Aytan
Dahukey

Partner
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Aytan Dahukey

Overview

Aytan Dahukey is an experienced transactions lawyer who focuses on middle-market mergers and acquisitions and private equity deals, with particular depth in the healthcare industry. He is former leader of the firm’s Private Equity team.

Having represented both buyers and sellers—including entrepreneurs, founders, private equity sponsors, platforms, portfolio companies and strategic investors—he understands the perspectives and priorities of deal participants on all sides. This broad experience allows him to identify what truly matters in a deal, know how far to push in negotiations and drive transactions to efficient, successful closings.

Within healthcare, Aytan represents for-profit, non-profit, private and public entities as well as private equity and growth equity funds, search funds and other sponsors investing in healthcare services, healthcare IT and medical device companies. He counsels healthcare organizations nationwide, including health insurance companies and health plans, hospitals and hospital-affiliated foundations, independent physician associations, large single- and multi-specialty healthcare provider groups, behavioral health providers, urgent care and ambulatory surgery centers, provider management services organizations, home health and hospice agencies, digital health platforms, accountable care organizations (ACOs) and other providers of healthcare services. He frequently structures value-based and risk-based arrangements, joint ventures and strategic partnerships that advance patient care, operational efficiency and organizational growth.

Beyond healthcare, Aytan’s work spans the aerospace and defense, manufacturing, technology, personal services, retail and food services industries. Large-scale acquisitions and smaller, highly sensitive transactions alike benefit from his steady leadership, commercial judgment and focus on bridging gaps to achieve client goals. He has extensive experience advising clients and negotiating mergers, asset and stock acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, employment and independent contractor agreements, professional and management services arrangements and other strategic alliances. He also counsels clients on entity formation, private placements, corporate governance, physician and ancillary provider contracting and day-to-day operational matters.

Outside the office, Aytan is an avid golfer and house-music DJ.

Experience
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Private Equity transactions
  • General corporate representation
  • Private placements

Representative Transactions

Healthcare Related:

Represented OneOncology in Cencora, Inc.’s multi-billion dollar acquisition of a majority of OneOncology’s outstanding equity interests from TPG.

Represented OneOncology in its acquisition of United Urology Group from Audax Private Equity.

Represented East West Eye Institute, Premiere Practice Management and 2 affiliated ambulatory surgery centers in their sale to affiliates of NVISION Eye Centers.

Represented Advantage Wound Care in its recapitalization and partnership with affiliates of NaviMed Capital.

Represented Washington Gastroenterology in its affiliation with GI Alliance.

Represented PSN Group LLC, a high-growth system of in-network ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and surgical hospitals with respect to a $165 million strategic commitment by BTG Pactual Strategic Capital.

Represented General Atlantic in its strategic partnership with Vistria Group and agreement to acquire a majority interest in CareMetx, a leading provider of hub services for patients and providers in the healthcare space.

Represented Milestone Technologies, a Silicon Valley-based global IT managed services firm and portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital in its acquisition of Covestic, a ServiceNow Elite Partner and IT Managed Services firm, based in Kirkland, WA.

Represented Universal Care, Inc., a leading California Medicare Advantage health plan in its sale to Bright Health.

Represented Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) in its $850 million acquisition of the Magellan Complete Care business from Magellan Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGLN).

Represented the Center for Social Dynamics, a provider of in-home autism services on the west coast in its sale and recapitalization by NMS Capital.

Represented Molina Healthcare, Inc. in its agreement to acquire certain assets of YourCare Health Plan, Inc., a not-for-profit subsidiary of Monroe Plan for Medical Care serving populations in seven counties in the Western New York and Finger Lakes region.

Represented Cefaly Technologies, a premier medical device developer based in Belgium in its sale to affiliates of DW Healthcare Partners.

Represented West Sands Partners in its acquisition of Pacific Fertility Centers, a premier fertility clinic in California.

Represented Mini Pharmacies, a diabetes specialty pharmacy, in its sale to affiliates of Angeles Partners in California.

Represented Progressive Medicine Associates, a democratic emergency physician practice in Phoenix, AZ, in its sale to affiliates of American Physician Holdings, LLC.

Represented American Vision Partners, a leading provider of ophthalmologic and optometric services on the West Coast in several acquisitions of ophthalmology and optometry practices.

Represented affiliates of H.I.G. Capital in the acquisition of Correctional Medical Group Companies (now Wellpath), a national provider of medical and behavioral health services to correctional and recovery facilities throughout the U.S.

Represented private equity firm General Atlantic in its formation and equity commitment to a new portfolio company, OneOncology, including OneOncology’s commercial partnership with healthcare technology and services company Flatiron Health and its affiliation transaction with one of the nation’s leading and largest community-based oncology practices, Tennessee Oncology, PLLC.

Represented Calo Programs, a national provider of behavioral and mental health treatment programs in acquisitions of Dragonfly Programs in Oregon and Potomac Pathways in Washington, D.C.

Represented Millennium Vision P.C., an ophthalmology group, and its affiliates, Sharona Optical, Inc., an optometry retailer, Eye Surgery Centers of Arizona, LLC, an ambulatory surgery center, and Millennium Vision Surgical, PLLC, a management entity, in a sale transaction with AMSURG and Envision Healthcare.

Represented Southwestern Eye Center, a leading provider of best-in-class surgical and clinical ophthalmic care to patients in Arizona in its sale to affiliates of H.I.G. Capital.

Represented Molina Healthcare in its agreement to acquire certain Medicare Advantage assets from both Aetna and Humana, relating to Aetna’s proposed acquisition of Humana.

Represented Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) in its acquisition of Today’s Options of New York, Inc., a prepaid health services plan that provides health insurance coverage in New York to approximately 38,000 members.

Represented Blue Wolf Capital Partners in its acquisition of National Home Health Care Corp., a leading provider of home care services in the northeastern United States.

Represented Emergency Physicians Medical Group, one of the largest emergency medical groups in Michigan, staffing facilities in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Delaware in its sale to affiliates of EmCare, an affiliate of Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc. (EVHC).

Represented ProHealth Physicians, one of Connecticut’s largest independent physician groups and its integrated management company, in an acquisition by Optum, a leading information and technology-enabled health services business.

Represented Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: MOH) in connection with its $200 million acquisition of Providence Human Services, LLC and  Providence Community Services, LLC from Providence Services Corporation (NASDAQ: PRSC).

Represented Scottsdale Emergency Associates in its sale to affiliates of EmCare, an affiliate of Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc. (EVHC).

Represented PriMed Physicians in its affiliation with Yale New Haven Health System and its affiliate Northeast Medical Group.

Represented Paladin Healthcare Capital in its management services arrangement with Howard University Hospital.

Represented Greater Houston Anesthesiology (one of the largest anesthesia groups) in its affiliation with Welsh Carson Anderson & Stowe portfolio company U.S. Anesthesia Partners.

Represented Lakewood IPA, an independent physician association with more than 400 doctors based in Long Beach, Calif. in its sale to affiliates of Tenet California, Inc.

Represented DaVita Inc. in its acquisition of HealthCare Partners, a major California healthcare provider and management services organization. This acquisition resulted in Sheppard Mullin being awarded the Deal of the Year in the healthcare industry by the M&A Atlas Awards in 2013.

Represented ABQ Health Partners, a major New Mexico medical group, in its acquisition by HealthCare Partners. 

Represented Greater Newport Physicians Medical Group and Nautilus Healthcare Management Group, LLC in their sale to Memorial HealthCare System, the operator of one of the largest hospital-affiliated medical foundations in California. 

Represented Alliance Medical Group and Affinity Medical Group in side-by-side transactions in their sale to University Healthcare Alliance, an affiliate of Stanford Hospital. 

Represented AppleCare Medical Management in its strategic transaction with OptumHealth, an affiliate of UnitedHealth Group. 

Represented LakeSide Systems, Inc. in its acquisition by an affiliate of Regal Medical Group.

Represented Memorial HealthCare IPA (MHIPA), a major Orange County independent physician association in its merger with an affiliate of OptumHealth, an affiliate of UnitedHealth Group and represented three major medical groups affiliated with MHIPA in their follow-on sale transactions with OptumHealth.

Represented Bristol Park Medical Group, a major Orange County managed care physician group in its sale to Memorial HealthCare System, the operator of one of the largest hospital foundations in California. 

Represented a major Orange County managed care physician group in its add-on acquisition of a competing Orange County managed care physician group.

Represented shareholders of Alvarado Hospital in its sale to a major hospital conglomerate in California. 

Represented Talbert Medical Group, Inc., a medical group located in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California to HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, a Torrance, California-based healthcare organization.

Represented a teleradiology company based in San Diego, California, in a recapitalization and investment by a NYSE-listed national provider of outpatient diagnostic imaging services.

Aerospace and Defense, Manufacturing, Technology, Personal Services, Retail and Food Services Related:

Represented Dr. Fresh, a leading designer and marketer of toothbrushes, travel kits, mouthwashes, floss/flossers, breath fresheners, toothpaste and other personal care products in a sale and rollover/recapitalization transaction with Moelis Capital Partners, the private equity business affiliated with Moelis & Company. 

Ongoing representation of Mobile Messenger, the leading mobile solutions provider of marketing, distribution and monetization solutions for mobile device companies in corporate governance and related matters. 

Represented a nationwide professional staffing agency in its leveraged sale of a minority interest to a major private equity firm and the related financing.

Represented an oil and gas oilfield waste management services company in reorganization of its business and on-going corporate governance matters. 

Represented Two Chefs On A Roll, Inc. (TCOR) in the sale of its business to Bakkavor Group HF, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bakkavor London Limited (OMX ICE: BAKK). 

Represented the members of Electric Visual Evolution, LLC, an international manufacturer and distributor of sport-oriented clothing (“EVE”) in the sale of all of the outstanding membership interests of EVE to Volcom, Inc. (NASDAQGS: VLCM).

Represented Northrop Grumman Information Technology, Inc. in its divestiture of its National Support Services division. 

Represented Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation in its acquisition of Sonoma Photonics, Inc. 

Represented Northrop Grumman Corporation in an $850 Million registered debt offering. 

Represented Etilize, Inc., a provider of aggregated product data to online retailers, distributors and resellers in its sale of a majority interest to Encodex International GmbH (Encodex), a wholly owned subsidiary of GfK AG, one of the largest market research companies in the world headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. 

Represented a regional supplier of bathroom and closet products in the purchase of two divisions of one of its competitors. 

Represented the shareholders of Allied Veneer Company in a sale of assets to Forest Plywood Sales, Inc. 

Represented National Technical Systems (NASDAQ: NTSC) in acquisition of Elliott Laboratories, Inc. for a combination of cash and stock of NTSC and related amendment and restatement of NTSC’s credit facility. 

Represented Napa Valley-based restaurateur in private placement to raise capital for new five-star restaurant project. 

Represented National Technical Systems (NASDAQ: NTSC) in acquisition of United States Test Laboratory, L.L.C. and related amendment and restatement of credit facility.

Credentials
Education

J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 2004, Notes and Comments Editor, Brooklyn Journal of International Law

B.A., University of Arizona, 2001, cum laude

Admissions

California

New York

Honors

Leaders of Influence: Private Equity, Investors & Advisors, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2024

Top 100 Lawyers, Los Angeles Business Journal, 2025

Private Equity Deal of the Year: Lee Fish’s sale to Sole Source Capital, M&A Advisor, 2023

Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2019-2026

Top 40 Under 40, Daily Journal, 2017

Super Lawyer, Healthcare, Super Lawyers, 2017, 2019-2020

Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2014-2016

Healthcare, Legal 500, 2015-2018, 2021, 2025

Mergers and Acquisitions, Legal 500, 2015

Rising Star, Association for Corporate Growth Los Angeles, 2014

Law360's Rising Star, Healthcare, 2014

Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2025
Memberships

Member, American Bar Association

Member, State Bar of California

Member, State Bar of New York

Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member, American Healthcare Lawyer Association

Member, Board of Directors, Association for Corporate Growth Los Angeles

Thought Leadership

Moderator, “Family Office Investors – Now is the Time to Be a Contrarian: Finding Opportunities in All Parts of the Market Cycle; Perspectives from Leading Sector-Specialist Investors and Business Builders,” SCALE Global Summit, May 24, 2023

Author, "Fraud Under Delaware Law - Clear As Mud With A Dash Of Salt-N-Pepa," Daily Journal, November 2, 2022

Speaker, "Combined Keynote Sessions: Deals and Private Equity Investment Trends 2022 & Healthcare In the Digital Age," Connecting The Disruptors™ Healthcare Conference, January 21, 2022

Speaker, "Maximizing Value: Running a Smooth Sales Process," Autism Investor Summit 2019, February 12, 2019

Moderator and Speaker, "Payor Alignment Plate Tectonics – What’s Shaking?,” Health Evolution Summit, April 19, 2018

Moderator, "Inve$ting in Our Future...Getting a Handle on the Healthcare Market," Opus Healthcare Panel, October 12, 2017

Speaker, "Legal Structure & Liabilities," Huntington Neurophysiology Symposium, September 15, 2017

Moderator and Speaker, "$$Healthcare$$...What’s the Deal with Healthcare M&A?," Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Conference, November 10, 2016

Speaker, "M&A and Private Equity Issues in Healthcare," June 17, 2015

Speaker, "The Affordable Care Act - What Employers Need to do to Comply," California Grocers Association Webinar Series, November 2013

Moderator and Speaker, "Physician Medical Groups M&A: Buying, Selling and Valuing," June 20, 2013

Moderator, "Patients, Payors & Piggy Banks: Healthcare M&A in a Post-Obama Caremageddon World," February 20, 2013

 

Pro Bono
Aytan handles pro bono adoption cases for pro bono clients through Public Law Center's Children's Rights Program and regularly represents non-profit organizations in pro bono matters which touch areas dear to his heart such as Nest Global, an organization providing high quality preschool programs for children experiencing displacement and poverty in the U.S. and internationally.