Morgan Lewis Broadens Life Sciences Capabilities with Healthcare Group
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date:
04/03/2009
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WASHINGTON, D.C., April 3, 2009: Solidifying its position as a full-service legal resource for the life sciences industry, Morgan Lewis today announced the addition of six healthcare partners to its FDA and Healthcare Practice—five in Washington, D.C. and one in San Francisco. As demand for healthcare continues to grow and the government imposes additional controls around healthcare services and costs, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, medical device suppliers, hospital systems, and healthcare insurers will need integrated legal and public policy services to navigate the countless business and regulatory issues they face.
"The addition of this group is an important one for Morgan Lewis and for our healthcare industry clients, who are depending on our counsel as they adapt to evolving regulations, accelerating industry consolidation, and new business opportunities under the Obama administration," noted Firm Chair Francis M. Milone in a memo to the firm.
"The group's representation of healthcare providers complements the firm's already robust representation of healthcare product manufacturers—areas of practice expected to grow despite the current economic climate," commented Kathleen Sanzo, leader of the firm's FDA and Healthcare Practice. In addition, the group broadens the firm's capabilities in fraud and abuse enforcement and compliance matters. They join one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive FDA and interdisciplinary life sciences practices, with more than 200 lawyers, scientists, and other technical specialists who focus on the life sciences industry.
"With further depth, a growing presence on the West Coast, and broader capabilities in healthcare, this addition enhances our ability to provide counseling, litigation, and transactional services covering the complete life cycle of life sciences products and services," added Stephen Paul Mahinka, chair of Morgan Lewis's Life Sciences Interdisciplinary Practice.
Six attorneys join Morgan Lewis from Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal as partners:
Joyce Cowan (DC) is a healthcare transactions and public policy attorney who has spent 20-plus years assisting hospitals, pharmaceutical manufacturers, physician groups, and other healthcare providers in voicing their healthcare policy concerns before Congress and the Executive Branch. She also counsels private equity firms and other organizations in the financial services sector, guiding them in matters involving healthcare financing, healthcare delivery, Medicare, Medicaid, appropriations, fraud and abuse, and related issues.
Kathleen McDermott (DC) was an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Health Care Fraud Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Maryland from 1991 to 1999 and is a nationally recognized False Claims Act practitioner. She has handled white collar and compliance matters with respect to the health industry for 17 years, representing medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, clinical research organizations, and healthcare service providers and payers in government investigations, compliance reviews, and compliance counseling. She is co-chair of the American Bar Association White Collar Crime False Claims Qui Tam Subcommittee and chair of the American Health Lawyers Association Fraud & Abuse Practice Group.
John Rah (DC) advises a variety of healthcare service providers, suppliers, manufacturers, and managed care organizations and associations, including some of the nation's most prominent hospitals, health systems, and drug and device manufacturers. He is a recognized leader in healthcare compliance matters and is relied on heavily by his clients to negotiate reimbursement matters and implement voluntary or government-mandated corporate compliance programs.
Albert Shay (DC) counsels hospitals, integrated health systems, academic medical centers, large single- and multispecialty physician group practices and other healthcare providers on a wide range of regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters. He advises hospitals, physician groups, and other healthcare providers on the application of the federal fraud and abuse and self-referral laws to various contractual arrangements. He also assists clients in the resolution of complex fraud and abuse investigations, voluntary self-disclosures, overpayment recoupment efforts, and other compliance reviews. Mr. Shay represents numerous hospitals before administrative agencies and federal courts on Medicare reimbursement and certification appeals. He is active in the American Health Lawyers Association and is a former vice chair of the Fraud and Abuse, Self-Referrals, and False Claims Substantive Law Committee.
Howard Young (DC), who was a senior attorney and deputy branch chief with the Office of Counsel to the HHS Office of Inspector General from 1997 to 2002, has focused his practice on fraud and abuse issues affecting the health law industry for more than 15 years. He advises an array of healthcare businesses on fraud and abuse, regulatory, clinical research, and compliance program matters, and regularly provides counsel on government self-disclosures.
Reece Hirsch (SF) practices in the healthcare regulatory and transactional areas. With his command of California state healthcare programs, he will be an asset to healthcare institutions and product supplier clients on the West Coast. He counsels hospitals, health plans and insurers, physician organizations, healthcare information technology companies, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and other healthcare organizations on matters involving Medicare, fraud and abuse, and self-referrals. His practice emphasizes healthcare privacy and security issues and healthcare technology ventures.
Related Attorneys:
Albert W. Shay, W. Reece Hirsch, Kathleen McDermott, Howard J. Young, John S. Rah, Joyce A. Cowan