reports; you will manage the company’s legal issues, maintain outside counsel relationships, and operate with broad authority and autonomy. The ideal candidate is a builder and a doer — someone who can set strategy and execute it, who is comfortable with the ambiguity of a post‑acquisition environment, and who brings the credibility to be a true partner to leadership from day one. Key Responsibilities Regulatory Compliance & Licensing Partner closely with the Chief Compliance Officer to provide legal analysis and counsel on multi‑state behavioral health regulatory requirements, including SUD and mental health licensure, certification, and accreditation standards. Serve as legal advisor on state licensing and re‑licensure matters, reviewing applications, responding to regulatory inquiries, and engaging outside regulatory counsel where needed. Provide legal interpretation of evolving regulatory developments affecting inpatient behavioral health, including CARF/Joint Commission standards, CON requirements, Medicaid/Medicare conditions of participation, and payer requirements — translating regulatory changes into actionable legal risk assessments. Represent the company in interactions with state health departments, licensing bodies, and regulators when legal representation or escalation is required. Advise the CCO and executive team on legal exposure arising from compliance gaps, regulatory investigations, or survey findings, and coordinate legal response strategies. Ensure that regulatory risk is appropriately quantified and communicated to the PE sponsor and board as part of ongoing legal reporting. Employment & Labor Law Provide day‑to‑day legal guidance on workforce matters for a 2,000‑employee organization, including a high proportion of clinical staff (nurses, counselors, technicians, and licensed clinicians). Advise HR on FMLA, ADA, Title VII, state leave laws, wage and hour compliance, non‑compete enforceability, and multi‑state employment law variances. Draft, review, and negotiate employment agreements, offer letters, separation agreements, and employment policies. Support HR and operations in managing employee investigations, disciplinary actions, and terminations, with an eye toward minimizing litigation exposure. Oversee and coordinate the defense of EEOC charges, state agency complaints, and employment‑related litigation with outside counsel. Monitor labor law developments across all 6 states and update internal policies accordingly; assess and manage any potential NLRA exposure. Risk Management & Litigation Manage the company’s litigation portfolio, including coordination with outside counsel on active matters involving malpractice, patient rights, and commercial disputes. Lead risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies across clinical operations, with particular attention to patient safety incidents, adverse outcomes, and regulatory investigations. Oversee HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2 compliance (substance use disorder patient records), including breach response, investigation, and regulatory reporting. Partner with clinical and operations leadership to develop and implement risk management protocols that reduce exposure across the platform. Manage and optimize outside counsel spend; select, retain, and supervise litigation counsel across multiple jurisdictions. Work with the executive team and PE sponsor to assess and quantify legal risk exposure for board and investor reporting purposes. Corporate, Governance & PE Relationship Serve as the company’s primary legal interface with the private equity sponsor, managing board‑level legal matters, governance documentation, and investor reporting requirements. Support M&A activity, including legal due diligence, regulatory clearance, and integration of acquired facilities — a large component of the company’s growth strategy. Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, payor agreements, management services agreements, and real estate leases. Maintain corporate records, entity management, and governance frameworks across the enterprise. Advise the CEO and executive team on legal implications of strategic decisions, including new market entry, service line expansion, and partnership structures. Qualifications Required Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; active bar membership in good standing (any operating state). 8+ years of legal experience, with meaningful in‑house experience in healthcare; behavioral health experience strongly preferred. Deep working knowledge of multi‑state healthcare regulatory frameworks, including state behavioral health licensing, Medicaid/Medicare, and accreditation standards. Substantive experience in employment and labor law, including multi‑state workforce management. Demonstrated ability to manage litigation and outside counsel relationships, including malpractice and regulatory matters. Proven ability to operate as a strategic business partner and trusted advisor to senior leadership. Experience working in or alongside private equity‑backed companies, with comfort navigating investor and board relationships. Preferred Experience with SUD‑specific regulatory requirements, including 42CFRPart2 and state SUD licensing frameworks. Background in HIPAA compliance and behavioral health privacy regulations. Experience supporting M&A due diligence and facility integration in a healthcare platform context. Track record of building or significantly elevating a legal function in a high‑growth environment. What We’re Looking For The ideal candidate is a seasoned healthcare attorney with an operator’s mindset. You are comfortable with ambiguity, energized by complexity, and capable of providing clear, actionable guidance under time pressure. You understand that behavioral health is a mission‑driven, highly regulated space — and you bring the regulatory depth and the business acumen to navigate it at scale. You are equally at home drafting a state licensing response, advising on a workforce reduction, managing a malpractice dispute, and presenting to a PE board. You don’t need a large team to be effective. You know when to call outside counsel and when to handle it yourself. What We Offer A seat at the leadership table with direct access to the CEO and PE sponsor. Competitive total compensation including base salary and annual performance bonus Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, and paid time off. The opportunity to build and own the legal function at a company on a steep growth trajectory. A mission‑driven culture focused on delivering exceptional patient outcomes in behavioral health. #J-18808-Ljbffr