Exhibit 5.1

ROPES & GRAY LLP 1211 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, NY 10036-8704 WWW.ROPESGRAY.COM

January 29, 2021

Surgery Partners, Inc.

310 Seven Springs Way, Suite 500

Brentwood, Tennessee 37027

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Surgery Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with issuance and sale of up to 8,625,000 shares of the common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Shares”), of the Company pursuant to the above-referenced registration statement (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Shares are being sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated the date hereof (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Jefferies LLC, KKR Capital Markets LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters listed on Schedule 1 thereto.

In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined such certificates, documents and records and have made such investigation of fact and such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate in order to enable us to render the opinions set forth herein. In conducting such investigation, we have relied, without independent verification, upon certificates of officers of the Company, public officials and other appropriate persons.

The opinions expressed below are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name therein and in the related prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.