Sarah L. Wixson

Business, Health Care and Real Estate Attorney

Sarah is a corporate and litigation partner and serves as Co-Chair of the Health Care Practice Team. Her unique practice includes serving clients in various industries and professions with a variety of health care, business, litigation and real estate services. She works with physicians, physician groups, hospitals and health care entities on litigation, compliance and regulatory work, and licensing. Her transactional experience ranges from working on multimillion dollar acquisitions to assisting smaller entities. She also works with clients on contracting, master service agreements and licensing.

Sarah works with clients whose companies are on the line or when they are facing an issue that will have immense impact on their future. This may present as a company-threatening dispute, shareholder demands, threatened violation of a non-compete agreement, litigation, compliance analysis, or restructuring challenge.

As a litigator, Sarah represents businesses and individuals in a variety of matters. She has successfully prosecuted claims and defended corporate clients and individuals in connection with partnership agreements, contracts, business arrangements, shareholder disputes, real estate matters and complex commercial litigation.

Sarah’s accomplishments are routinely recognized by outside organizations. For the past three years, she has been named by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Ones to Watch,” a designation given to attorneys in recognition of their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. She was named an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in 2020 and she has been recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers for the past two years.

Experience

Defended three entities against $1.5 million in claims in a shareholder dispute.

Represented an individual in a multimillion-dollar real estate dispute between siblings over shared ownership of property. The complicated matter involved several unusual aspects, including multiple trusts, a secret will and a 70-year-old oral agreement.

Defended a Detroit-based beverage manufacturer in a breach of contract dispute, resulting in a big win when $650,000 of alleged claims were dismissed by the Oakland County Circuit Court following the motion for summary disposition. Additionally, the client’s countersuit was successfully settled.

Obtained a $450,000 default judgment following Washtenaw County Circuit Court’s ruling finding the defendant liable for committing defamation, business defamation, invasion of privacy and tortious interference. The Washtenaw County Circuit Court further dismissed all of defendant’s counterclaims with prejudice.

Successfully defended an emerging cosmetics company threatened with a class action alleging violation of the Biometric Information Privacy Act.

Successfully defended against enforcement of a non-compete agreement and had a temporary restraining order vacated concerning the same.

Represented a health care entity in its acquisition of another home health care service entity.

Routinely advises individual physicians and physician groups on health care-related contracts and employment contracts, including master service agreements.

Successfully negotiates payor-provider disputes.

Defended mortgage corporation against claims for fraud, innocent misrepresentation, silent fraud and breach of contract. The matter was dismissed with prejudice following oral argument on the motion for summary disposition.

Prosecuted claims for corporate client against insurance company and broker for declaratory judgment, reformation, breach of contract, constructive fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence.

Prosecuted federal intellectual property claims and negotiated successful settlement for corporate client.

Defended corporate client against claims for waste and breach of fiduciary duty, and prosecuted client’s counterclaim resulting in a settlement.

Defended corporate client against claims for breach of contract and declaratory judgment.

Defended corporate client against federal claim for violation of U.S.C. Section 3729(a)(1)(A) leading to plaintiffs dismissing their claims against client.

Represented and advised physician groups in business dealings, including the acquisition of a 60-physician practice by a health system, regulatory and compliance work, and the development of a substance use disorder practice.

Represented a developer in connection with all aspects of a condominium development.

Represented startup health care and dental practices, including physical therapy and acute pain practices.

Represented health care practices in shareholder and employee disputes.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America^®, Ones to Watch, Construction, Health Care and Real Estate Law, since 2021

Crain’s Detroit Business, Notable Women in Law, 2024

Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Influential Women of Law, 2023

Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Lawyer, 2020

Michigan Super Lawyers^®, 2022

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

Deloitte, Board-Ready Women Program 2024

Litigation Counsel of America

Michigan Health and Hospital Association: Behavioral Health Integration Council; Physicians in Healthcare Leadership Council; Small or Rural Hospital Council

Washtenaw County Bar Association

Community Involvement

Detroit Regional Chamber, Leadership Detroit Class XLIII

Fair Food Network, Board

St. Francis of Assisi School, Principal Advisory Board