Premier, a healthcare improvement company, has named David Klatsky senior vice president and general counsel. Klatsky replaces Jeffery Lemkin, who recently retired.

Ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of The Best Lawyers in America for four consecutive years, Klatsky has served as Premier’s chief outside counsel for the past nine years. This includes helping Premier through its initial public offering and corporate restructure. Klatsky will now oversee Premier’s legal and compliance affairs.

“David’s deep healthcare industry insights and experience with Premier are valuable assets to our executive team,” said Susan DeVore, president and CEO, Premier. “We look forward to the diverse ways David will continue to drive corporate initiatives forward that best support Premier, our alliance members and our stockholders.”

In his 26-year legal career, Klatsky has advised Fortune 500 companies, private equity firms, and for-profit and tax-exempt healthcare services clients on the transactional and regulatory aspects of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in the healthcare sector. Prior to joining Premier, Klatsky was a partner in the health practice group of global law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Klatsky has also acted as the lead lawyer in a broad cross section of health industry transactions and as a speaker regarding health reform, accountable care and healthcare transactional techniques.