Thomas C. Shields, of K&L Gates, LLP, has practiced law in Chicago for over 40 years.  He is nationally recognized for his expertise in health care and hospital law.  He concentrates his practice in representing members of the health care industry, especially providers of health care.  He advises health care clients on a wide variety of corporate and regulatory matters.

Mr. Shields has served as president and board member of the American Health Lawyers Association and the Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys, as an Advisory Board member of the Health Law Institute of DePaul University School of Law and of the Health Law Institute of Loyola University, as counsel to the Catholic Health Association, as a trustee of the Brother Louis and Fannie Roncoli Foundation, and as a member of numerous legal task forces of the American Hospital Association, including a task force on alternative dispute resolution techniques.  Mr. Shields has been an active member of the Health Law Committees of the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations.

Mr. Shields has authored numerous articles on health and hospital law subjects, and he is a frequent speaker on health care issues.  He serves as a trustee of the Cancer Research Foundation and as a governing member of Catholic Charities of Chicago and The Chicago Zoological Society.

Following his graduation from Georgetown University in 1963, Mr. Shields received his J. D. cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law where he served as Managing Editor of the Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.