Delta Dental Plans Association names Wells Hutchison general counsel

Newly created senior position to direct all legal matters for Delta Dental’s national association

OAK BROOK, Illinois - Delta Dental Plans Association (DDPA) has hired James “Wells” Hutchison to serve as its general counsel, where he will direct and oversee all legal matters. This is a newly created position at DDPA, the national association of Delta Dental member companies which collectively make up the nation’s leading dental benefits provider, with enrollment of nearly 70 million Americans, including over 114,000 groups.

Hutchison has been with the Chicago-based, national law firm Katten, Muchin, Rosenman LLP for the last 20 years, where he was a partner and co-head of the firm’s health care litigation practice. In addition to providing litigation management and risk mitigation for a wide variety of companies, he has been a legal advisor to DDPA for the last decade, most recently serving as outside general counsel.

“Wells has been a trusted and crucial partner to Delta Dental over the years, and we’re fortunate to have him on board in this new capacity,” said Steve Olson, DDPA president and CEO. “In today’s changing business environment, it is critical to have someone of Wells’ background and integrity in-house to lead our legal efforts.”

Hutchison has litigated in the state and federal courts of numerous jurisdictions and was recently selected as a 2015 leading lawyer in a peer survey conducted by Leading Lawyers (SM). He has handled numerous pro bono cases and was twice recognized as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the Center for Disabled and Elder Law, where he served as a member of the board.

He received a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University and holds a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. Hutchison began his new role on August 3rd, 2015.