Education
-
Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1996
-
Northwestern University, B.A., B.M., 1991
Bar Admissions
-
District of Columbia
-
Virginia
Court Admissions
-
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
-
U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
Awards and Honors
- Special Commendation, Department of Justice Civil Division (awarded for her role in a precedent-setting matter against a major pharmaceutical company), 2004
- Special Commendation, Department of Justice Civil Division (awarded for her role in a landmark case against a national hospital chain), 2003
|
|
| |
Laura Laemmle-Weidenfeld defends clients against civil and criminal government investigations and litigation relating to allegations of fraud and abuse, particularly in the health care and life sciences industries. Ms. Weidenfeld, a Co-Chair of the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar Practice Group, has defended against such investigations brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ), including United States Attorneys Offices throughout the country, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General, state attorneys general and other state and federal agencies.
In addition, Ms. Weidenfeld counsels her clients on compliance-related issues, providing regulatory guidance and helping to establish effective corporate compliance programs. She represents a broad range of health care providers, including individual physicians, hospitals, ambulance providers, home health care agencies, behavioral health providers and durable medical equipment (DME) providers, as well as major pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. Ms. Weidenfeld also represents investors in connection with the due diligence review of health care entities.
Before joining Patton Boggs, Ms. Weidenfeld worked as a trial attorney in the Frauds Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, where she conducted numerous health care fraud investigations and litigation matters brought under the civil False Claims Act and its qui tam (whistleblower) provisions. During her five years at the Department, she worked in conjunction with numerous U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and her cases focused on alleged violations of the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Laws and various other health care statutes and regulations.
Representative Matters:
- On behalf of a well-known nationwide DME provider, successfully resolved False Claims Act litigation relating to marketing practices by negotiating a civil settlement with the Department of Justice and a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
- Successfully defended a national home health care provider against a criminal investigation by a state Attorney General’s office, ultimately obtaining a formal declination of the matter, which related to Medicaid billing concerns.
Professional Affiliations:
- American Bar Association, Litigation and Health Law Sections
- American Health Lawyers Association, Fraud and Abuse Practice Group Vice Chair, 2008-present
- Women’s Bar Association (DC), Health Law Forum (Co-Chair, 1998-1999)
|
|
|