Hooper, Lundy & Bookman Elevates Five Partners and One Office Managing Partner

The following individuals were offered equity partnership:

Bridget Gordon (Los Angeles Office) – Bridget is a member of the Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the Clinical Laboratory Work Group. Her practice is focused on managed care litigation, fraud and abuse matters – including False Claims Act litigation, managed care contract review, and compliance advising. She has handled a wide array of reimbursement disputes with both commercial and government payors. Such disputes also include challenging and responding to payor audits, recoupment requests, and investigations. She routinely defends providers in healthcare fraud and abuse matters ranging from assistance and strategy with responses to Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) and subpoenas to defending providers in qui tam relator actions, False Claims Act actions, and related actions brought under various state laws. She also works closely with clients on managed care contract review and negotiation, as well as compliance advising and internal policy development.

Jordan Kearney (San Francisco Office) – Jordan is a member of the Regulatory Department and the firm’s Fraud & Abuse Practice Group.  She represents a wide range of hospital and health systems and other health care providers in litigation of novel and complex cases of first impression.  Her practice focuses on the defense of healthcare providers in government investigations and audits, including federal and state False Claims Act actions, actions under the California Insurance Fraud Prevention Act, and audits by Unified Program Integrity Contractors (UPICs).  Jordan regularly counsels providers on internal investigations of potential overpayments and any subsequent obligations to report and return under the 60-Day Rule.  She also has extensive experience coordinating Emergency Medical Services (EMS) strategy and litigation on behalf of California counties.

Robert Miller (Los Angeles Office) – Robert is Co-Chair of the firm’s Business Department. He advises a wide variety of health care companies on corporate and regulatory issues. Recognized for his creative problem-solving and unusually broad-based experience in both business and health law, Robert advocates for clients that include health systems, hospitals, technology companies, physician groups, management organizations, and investors in health care businesses.  He counsels large, sophisticated organizations grappling with multifaceted problems that can’t be resolved with off-the-shelf solutions. He also advises provider clients on fraud and abuse issues in the context of both transactions and regulatory compliance, including internal investigations, analyses of reporting requirements, and related disclosures to governmental agencies.

The following individuals were promoted to non-equity partner:

Andrea Frey (San Francisco Office) – Andrea is a member of the firm’s Regulatory and Business Departments and Co-Chair of both the Digital Health and Reproductive Health Practices.  She specializes in digital health, technology, and data sharing issues, and regularly counsels health care providers, health technology companies, health information exchanges, and related businesses in navigating the complex web of federal and state laws that govern the exchange of health information. Andrea also frequently provides clients with strategic legal advice on the development, implementation, and operation of telemedicine services and other innovative digital health solutions.

Catherine Srithong Wicker (San Diego Office) – Catherine is a member of the firm’s Regulatory Department. She counsels health systems, hospitals, medical staffs on various regulatory compliance and litigation matters, with an emphasis on internal investigations, peer review, credentialing and privileging, fair hearing proceedings, and physician disciplinary matters. She also represents skilled nursing facilities, hospices, and other healthcare providers in litigation relating to reimbursement, state enforcement actions, and other long-term care issues. Outside of work, Catherine dedicates her time towards advancing diversity in the legal profession by mentoring law students and through her service in diverse bar organizations.

The following individual was elevated to Office Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office:

David Vernon (Washington, D.C. Office) – David is a member of the firm’s Regulatory Department and Co-Chair of the Academic Medical Center/Teaching Hospital Working Group.  He helps providers navigate the complex and multi-layered Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement landscape and has favorably resolved numerous reimbursement disputes for providers across the country.  David is regarded for his substantial experience and deep regulatory knowledge in Graduate Medical Education reimbursement, as well as Medicare Area Wage Index and rural floor matters.  A widely recognized licensure and certification expert, David also advises clients on complex regulatory issues that arise in the context of mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and related transactions. He assists clients with a broad range of licensing and certification, fraud and abuse, and compliance matters, developing effective strategies and practical solutions based on his understanding of how both regulators and providers go about their work.

About Hooper, Lundy & Bookman:  Founded in 1987, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman PC is the largest law firm in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to representing health care clients.  With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Denver, and clients in all 50 states, we meet the business, litigation, regulatory, and government relations needs of a broad array of health care providers―ranging from the largest national health care organizations to community hospitals and individual physician practices.  We are pleased to be ranked by Chambers USA among the top-ranked firms in healthcare nationally and in California and Massachusetts.  For more information, please visit our website at www.hooperlundy.com.