Michael E. Joseph

Of Counsel

Bio Menu
  • Overview
  • Honors & Involvement
Bio overview

Michael Joseph is a transactional lawyer widely regarded for his experience and expertise in representing clients in a broad range of corporate, healthcare, franchise, and business law matters.

His successful, aggressive representation of client interests has been recognized by clients and peers alike and has earned his inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (antitrust law; biotechnology and life sciences practice; business organizations; corporate compliance law; corporate governance law; corporate law; franchise law; health care law; non-profit/charities law; project finance law), and Oklahoma Super Lawyers. He was selected by Best Lawyers as the “Oklahoma City Corporate Compliance Lawyer of the Year” for 2012 and 2014, “Oklahoma City Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year” for 2013, and “Oklahoma City Health Care Lawyer of the Year” for 2019, honors given only to a single lawyer in each legal specialty in each community.

Mike was recognized for his professional and civic contributions to the state of Oklahoma by being named to The Journal Record’s inaugural list of Leadership in Law honorees in 2006 and again in 2014. He has been additionally been honored with Leadership Oklahoma City’s Distinguished Leadership Award, the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Governor’s Arts Award, and the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s John Rex Community Builder Award.

As a business lawyer, Mike represents privately owned businesses in business transactions and strategic and business planning.  He also represents numerous industry leaders, as well as emerging companies and tax-exempt organizations, in a variety of business transactions. In addition to transactional work, Mike regularly advises senior management and boards of directors on organizational and operational matters.

Mike has previously served as the leader of the firm’s Healthcare Industry Group, and his business practice includes decades of experience representing and advising healthcare industry clients in business transactions. He represents physicians and physician groups, including multi-specialty and single-specialty group practices in both private and academic settings. Also, he represents hospitals, including major tertiary referral centers, nonprofit hospitals, investor-owned hospitals, physician-owned specialty hospitals, religious-sponsored hospitals, academic medical centers, children’s hospitals, rural community hospitals, critical access hospitals, and government hospitals. Other clients include other types of healthcare facilities, health-related institutions and foundations, trade associations, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations.

Mike regularly represents businesses using franchising, licensing, and direct selling arrangements for the distribution of goods and services. He has a broad range of experience in representing franchisors in transactional and regulatory matters, including acquisitions and divestitures, contracting, development of franchise agreements and franchise systems, franchise registration, operational advice, business planning, antitrust, and dispute resolution. He has represented franchise clients in a number of industries, including retail photography, food distribution, restaurant, healthcare, business services, building products, home accessories and other products and services.

He has worked with numerous nonprofit organizations, including public charities, private foundations, supporting organizations, chambers of commerce, social welfare organizations, and other tax-exempt organizations. Leading organizations in the nonprofit sector frequently turn to Mike for guidance and assistance in legal matters, including those involving tax compliance, board governance, board and management responsibilities, fundraising and donor solicitation, planned giving, political advocacy, executive compensation, grants and grant-making, and a full spectrum of issues and challenges that the nonprofit sector faces. Additionally, Mike has also provided pro bono legal representation to numerous Oklahoma charitable and civic organizations.

A leader in the community, Mike serves on numerous community, civic and philanthropic boards, advisory boards, selection committees, and task forces.  He is a frequent speaker and organizer of educational conferences and institutes sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Hospital Association, and several state and national organizations, covering a variety of topics, and he has served as an adjunct faculty member and professor for the graduate-level course on “Nonprofit Organizations Law” at Oklahoma City University.

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Experience, Honors, & Awards

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (antitrust law; biotechnology and life sciences practice; business organizations; corporate compliance law; corporate governance law; corporate law; franchise law; health care law; non-profit/charities law; project finance law)
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (biotechnology and life sciences practice; business organizations; corporate compliance law; corporate governance law; corporate law; franchise law; health care law; non-profit/charities law; project finance law)
  • Named “Oklahoma City Corporate Compliance Lawyer of the Year” for 2012 and 2014, “Oklahoma City Corporate Governance Lawyer of the Year” for 2013, and “Oklahoma City Health Care Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 by The Best Lawyers in America
  • Listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
  • Honored with The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award, recognizing legal professionals for their professional and civic contributions to the state (2006, 2014)
  • Honored with the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s John Rex Community Builder Award (2013)
  • Honored with Leadership Oklahoma City’s Distinguished Leadership Award (2011)
  • Honored with the Oklahoma Arts Council’s Governor’s Award (2008)

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • American Bar Association (Business Law Section; Health Law Section; Antitrust Law Section; Forum on Franchising)
  • Oklahoma Bar Association (Corporate Law Section; Former Chair, Health Law Section)
  • Oklahoma Health Lawyers Association (Founder and Former President)
  • American Health Lawyers Association

Civic Involvement and Leadership

  • Butterfield Memorial Foundation (Former Member, Board of Directors)
  • Children’s Hospital Foundation (Past Member/Board of Advocates)
  • Dean McGee Eye Institute (Board of Directors)
  • Leadership Oklahoma City (Past Member, Board of Directors)
  • Oklahoma Arts Institute (Board of Directors and Past Board Chair)
  • Oklahoma Arts Institute Foundation (Board of Directors and Past Board Chair)
  • Oklahoma City Philharmonic (Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Past President)
  • Oklahoma City Philharmonic Foundation (Board of Directors, President and Board Chair)
  • Oklahoma Health Center Foundation (Former Member, Board of Directors)
  • Oklahomans for the Arts (Board of Directors)
  • OU Foundation (Board of Trustees)
  • Potts Family Foundation (Former Member, Board of Directors)
  • Presbyterian Health Foundation (Board of Directors; Chair, Grants Committee)
  • Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, FoodLink (Past Member/Board of Directors)
  • The Homeless Alliance, West Town Resource Center (Former Member, Board of Directors)
  • United Way of Central Oklahoma (Board of Trustees)

ATPs display in this column

At The Podium

Oklahoma UPL Nursing Home Program: Play your cards right

Oklahoma Nursing Home UPL Meeting
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | February 20, 2017

Stark Law Reform

OBA Health Law Section
Oklahoma City, OK | August 3, 2016

Legal Traps in the Nonprofit Arena

Oklahoma Conference on Nonprofit Law & Finance
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | February 26, 2015

Physician Collaboration — Recent Antitrust Opinion on NPHO

Oklahoma Bar Association Annual Meeting
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | November 13, 2013

Corporate Structuring and Restructuring

New Challenges for Nonprofit Organizations seminar presented by the Oklahoma Bar Association and Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | September 26, 2013

Green Light for Clinically Integrated Networks — Essential Antitrust Considerations

American Health Lawyers Association In-House Counsel Program and Annual Meeting
San Diego, California | July 1, 2013

Legal Challenges for Tax-Exempt Organizations

Sarkeys Foundation 5th Southwest Regional Leadership Forum
Norman, Oklahoma | November 8, 2011

Legal Challenges in Representing Nonprofit Organizations

Oklahoma Bar Association Webcast
Online | May 25, 2010

Brief History of the Future: Medicare Attacks on Physicians

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | October 9, 2009
Attorney Articles

Articles

Dispensary sign

Franchising cannabis businesses

McAfee & Taft MarijuanaLINC |
Group of volunteers
Group of volunteers
Business people talking while wearing face masks
Compensation policies for physicians employed by hospitals and health systems

Identifying Medicare fraud and abuse

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Industry Alert |

The non-existent corporate practice of medicine prohibition in Oklahoma

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Update |

CMS Audit Practices: How false can you get?

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Update |

Technology and the Future of Cities: Oklahoma City’s Innovation District

McAfee & Taft Business Update |

Stark: A stagnant law for an evolving industry

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Commentary |

Payment is due at the time services are rendered

McAfee & Taft Business & Legal Update |

The skinny on narrow networks

Mcafee & Taft Business & Legal Update |

Physicians as whistleblowers

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Update |

Public Benefit Corporations: The evolution of capitalism

McAfee & Taft Business Legal Update |

Innovation Districts

McAfee & Taft Business & Legal Update |

Hospital-Physician Alignment

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Industry Legal Update |

Challenges Physicians Can Expect in 2015

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Industry Legal Update |

Who does your malpractice attorney represent?

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Industry Legal Update |

Oklahoma Legislature significantly expands peer review privilege

McAfee & Taft Healthcare Industry Legal Update |

Norman Physician Hospital Organization — Factors Supporting Clinical Integration

Bloomberg BNA Health Law Reporter |
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Industry Groups

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Admissions

  • Oklahoma, 1976
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. Supreme Court
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Education

  • J.D., University of Oklahoma, 1976
    • Board of Editors, Oklahoma Law Review
    • Law Studies at Georgetown University
    • Law Studies at Oxford University, Worcester College
  • B.A., University of Oklahoma, 1973
    • Gold Medal, Letzeiser Award for Outstanding Senior, 1973
    • Undergraduate Studies at American University of Beirut
    • Undergraduate Studies at Moscow State University
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In The News

Photo of McAfee & Taft exterior signage with the Best Lawyers logo overlaying the image
Photo of Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby (left) presenting Carl Edwards with the honor of induction into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame, taken at the event at the historic McSwain Theatre in Ada, Oklahoma, on April 20, 2023
Graphic featuring a blue background blended with Leadership Square exterior photo and the Super Lawyers 2022 logo
Best Lawyers names 128 McAfee & Taft lawyers to 2023 lists

McAfee & Taft honored as top-ranked firm, 38 attorneys singled out for individual honors by Chambers USA 2022

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 87 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2021 edition

Best Lawyers names 128 McAfee & Taft lawyers to 2022 lists

McAfee & Taft honored as top-ranked firm by Chambers USA 2021, 33 attorneys singled out for individual honors

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 93 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2020 edition

Chambers USA 2020 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 32 attorneys singled out for individual honors

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 101 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2019 edition

Chambers USA 2019 honors McAfee & Taft as top‑ranked firm

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 113 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2018 edition

Best Lawyers honors 25 McAfee & Taft attorneys as ‘Lawyers of the Year’ for 2019

The Best Lawyers in America names 107 McAfee & Taft attorneys to 2019 edition

Chambers USA 2018 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 35 attorneys singled out for individual honors

The Best Lawyers in America names 102 McAfee & Taft attorneys to 2018 edition

Chambers USA 2017 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 39 McAfee & Taft attorneys as leading lawyers for business

What you drink at work events may describe your personality

The Oklahoman |

Chambers USA 2016 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 41 firm attorneys as leading lawyers

2014 Leadership in Law honorees

The Journal Record |

Leadership OKC honors Michael Joseph with 2011 Distinguished Leadership Award

‘I’m Sorry’ laws protect physicians from suits

The Oklahoman |

No break in the weather: Virtual network means work continues on snow days

The Oklahoman |

Seven McAfee & Taft attorneys named 2006 Leadership in Law Honorees

The Journal Record |