Review Dental Contracts, operated by Chelle Law, has physical offices in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Scottsdale, Arizona, while providing dental contract review and negotiation services to dentists nationwide. Because contract reviews and consultations can be handled remotely, our attorneys work with dental associates and other dentists across the country, regardless of where they live or practice.
Whether you are reviewing your first dental associate agreement, considering a new opportunity, negotiating with a dental service organization (DSO), evaluating an independent contractor agreement, or renegotiating an existing contract, Chelle Law can assist you from anywhere in the United States.
Robert Chelle is the founder and CEO of Chelle Law and an experienced contract attorney with more than 20 years of experience reviewing and negotiating professional employment agreements. He has represented more than 1,000 licensed professionals and brings extensive experience analyzing the contractual, financial, and professional issues that can affect a dentist throughout an employment or business relationship.
Robert works with dentists throughout the country, from new graduates reviewing their first associate agreement to experienced dentists negotiating new positions, renewals, partnership opportunities, or contracts following the acquisition of a practice by a DSO or other dental organization.
His dental contract practice includes agreements with private dental practices, dental service organizations, group practices, specialty dental practices, and other dental employers. He also assists dentists with independent contractor agreements, partnership and buy-in arrangements, and dental practice purchase agreements.
Dental contracts often contain compensation formulas and financial provisions that can significantly affect a dentist’s income. Robert’s dental contract reviews focus on the provisions that most directly affect compensation, career flexibility, financial exposure, and the ability to leave a practice.
These provisions commonly include:
Compensation provisions in dental agreements can be especially difficult to evaluate because two contracts offering the same percentage may produce very different compensation depending on whether the percentage is applied to production, adjusted production, collections, or another defined amount. Lab fee deductions, refunds, write-offs, financing fees, and other adjustments can also materially affect what a dentist actually earns.
Robert helps dentists understand how these formulas work before they sign the agreement.
Dentists increasingly receive employment offers from dental service organizations and other corporate dental groups. DSO agreements may include detailed compensation formulas, multiple practice locations, restrictive covenants, repayment obligations, production requirements, and provisions allowing the employer significant control over scheduling and practice assignments.
Robert reviews DSO contracts with particular attention to how compensation is calculated, whether deductions are clearly defined, how office locations can be changed, what happens when employment ends, and whether restrictive covenants could limit a dentist’s ability to continue practicing in the area.
Non-compete provisions can have a major impact on a dentist’s career after leaving a practice. Dental agreements may restrict competition based on a geographic radius around one office, multiple offices, or any location where the dentist provided services.
Robert evaluates the duration, geographic scope, triggering locations, and other restrictions contained in dental non-compete provisions. He also reviews non-solicitation clauses that may limit a dentist’s ability to communicate with patients, referral sources, or former coworkers after leaving the practice.
Some dentists are offered the opportunity to become an owner or partner after working as an associate. Others may be considering purchasing an existing dental practice.
These transactions involve different issues than a standard employment agreement. Buy-in and purchase agreements may address valuation, ownership percentages, voting rights, distributions, debt obligations, restrictive covenants, exit rights, and what happens if the relationship between the owners ends.
Robert assists dentists in reviewing these agreements so they understand both the legal terms and the financial obligations associated with becoming an owner.
Robert’s approach is practical and dentist-focused. Rather than simply identifying legal language, he explains how each provision works in the real world, what financial or professional risk it may create, and which terms may be appropriate to clarify or negotiate before the dentist signs the agreement.
The goal is not simply to identify problematic language. It is to help dentists understand exactly how their compensation will be calculated, what obligations they are accepting, how they can terminate the agreement, and what restrictions will apply after the relationship ends.
Before opening his own practice, Rob gained experience with the legal departments of three major healthcare organizations, including:
As the founder of Chelle Law, Rob is committed to providing dentists with practical, responsive, and experienced legal guidance throughout the contract review and negotiation process.
Whether reviewing a dentist’s first associate agreement, evaluating a DSO offer, negotiating a contract renewal, considering a partnership opportunity, or reviewing a dental practice purchase agreement, Rob focuses on helping each client understand the financial, professional, and legal consequences of the agreement before signing.
