Jena E. Taft

Senior Counsel


Combining an expansive knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape in which her clients operate with a first-hand appreciation of their practical and business challenges, Jena Taft provides pragmatic, actionable, compliance counsel and other guidance to dental support organizations (DSOs), dental practices, and other healthcare providers and companies. 

Jena's understanding of her clients' priorities and concerns, the risks they confront, and how they expect their attorneys to address those risks, is a product of her extensive in-house experience that includes an eight-hospital system, serving as legal counsel to an established medical group, and several DSOs. She has overseen well-established programs’ risk departments, managing comprehensive compliance and corporate insurance programs for a large national DSO with hundreds of locations across scores of states, and also developed and implemented such programs for smaller organizations and start-ups in growth mode.

A seasoned business lawyer, Jena also has substantial experience with private equity investments in DSOs, including supervising transactional due diligence for acquisitions and directing outside counsel M&A teams. She advises clients on a wide range of operational matters, including physician employment agreements, management agreements, vendor agreements, HIPAA, and privacy and data security regulations. Additionally, she understands the marketing and messaging limitations imposed by the FDA and FTC, and has experience navigating medical device and product compliance. Jena's expertise extends to state dental regulations, including state dental boards, with particular experience in North Carolina and New Jersey.

Clients benefit from Jena's recognition of how the letter of the law intersects with the day-to-day realities of their operations, as well as their need for prompt, clear direction when issues or concerns arise. Along with her collaborative spirit and demonstrated success in fast-paced, high-energy environments, these qualities have formed the foundation of the long-term client relationships that are a hallmark of Jena's practice.

The perspectives I gained working in-house - understanding how my organizations actually functioned, their internal and external interactions, and their need for real-world guidance rather than esoteric explanations of the law – helps me efficiently manage their risks and effectively advance their goals.
    • Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, J.D.
    • North Carolina State University, B.A., magna cum laude
  • Bar Admissions

    Admitted to practice in NC only; TX bar admission pending.

    • North Carolina

Latest News and Insights

Speaking Engagements1.19.24

Nurturing Your Team to Prevent Whistleblowers

Jena Taft served as a featured presenter at the Dental Compliance Institute's 2024 State of…

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Press Releases6.26.23

DSO/Healthcare Attorney Jena E. Taft Joins Dykema’s Growing Dallas Office

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Jena Taft as a Senior Counsel…

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