Francisco T. Morales

Francisco focuses his practice on the long-term care and post-acute care sectors, representing skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, independent living facilities, home health agencies, hospices, and other providers across the continuum of care. With more than a decade of experience in the industry — including service as General Counsel for one of North Carolina’s largest long-term care operators — he understands the business of long-term care from the inside and applies that perspective to help clients navigate the complex regulatory, transactional, and operational challenges that define the industry.

Francisco’s experience spans the full lifecycle of long-term care provider needs. On the transactional side, he has been involved in the acquisition, development, sale, and leasing of long-term care assets exceeding $1 billion in aggregate value. His finance experience encompasses traditional bank loans, bridge-to-agency and mezzanine structures, HUD-insured and USDA-insured loans, private placement bond financings, and REIT sale-leaseback arrangements. When providers face financial headwinds, Francisco draws on his background as a former business insolvency professional to counsel clients through loan forbearance negotiations, modifications, workouts, and other special circumstances.

On the regulatory side, Francisco represents clients on licensure matters — including initial applications, change of ownership approvals, and license renewals — and helps providers respond to survey deficiencies, enforcement actions, and adverse agency decisions. He has extensive experience guiding clients through North Carolina’s Certificate of Need (CON) process, including preparing and submitting CON applications, performing demonstration of need and statistical analyses, and representing clients in change of scope applications, material compliance requests, and contested case proceedings. His reimbursement practice encompasses Medicare and Medicaid matters, including audit defense and compliance program development.

A native of Chile who moved to the United States as a teenager, Francisco brings to his practice the perspective of someone who has navigated complex and unfamiliar systems — and found a way through. He competed in track and field at Davidson College and remains an avid runner, regularly competing at distances up to the half-marathon.

Recognition

• The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy Litigation (2017-2020)
• Super Lawyers Rising Star - Bankruptcy (2018-2020)

Education

• Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 2011
  • Chairman, Honor Council
  • Moot Court Board Member
  • Trial Bar Board Member
• Davidson College, B.A., 2007
  • Alumni Grant (full merit scholarship)
  • Southern Conference Academic All-Conference
  • NCAA Division 1 Track and Field Athlete, 400m hurdles

Bar & Court Admissions

• North Carolina Bar Association
  • Health Law Section
• North Carolina Society for Health Care Attorneys
• American Health Law Association
• Wake Forest University School of Law
  • Law Board of Visitors (Present)
  • General Counsel Advisory Committee (2023-2025)
  • Rose Council (2014-2023)
• Immediate Past Chair, Board of Directors, Salem Montessori School