Law school's Health Law Society hosts former graduate

Cooley Law School graduates and law firm partners, Joe Rivet (left) and Richard Chaffee, attend a Cooley Health Law Society event on Oct. 2, 2023, at the law school’s Lansing campus.
(Photo courtesy of Cooley)
 

On Monday, Oct. 2, Cooley Law School Health Law Society hosted an event, featuring noted health law practitioner and Cooley Law School graduate, Joe Rivet, at the law school’s Lansing campus. Rivet, founding partner of Rivet Health Law PLC, in Norton Shores, was joined by his law partner at the firm, Richard Chafee, also a Cooley graduate.

During the event, Rivet discussed the many facets of health law and explained that health law affects everyone. He also detailed the intricacies of starting a law practice and the importance of loving your work, adding: “Where you find a problem, bring a solution.”

“Joe has helped to shape the careers of many of our students,” said Christi Henke, director of Cooley Law School’s Lansing Academic Resource Center. “He serves as a great role model and mentor. It has been exciting to watch the success of his law firm.”  

Rivet began a career in health care at 19 when he served as a transporter in a hospital. He served as a coder, auditor, and coding compliance specialist and worked his way into leadership roles at Priority Health and Health Alliance Plan. Rivet also served as the vice president of coding compliance and audit/EMS compliance officer at R1 RCM, a Chicago-based international revenue cycle company. In July 2020, he opened his law firm, which focuses on a specialized area of health law.

“It was great to see Joe Rivet return to the halls he once walked as a student, and he now provides guidance and information as a successful attorney,” said Ramon Garcia, president of Cooley’s Health Law Society.

Rivet is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the State Bar Provider Subcommittee, and reimbursement chair for the Michigan Group Medical Association. He is also a member of the American Bar Association Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division. Rivet was designated a 2022 Power Lawyer by Lawyers of Distinction, selected as a Rising Star in 2023 by Super Lawyers, and recognized by Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in health law. In March 2023, Cooley’s Health Law Society honored Rivet with its inaugural Health Lawyer of the Year award, which was presented in partnership with the State Bar of Michigan Health Law Section.