SHEM BEARD focuses his practice with O’Bryan, Brown and Toner on medical malpractice, particularly long-term care facility defense. He joined the firm in 2023 having worked in-house for the previous decade for a regional healthcare company with offices around Kentucky. While in-house he handled a wide range of legal tasks including Medicaid audits; licensing board actions; insurance reimbursement and claims matters; employment disputes, including successful resolution of matters with the Kentucky Department of Labor and the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights; drafted and negotiated contracts with insurers, independent contractors, partners, employees, and vendors; litigated cases and prosecuted appeals on a variety of issues; researched and advised on issues relating to HIPAA compliance, statutes and administrative regulations governing healthcare enterprises, health law, non-profit law, zoning, and tax law. While in law school, he served in the leadership of the Student Health Law Association and clerked for a plaintiffs’ firm.

Shem received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Centre College and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. He and his wife Dawn enjoy spending time with their nine children. In his spare time, Shem enjoys writing both classical compositions and rock and roll music, hiking in woods, and ATV racing in circuits such as GNCC, MSXC, and ISXC.

Educational Background:
J.D. University of Louisville, cum laude
B.A. Centre College

Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Kentucky

Professional Memberships
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association