Mc Intyre & Barns

For healthcare professionals across Washington State, navigating the complexities of medical malpractice claims, licensing investigations, and regulatory actions can be incredibly daunting and threaten their livelihoods. In such critical situations, having highly specialized and experienced legal counsel is not just beneficial, but essential. McIntyre & Barns, PLLC, a Seattle-based law firm, stands as a dedicated and formidable ally for healthcare providers facing these challenging circumstances. Founded in 1995, the firm has built a strong reputation for effectively defending a wide spectrum of healthcare professionals, from individual physicians and nurses to hospitals and clinics.

What truly sets McIntyre & Barns apart is their unique philosophy and expertise. They are specifically qualified in both law and medicine, with a team that includes registered nurses, providing an unparalleled understanding of the intricate details involved in healthcare practice and regulations. Their mission is clear: to help good healthcare providers deal with difficult situations, protecting their licenses, reputations, and livelihoods. With over 60 years of combined practice, partners Mary K. McIntyre and Lee M. Barns lead a team committed to excellence, compassion, and personalized service, ensuring that no matter how challenging a situation may seem, their clients receive robust defense and strategic guidance.

McIntyre & Barns, PLLC is centrally located in the heart of Seattle, Washington, ensuring convenient access for healthcare professionals throughout the state. While some older directories may show a different address, their current prominent location is 1001 4th Ave #3200, Seattle, WA 98154, USA, situated within the notable Safeco Plaza.

This prime downtown Seattle location offers excellent accessibility via various modes of transportation. For those utilizing public transit, numerous King County Metro bus routes have stops within a very short walking distance, and the Sound Transit Link Light Rail provides convenient connections from various Seattle neighborhoods, Bellevue, and surrounding communities. The office’s proximity to major interstate highways like I-5 and I-90 also makes it accessible for clients who prefer to drive. While parking in downtown Seattle can sometimes require careful planning, several parking garages are available in the immediate vicinity of Safeco Plaza, offering convenient options for visitors. This strategic and professional setting underscores the firm's commitment to serving its diverse clientele with utmost ease during often stressful times.

McIntyre & Barns, PLLC specializes in defending healthcare providers and facilities against a range of legal and regulatory challenges. Their focused practice areas include:

• Defense of Medical Malpractice Actions: Representing physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other allied health professionals in lawsuits alleging medical negligence, misdiagnosis, surgical errors, and other claims of professional misconduct.

• Defense of Licensure, Disciplinary & Regulatory Actions: Providing robust defense for healthcare providers facing investigations or disciplinary actions from state agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). This includes complaints against licenses, allegations of client abuse, mistreatment of vulnerable adults, and issues related to facility licensing and operation.

• Risk Management, Compliance & Litigation Prevention: Advising healthcare entities and professionals on best practices to minimize legal risks, ensure compliance with evolving healthcare laws and regulations, and develop strategies to prevent future litigation.

• Contracts, Business Agreements & Policy Development: Assisting healthcare practices with drafting and reviewing contracts, business agreements, and developing internal policies that align with legal standards and best practices.

• Litigation & General Defense: Providing comprehensive litigation defense services for various legal matters impacting healthcare providers, beyond specific malpractice or disciplinary actions.

• Employment Law Defense: Handling employment actions for healthcare providers, including claims for discrimination, improper termination, and discharge.

• Appellate Law: Representing clients in appeals related to their practice areas.

McIntyre & Barns, PLLC stands out due to several distinguishing features and highlights that underscore their specialized expertise and commitment to healthcare providers:

• Unique Dual Expertise in Law and Medicine: A primary highlight is the firm's unparalleled understanding of both legal and medical principles. Mary K. McIntyre, a founding partner, is an experienced nurse attorney. This dual qualification, along with a team of registered nurses, provides an invaluable advantage in understanding complex medical facts and effectively defending healthcare professionals.

• Extensive Experience in Disciplinary Actions: The firm has successfully handled over 150 actions brought against healthcare providers by the Department of Health and DSHS, demonstrating deep expertise and a strong track record in administrative and regulatory defense. They are highly skilled at guiding providers through investigations and protecting their licenses.

• Proactive Risk Management: Beyond reactive defense, McIntyre & Barns emphasizes proactive risk management, compliance, and litigation prevention, helping clients implement strategies to avoid future legal challenges.

• "Follow Through is Excellent and Straight Forward": As noted by a client review, the firm is known for its clear communication and reliable execution. This commitment to being straightforward and ensuring excellent follow-through is critical for clients navigating complex legal processes.

• Highly Experienced Attorneys: With over 60 years of combined practice between the founding partners, Mary K. McIntyre and Lee M. Barns, the firm brings a wealth of seasoned experience to every case. Both partners have significant litigation backgrounds, with Lee Barns holding an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating.

• Compassionate and Personalized Service: The firm's philosophy emphasizes compassion and personalized service, understanding the immense stress and professional consequences that healthcare providers face when under investigation or in litigation.

• Comprehensive Defense: They represent all types of healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, chiropractors, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals, in various venues—civil courts, administrative hearings, and before regulatory boards.

In the highly specialized field of healthcare defense and professional licensure, law firms like McIntyre & Barns, PLLC typically do not offer "promotions" or "special offers" in the consumer-retail sense. The legal services they provide are bespoke, complex, and tailored to the unique professional and personal circumstances of each healthcare provider they represent.

However, for healthcare professionals in Washington facing an investigation or legal challenge, it is common practice for McIntyre & Barns to offer an initial consultation. This crucial first meeting allows prospective clients to discuss the specifics of their situation, understand the potential legal implications, and learn about the firm’s strategic approach to defense. While fees for comprehensive representation are discussed during this consultation and are typically based on hourly rates given the specialized nature of the work, the initial discussion itself provides invaluable preliminary guidance. The firm's website explicitly advises healthcare providers to contact them immediately upon receiving any notice of investigation from the Department of Health or DSHS, emphasizing that early intervention is key to protecting one's license and livelihood. For precise details regarding consultation arrangements and billing practices, interested healthcare providers are strongly encouraged to contact McIntyre & Barns directly.

For healthcare professionals and facilities in Washington State seeking expert legal defense, you can reach McIntyre & Barns, PLLC using the following contact details:

• Address: 1001 4th Ave #3200, Seattle, WA 98154, USA

• Phone: (206) 682-8285

• Mobile Phone: +1 206-682-8285

The dedicated team at McIntyre & Barns is prepared to assist with your initial inquiries and help you schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your specific legal defense needs.

For healthcare professionals across Washington State, when their license, reputation, or livelihood is on the line due to a medical malpractice claim, a Department of Health investigation, or a DSHS allegation, McIntyre & Barns, PLLC stands out as an exceptionally suitable and essential legal partner. Their singular focus on defending healthcare providers means that local professionals receive highly specialized legal counsel from a team that truly understands the intricate medical and legal landscape unique to their profession in Washington.

The firm’s accessible location in Seattle's Safeco Plaza ensures that expert defense is conveniently within reach for medical practitioners throughout the Puget Sound area and beyond, easing the logistical burdens during often stressful times. What truly distinguishes McIntyre & Barns for local healthcare providers is their unique dual expertise: featuring a nurse attorney among their partners, they possess an invaluable "inside" understanding of medical practice and its regulatory environment. This allows for a more effective and nuanced defense strategy.

Their strong track record of successfully handling over 150 regulatory actions against providers, coupled with their emphasis on proactive risk management and straightforward communication, provides immense confidence to Washington's healthcare community. In moments of crisis, when a career hangs in the balance, McIntyre & Barns offers not just legal representation, but a compassionate and highly competent partnership dedicated to preserving the way of life for those who care for others in Washington.