Hooper, Lundy & Bookman Elevates Two Partners and Three Senior Counsel

“We congratulate our colleagues, all of whom are deeply committed to our clients and have demonstrated the highest levels of excellence in the health care legal space,” said Managing Shareholder Mark Reagan. “We are extremely proud of this talented next generation of leaders and appreciate their important contributions to the firm and our clients.”

The following individual was offered equity partnership:

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.  With his deep regulatory knowledge, experience in reimbursement matters generally, and extensive work on graduate medical education reimbursement issues in particular, he has favorably resolved numerous reimbursement disputes for providers across the country. 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.

The following individual was promoted to non-equity partner:

Stephanie Gross (Los Angeles Office) – Stephanie is a member of the firm’s Business Department and Co-Chair of the Reproductive Health Practice. She assists hospitals, health systems, medical groups, skilled nursing facilities, and other providers, as well as health services companies and digital health companies, in navigating payor relationships in their day-to-day operations, as well as entering into strategic partnerships and major transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. This involves counseling on fraud and abuse issues, including compliance with federal and state anti-kickback and self-referral laws, as well as state insurance licensing requirements, the corporate practice of medicine, and general corporate and regulatory compliance matters. Stephanie also frequently drafts and negotiates professional service and related agreements and assists clients in obtaining financing to meet their goals.

The following individuals were promoted to senior counsel:

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 and data privacy and security issues and regularly counsels hospitals, health systems, medical groups, and digital health providers in navigating the complex web of federal and state health privacy laws that govern the confidentiality and exchange of health information. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrea helped clients parse through rapidly evolving federal and state developments and regulatory changes, particularly with regard to the provision of telehealth services, and frequently counsels clients on the development and operation of nationwide digital health care platforms and other business lines.

Matthew Lahana (San Diego Office) – Matt is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department.  He works closely with medical staff directors, skilled nursing administrators, and hospital leadership on a wide range of litigation and compliance matters. He counsels and advocates for providers in investigations, audits, and litigation and provides regulatory guidance to help his clients clearly understand their obligations and steer clear of potential problems. His practice involves compliance counseling for surgical centers, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and adult day health centers. He also assists hospitals and other providers with fraud and abuse investigations.  He is a former Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice, where he represented various state agencies in civil litigation involving health, education, and welfare matters.

Catherine Wicker (San Diego Office) – Catherine is a member of the firm’s Litigation Department.  She counsels health systems, hospitals, and medical staffs on various regulatory and litigation matters. She focuses a significant portion of her practice on peer review matters, internal investigations, fair hearing proceedings, and litigation relating to medical staff issues. She also advises clients on compliance issues, reporting obligations, self-governance, bylaws, credentialing and privileging, quality improvement activities, and physician disciplinary matters. Catherine also has experience representing skilled nursing facilities and other healthcare providers and suppliers in various matters, including managed care litigation, class actions, long-term care issues, and complex civil proceedings.

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.