Gordon Arata is pleased to announce that Francine Elliot has joined the firm as a Member in its New Orleans office. Francine’s practice focuses on corporate and commercial transactions, litigation, and intellectual property, as well as health care law. Marion Weinstock, a member of the firm’s management committee said, “We are delighted to have Francine on board. Her skills match well with our client base and her in-house experience means that her service delivery aligns perfectly with marketplace expectations.”

Before joining Gordon Arata, Francine served as the General Counsel of Stone Clinical Laboratories and Stone Direct Diagnostics, working with executives in negotiating, documenting, and executing strategic transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, and managing all litigation filed against or on behalf of the company. She participated in all licensing and license compliance in all jurisdictions in which the company did business and drafted laboratory service agreements and CLIA laboratory applications. She was also responsible for ensuring compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations.   From 2016 to 2021, Francine served as the Assistant General Counsel to Neighbors Health, LLC, an emergency medicine provider group and medical facility developer.  Following the sale of the company, Francine served as the General Counsel to SignatureCare Emergency Center from 2018 to 2021 and oversaw every aspect of the organization and operation of over two dozen emergency centers and two urgent care facilities in Texas.  Her in-house tenures have provided keen insights into client matters and preferences.

For non-healthcare clients, Francine continues to provide services on sophisticated corporate transactions, including commercial real estate transactions, M&A, capitalizations and reorganizations and the negotiation and preparation of complex contracts.

Francine earned her J.D./B.C.L. from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. She received an M.S. in Pathology from Louisiana State University’s Health Sciences Center, and her B.G.S. in Pre-Medicine from Louisiana State University.

In addition to her work on behalf of clients, Francine is active in rescuing dogs from high-kill shelters in Texas and Louisiana and from severe animal abuse cases and owner surrender situations.