Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its healthcare litigation capabilities with the appointment of Tim Ribelin as a partner in its Austin office. Ribelin joins from Husch Blackwell, bringing experience representing hospitals, physician groups, ambulatory surgery centers, and major healthcare systems in disputes involving reimbursement, billing, insurance contracts, and other complex commercial matters. His arrival marks Norton Rose Fulbright’s 31st U.S. lateral partner hire in 2026.
Ribelin’s practice focuses on representing healthcare providers in litigation and arbitration involving insurers and managed care organizations.
His experience includes disputes over insurance reimbursement, medical billing, claims processing, contractual obligations, business torts, False Claims Act litigation, and shareholder and partnership conflicts.
He has represented healthcare organizations in arbitrations, trials, and disputes involving substantial operational and financial implications.
The appointment comes as healthcare providers face increasingly complicated relationships with insurers and other payers.
Changes in reimbursement arrangements, contractual requirements, and claims processing practices can create disputes that affect healthcare organizations’ financial performance and operations.
Ribelin’s practice addresses these challenges by helping hospitals, physician groups, and other providers pursue reimbursement claims and resolve disagreements with insurance companies.
His background also includes experience outside the legal profession.
Before his legal career, Ribelin worked as a research scientist in oncology and antibacterial medicinal chemistry.
That scientific experience provides him with an understanding of the technical and regulatory issues that can arise in complex healthcare disputes.
He earned his law degree from Baylor Law School, a master’s degree in medicinal chemistry from the University of Kansas, and a bachelor’s degree in health science from Baylor University.
Ribelin is licensed to practice law in Texas.
His appointment is part of Norton Rose Fulbright’s continued investment in its healthcare industry practice.
In May 2026, the firm added Dallas partners John Bonnet and Mark Pendleton as part of an eight-lawyer team focused on private equity transactions within healthcare.
Earlier in the year, Norton Rose Fulbright also welcomed a five-partner group to expand its healthcare transactional capabilities across the Midwest.
These additions strengthen the firm’s ability to serve healthcare clients across litigation, regulatory, and transactional matters.
According to Norton Rose Fulbright’s 2026 Annual Litigation Trends Survey, healthcare respondents reported the greatest litigation exposure at both federal and state levels.
The firm cited these findings as evidence of the increasing challenges facing healthcare organizations as payer arrangements and contractual structures become more complex.
Ribelin joins an Austin office that has served the city’s legal and business communities for more than 45 years.
The office has approximately 100 lawyers, including professionals focused on life sciences, healthcare, and technology.
Norton Rose Fulbright’s broader global litigation and disputes practice includes more than 1,200 lawyers.
Its healthcare practice encompasses over 400 lawyers worldwide, advising clients across litigation, regulatory, transactional, and other matters affecting the healthcare industry.
The addition of Ribelin strengthens the firm’s managed care litigation practice and expands the resources available to healthcare providers navigating reimbursement disputes and complex commercial litigation.
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“Our firm was built on a foundation of litigation excellence, and our trial lawyers have taken center stage in Texas for more than a century. Tim has built a reputation for handling some of the toughest disputes in healthcare, and his addition reinforces our position as the firm that providers turn to when the stakes are highest.”
Jeff Cody, Global and U.S. Managing Partner of Norton Rose Fulbright
“Tim adds meaningful depth to our managed care litigation practice as providers are under growing pressure to secure appropriate reimbursement for the care they deliver. Tim’s experience representing hospitals and physician groups aligns directly with the work our team does, and he is the kind of tenacious advocate our clients deserve.”
Shea Haass, Litigation Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright
“Providers are operating in a more interconnected marketplace, and Norton Rose Fulbright’s global platform offers access to resources that can help my clients address opportunities and challenges wherever they arise. That reach and the opportunity to work with the firm’s top-tier healthcare litigators were major draws for me.”
Tim Ribelin, Healthcare Litigation Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright
