Heidi Y. Echols is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in the Firm’s Chicago office. As a member of the Health Law Department, Heidi’s practice focuses on information technology (IT) transactions and counseling and privacy and security issues. Heidi is chair of the Firm’s Health Information Technology Affinity Group and a member of the Firm's e-Business Group. Heidi is also co-chair of the Firm’s new Electronic Data Management, Privacy and Discovery Group.
Heidi advises clients and negotiates and drafts agreements with respect to the development, implementation, licensing, marketing, distribution and support of IT. She has significant experience in Electronic Health Record (EHR) transactions, including structuring donation and subsidy programs that comply with Fraud and Abuse laws. She also focuses her practice on health information exchanges (HIEs). She has advised clients on establishing appropriate policies for the use and disclosure of patient information, developing patient consent models for the use and disclosure of their information and structural and governance matters for HIEs.
Heidi also has substantial experience in the analysis of privacy and security issues, including the privacy and security rules promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and drafts and negotiates agreements that comply with the requirements of HIPAA. She also has expertise in state and federal notification requirements regarding security breaches and routinely advises on mitigation strategies and notification requirements following a breach.
She negotiates and drafts marketing, consulting and other services arrangements and agreements to protect trade secrets and other confidential information. Heidi’s practice includes providing legal counsel on technology ventures and day-to-day matters for companies in a broad range of industries, including health, financial, consulting and IT. Heidi also analyzes and advises clients with respect to electronic and digital signatures and online contracting issues.
Heidi is a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and is co-chair of the American Health Lawyers Association Tech Licensing and IP Affinity Group. She is also a member of AHLA’s Health Information Technology Practice Group and the American Bar Association. She is a frequent speaker and writer on technology issues and presented “Pragmatic (and Effective) Negotiation Strategies” at the HIMSS 2007 Annual Conference & Exhibition. Heidi was named to the 2009 Illinois Rising Star list in Super Lawyers magazine, which is based on a selection process including both peer nomination and independent research of candidates. She is also the 2009 recipient of the National Public Service Award presented by the American Bar Association Section of Business Law for her leadership of a multi-disciplinary and cross-office team in McDermott’s representation of the DC Primary Care Association in its implementation of a regional health information organization (RHIO).
Education
- University of Chicago Law School, J.D. (with honors), 1999
- Saint Olaf College, B.A. (summa cum laude), 1996
