Ethan Minkin, Attorney

Ethan Minkin is a seasoned attorney and has counseled clients on a wide variety of matters. His expertise includes complex transactions, healthcare regulatory matters, corporate bankruptcies and complex litigation. Ethan has handled hundreds of closings, from mergers and acquisitions to finance deals and securitizations. He has also litigated hundreds of matters in his career, having been involved in many high profile cases. Ethan has also counseled clients for cannabis related matters, including acquisitions, litigation and regulatory advice. He is currently assisting clients with cannabis regulatory issues.

During Ethan’s career, he started the Phoenix bankruptcy practice for a AmLaw 100 law firm. He has represented clients in bankruptcy proceedings across the United States, and has been admitted pro hac vice in many jurisdictions, including the Southern District of New York, the Central District of Florida, the Central and Southern Districts of California, the District of Nevada, and several other jurisdictions. Ethan has represented some of the world’s largest banks, financial institutions and special servicers in various bankruptcy, insolvency and other civil matters, as well as many regional and local banks.

Prior to returning to private practice in 2018, Ethan was the CEO and de facto General Counsel of a Phoenix-based biotech company. Prior to his CEO experience, Ethan has substantial experience as both a private practice attorney and an in-house attorney.

In addition to working with the Phoenix-based biotech company, Ethan was in-house with one of the world’s largest financial institutions and a national Medicaid HMO that was purchased by Aetna. Ethan began his career with the largest Phoenix-based law firm, and went on to become a partner at two large national law firms (AmLaw 100 and 200 firms).

Ethan received his undergraduate degree in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis. He then received a Masters in Public Health, with a concentration in health policy, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Ethan attended the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he graduated cum laude.

During his career, Ethan has been recognized for his work, including being named a Southwest Super Lawyer, and has also volunteered for Special Olympics of Arizona and the Southwest Autism Research Center.

In his free time, Ethan attempts to ski, but primarily sticks to the bunny slopes. He also enjoys spending time with his wife, children, friends, and two wonderful dogs.

More About Ethan

Speaking Engagements

Safeguard Your Ketamine Clinic: Legal Expertise You Need to Know, Psychiatry Tomorrow Podcast, March 13, 2024.

Current Ketamine Regulations & The Future of Psychedelic Medicines, Harris Sliwoski webinar, April 11, 2023.

Distressed Cannabis Businesses, Harris Sliwoski webinar, February 28, 2023.

Psychedelic Law & The Use of Ketamine, Healthcare Entrepreneur Academy Podcast, March 18, 2022.

Starting a Ketamine Clinic– What You Need to Know, Harris Sliwoski webinar, September 9, 2021.

Guest Lecturer, “Off Label Promotion – Legal Issues,” Arizona State University School of Law, September 2016.

Bankruptcy Developments for Clubs and Hotels, Colorado Law Institute-CLE International, 15th Annual Conference – Resort Development, Vail, Colo., December 8, 2011.

“Tempe Centerpoint Development,” 2011 ULI Real Estate Summit at the Spring Council Forum, Urban Development Mixed-Use Council (UDMUC) – GOLD, Urban Land Institute, Phoenix, May 19, 2011.

Presenter and Organizer, “HIPAA Privacy Regulations – An Overview,” Arizona Medical Association, Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona and Snell & Wilmer LLP, March 22, 2001.

Published Articles

Expert Depositions and Trial Disclosures: What Every Litigator Needs to Know, Journal of Emerging Issues in Litigation / Winter 2024, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 37–43

Distressed Cannabis Cos. Have A Few Options, With Caveats, Law360, April 6, 2023.

An Analysis of the Two Class System of Care in Public and Private Psychiatric Hospitals, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 45, 975-977.

Media Appearances

Utah’s New Anesthesia & Sedation Law, Learn How It Could Affect Ketamine Clinics, Benzinga, July 14, 2022.

Arizona’s Cannabis Industry Safety Inspections Show “Growing Pains”, Phoenix New Times, February 15, 2022.

Collection conundrum: Business owners faced with collecting debts must decide when to pursue legal action, Phoenix Business Journal, September 9, 2011.

Untangling Centerpoint, The Arizona Republic, March 9, 2011.

Recognition/Honors

Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyers and Policy & Regulatory Experts Guide (Directory 2023 – 2nd edition)

Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyers and Policy & Regulatory Experts (2022-2023)

Southwest Super Lawyers (2016 and 2017; peer-reviewed and nominated for top 5% in practice area for State of Arizona; Bankruptcy)

Named as one of “Arizona’s Finest Lawyers” for 2011.

Named among Top Lawyers in Bankruptcy for 2010 and 2011, AZ Business Magazine.

Representative Matters - Healthcare

Outside General Counsel to a Medicare Advantage Organization and in-counsel to a national Medicaid HMO purchased by Aetna
Counsel to Accountable Care Organization in commercial litigation, regulatory and transactional matters
Co-Lead counsel in acquisition of a behavioral health plan, behavioral health clinics and related assets
Lead trial counsel to physician in peer review proceedings and subsequent Federal court lawsuit
M&A counsel to cannabis company in two acquisitions, and assist with regulatory and litigation matters

Representative Matters - Transactional

Outside General Counsel to a Medicare Advantage Organization and in-counsel to a national Medicaid HMO purchased by Aetna
Counsel to Accountable Care Organization in commercial litigation, regulatory and transactional matters
Co-Lead counsel in acquisition of a behavioral health plan, behavioral health clinics and related assets
Lead trial counsel to physician in peer review proceedings and subsequent Federal court lawsuit
M&A counsel to cannabis company in two acquisitions, and assist with regulatory and litigation matters

Representative Matters - Bankruptcy & Litigation

Co-Lead trial counsel for major Arizona city in water rights adjudication trial that lasted six months and has statewide and national importance
National bankruptcy counsel to Fortune 10 financial institution and represented the institution in bankruptcy and litigation matters across the United States
Co-Lead bankruptcy counsel to senior secured creditor owed over $300 million for loan secured by two major resorts
Lead counsel to Fortune 10 financial institution in work-out of $80 million loan portfolio
Co-Lead bankruptcy counsel to senior secured lender owed over $30 million for loan secured by dairy farm
Counsel to Fortune 500 debtor in Chapter 11 proceedings
Bankruptcy and litigation counsel to several banks that purchased failed banks through FDIC-assisted transactions that included loss-share agreements
Bankruptcy and litigation counsel for most of the leading special servicers and banks in the United States