Tony Barbieri brings a strategic, relationship-driven approach to his legal practice, with a deep focus on the behavioral health and broader healthcare sectors. Whether guiding clients through mergers and acquisitions, structuring growth investments, or serving as outside general counsel, Tony partners closely with organizations to understand their mission and help them achieve it—especially those navigating the evolving behavioral health care landscape.
With decades of experience at the intersection of law, business, and healthcare, Tony is known for his ability to anticipate challenges unique to behavioral health providers, including licensing and compliance issues, reimbursement strategy, and payer negotiations. He routinely counsels psychiatric hospitals, addiction treatment centers, outpatient therapy practices, and autism and developmental disability providers on corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes transactions.
Tony also leads multi-disciplinary teams in complex deals, bringing together behavioral health operators, investors, real estate developers, and healthcare consultants. His practical business insight, combined with a hands-on understanding of value-based care, managed care contracting, and mental health parity laws, makes him a go-to advisor for behavioral health organizations at every stage of growth.

As President of Kessler Collins, Tony draws on his experience across industries—including healthcare, biotech, hospitality, and technology—to provide sound legal judgment with a behavioral health lens. He routinely advises on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, debt and equity financing, C-level employment agreements, and general corporate governance, subject to applicable state bar rules and regulations. He also represents clients in federal and state courts nationwide in jurisdictions where he is licensed to practice in a wide range of litigation and business disputes.
Tony’s background in computer science enhances his ability to counsel clients on health IT, telehealth platforms, and data privacy compliance—key areas of risk and innovation in the behavioral health space. Tony also represents behavioral health providers in complex litigation and disputes with commercial payors, including reimbursement denials, underpayment claims, and breach of contract matters. He understands the nuances of managed care agreements, utilization review protocols, and the evolving landscape of mental health parity laws. Whether negotiating settlements, pursuing arbitration, or litigating in state or federal court, Tony advocates aggressively to protect his clients’ financial stability and ensure fair treatment from insurers.

Areas of Focus

• Behavioral Health & Healthcare Transactions
• Business Strategy & Growth Planning
• Healthcare Compliance & Licensing
• Mergers & Acquisitions (Buy- and Sell-Side)
• Private Equity & Venture Capital in Healthcare
• Employment Law & Executive Compensation
• Health IT, Data Privacy & Security (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2)
• General Corporate Counsel for Behavioral Health Providers
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Professional Affiliations

• Healthcare Financial Management Association
• American Health Law Association
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Barrister, Order of Centurions
• Advocate, Order of Certus
• American Bar Association (Intellectual Property and Business Law Sections)
• State Bar of Texas (Intellectual Property Section)
• Dallas Bar Association
• Member, The Trial Law Institute
• Sports Lawyers Association (SLA Outreach Committee Regional Captain – Texas)
• International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)
• Building Owners Management Association (BOMA)
• Association for Corporate Growth

Professional Recognition

• Texas Monthly Magazine – Texas Rising Star, 2004, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
• Texas monthly Magazine – Super Lawyers 2014-2025
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America

Admissions

• Texas Bar, 2000
• United States District Courts (Northern, Eastern & Southern Districts of Texas)