Spencer R. Knapp

Telephone: 802-859-7024

Email: sknapp@dinse.com

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Description of Practice:

Mr. Knapp, who served as the firm’s President and Managing Partner from 1993-2010, is now Of Counsel to the firm, while serving as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Fletcher Allen Health Care Vermont's academic medical center, based in Burlington. He has more than 35 years of broad-ranging experience in corporate and health care matters, described below:

Health Care

Health care issues and transactions have been a focus of Mr. Knapp's corporate practice for more than three decades. Since October 2002, Mr. Knapp has been engaged on a full time basis as General Counsel of Fletcher Allen Health Care.  He was the first Vermont health lawyer to be recognized in the publication Best Lawyers in America. His experience includes: corporate affiliations, acquisitions and reorganizations; compliance issues; tax exempt financing; medical staff relations; health care anti-trust issues; certificate of need proceedings; and managed care initiatives. Mr. Knapp is a member of the American Health Lawyers' Association.

Corporate

Mr. Knapp is an experienced business adviser. He is recognized by Chambers USA as one of Vermont's "leading" corporate lawyers. His business clients have been both privately owned and publicly held. He has guided start-ups through the early phases of their formation and growth; has represented one of Vermont's best known companies in "going public" and "going private" transactions; and has served as outside general counsel to several of Vermont's most established businesses and financial institutions. He is experienced in the legal issues affecting business formation, corporate finance, securities compliance, and acquisitions.

Exempt Organizations

Mr. Knapp's corporate practice has focused extensively on the special legal issues affecting non-profit and tax exempt organizations. He has advised health, educational, conservation and charitable organizations in complex transactions affecting their tax status, including applications for exemption, mergers, reorganizations, subsidiary formations, affiliations, and joint ventures. He has also regularly represented health and educational organizations in connection with tax exempt bond financings. 

Education:

  • Cornell Law School (J.D. Cum Laude, 1975)
  • Elected to Cornell Law Review
  • Trinity College (Hartford, Ct.) (B.A. Cum Laude, 1971)
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Nominated for Rhodes Scholarship
  • St. Andrews School (Cum Laude, 1967)

Prior Experience:

Mr. Knapp joined the firm in 1976 following a judicial clerkship with Hon. Albert W. Coffrin, United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

Professional Affiliations:

  • Chittenden, Vermont, and American Bar Association
  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • Named to New England Super Lawyers (2007-present)
  • Best Lawyers (1991-present)
  • Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners

Other Activities:

Mr. Knapp is active in community and civic affairs. His community service currently includes membership on the Boards of Vermont Public Radio and the Greater Burlington YMCA. In the past, he has served on the Boards of Fletcher Allen Health Care, United Way of Chittenden County (President from 1999-2000), Vermont Public Radio, Champlain Valley Union High School, the Vermont Business Roundtable), the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, and the Lund Family Center.