Gayland O. Hethcoat II
Gayland advises hospitals, physician practices, and other health care providers on transactional, regulatory compliance, and corporate matters.

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Gayland is a strategic legal advisor to providers and stakeholders across the health care delivery spectrum. With years of experience as in-house legal counsel for some of the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems, Gayland offers a practical, business-minded approach to supporting his clients.
As regulatory counsel, Gayland develops solutions for complying with the complex web of federal and state laws governing the health care sector, including in the emerging fields of telemedicine and digital health. Gayland possesses particular expertise regarding health data privacy and security laws (including HIPAA, the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), 42 C.F.R. Part 2 substance abuse confidentiality regulations, and the FTC Health Breach Notification Rule) and health care fraud and abuse laws (including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and Civil Monetary Penalties Law). In addition, he routinely advises on health care licensure and scope-of-practice requirements, Medicare and Medicaid program rules, and controlled substance regulations.
In his transactional practice, Gayland drafts and negotiates various types of contracts and legal instruments, with an emphasis on financial arrangements between hospitals and physicians. He also assists with matters involving for-profit and nonprofit corporate board governance, conflicts of interest, and discharge of fiduciary duties.
Client Work
Gayland has represented hospitals and health systems, physician practices, retail pharmacies and clinics, clinical laboratories, home health agencies, telehealth platforms and health tech start-ups, and management service organizations. His professional experience includes:
- Advising on issues involving COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for health care workforce members, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory waivers and flexibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Supporting senior compliance officers in administering health care compliance programs, including internal investigations, audits, and risk assessments
- Providing representation in enforcement actions and investigations conducted by the US Department of Justice; US Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights, Office of Inspector General, and Health Resources & Services Administration; the California Department of Public Health; and other federal and state agencies Accordion Toggle
Previous Work
Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Gayland served as Senior Legal Counsel and Director of Compliance at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, an internationally renowned pediatric academic medical center affiliated with the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. Before that, he was Corporate Counsel at Dignity Health and CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the United States. Gayland began his legal career in Chicago, where he practiced in the health care practice group of a large national law firm.
Professional Activities
Gayland is an active member of the American Health Law Association, California Society for Healthcare Attorneys, and Health Care Compliance Association. He previously participated on the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) Rulemaking Working Group while a member of the Privacy Law Section of the California Lawyers Association.
Publications, Presentations & Recognitions
Gayland regularly speaks and writes on various health law topics. His presentations and publications include:
- Webinar: Private Equity in Healthcare: Where Is It Heading?, Healthcare Web Summit (April 16, 2025)
- Sharing Health Information Through California’s Data Exchange Framework: Implementation Issues and Practical Considerations, California Society for Healthcare Attorneys 2024 Fall Seminar, Sacramento, California (November 15, 2024)
- The New World of Physician Wellness, Medical Staff Leaders and the Law Conference 2024, Costa Mesa, California (April 12, 2024) Accordion Toggle
Life Beyond the Law
Gayland enjoys spending time with his family, discovering the latest health care wearable technologies, and cultivating exotic plants.
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Practices
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Education
Loyola University, LLM, Health LawUniversity of Miami, JD, magna cum laude; Executive Editor, Miami Law ReviewVirginia Commonwealth University, BS, summa cum laude with university honors