Healthcare: health insurers in United States

The deeply experienced team at McDermott Will & Emery LLP provides transactional and regulatory advice to health insurers, while also representing healthcare-sector clients in enforcement proceedings and litigation. The firm has a strong background working with private equity clients and has advised a variety of non-traditional investors on health insurance transactions. It is also noted for its focus on digital health issues. Moreover, the litigation team, was recently bolstered by the arrivals of three new partners from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, in a move that significantly strengthens the firm's litigation capabilities for health insurers. Eric Zimmerman leads the team from Washington DC, with a focus on policy and legislation matters. Other names to note in Washington DC are Jeremy Earl, who focuses on regulation relating to managed care organizations, and Kate McDonald, who advises insurers and HMOs on a full range of federal and state regulatory matters.

Dentons fields a well-balanced healthcare team, with attorneys able to handle a breadth of transactional, regulatory and litigation-based work. It has strong knowledge and understanding of a variety of Affordable Care Act (ACA) issues, particularly relating to accountable care organizations. Washington DC-based practice co-head Janice Ziegler handles significant amounts of speciality work focusing on Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) laws, providing counsel to insurers, service providers, employers and industry associations. Also in Washington DC, joint practice head Bruce Merlin Fried has significant experience in healthcare law and policy, with a background in both public and private sector work.

Greenberg Traurig LLP's healthcare and FDA practice handles regulatory and transactional work for a variety of standout clients, including Centene, Oscar Insurance and United Healthcare. In particular, the team has an emphasis on transactions involving private equity firms and other private investors. Standout work in this area included serving as counsel to long-standing client Affinity on its pending sale to Molina Healthcare; that matter was led by Albany-based attorneys Harold Iselin and Tricia Asaro. In the regulatory space, the team undertakes regular reviews of Medicare and Medicaid payments, OIG audits and sanctions, and state licensure and accreditation. The practice group is jointly led by Nancy Taylor in Washington DC and David Peck in Fort Lauderdale. Eileen Hayes is also  recommended in the Albany office.

Hogan Lovells US LLP has a strong track record in class actions, fraud and abuse litigation, routinely acting for market-leading health insurers. Of recent note, Miami-based attorneys Craig Smith and David Massey defended Centene in a state-wide putative class action suit concerning adequate access to certain prescriptions; the case ended in dismissal and a later resolution between the parties. Other key clients include United Healthcare and Anthem, which the firm represents in ERISA litigation, arbitration and general business disputes, among other matters. Michael Maddigan leads the Los Angeles litigation practice, and is recognized for his experience in class actions, False Claims Act cases, and internal investigations. In addition to its focus on high-stakes litigation, the team also advises on transactional matters and compliance, antitrust and privacy issues. Sheree Kanner leads the practice group from Washington DC.

The team at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is best known for representing large healthcare plans and providers in complex litigation and class action lawsuits. Jointly led by insurance practice leader Brian Jazaeri and Washington DC-based Howard Young who manages the healthcare practice, the practice group marries industry experience with a wide range of general insurance expertise to provide comprehensive service from different angles. Other key figures in the team include Lisa Weddle and San Francisco-based Molly Moriarty Lane, both of whom represent well-known insurers in large class actions, and Taylor Day, a standout associate in the team who is building a solid reputation in the area of class actions. Named lawyers are based in Los Angeles unless stated otherwise.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP focuses on litigation in this space, representing healthcare companies and insurers in state and federal courts across the country. Recent highlights include defending UnitedHealthcare in two cases: the first, a dismissal of a challenge to its relationship with a third party, and the other, an ongoing defense in a putative class action case concerning its review of in-patient mental health services. Leading these two cases is Los Angeles-based attorney Heather Richardson, who also has expertise in reimbursement policy, provider fraud, coverage determinations, and quality of care. Also recommended in Los Angeles is Richard Doren, who has extensive experience in class actions, novel bad faith disputes, and other high-stakes coverage disputes.

Based in Washington DC, the team at Groom Law Group, Chartered handles a full range of contentious and non-contentious matters, and has focused on expanding its existing work managing the impact of the ACA on both employers and insurers. The firm also stands out for its specialized knowledge of HIPAA privacy and security issues, healthcare tax law. Practice co-heads Jon Breyfogle and Lisa Campbell have extensive careers working in government, giving them unique insight into the navigation of client relationships with state and federal agencies, and the development of compliant products. Seth Peretta and Ryan Temme are also recommended for their state and federal compliance work.

Jones Day has broad expertise in issues facing the healthcare industry, routinely advising on M&A and joint ventures in the sector, fraud and abuse regulation, antitrust, digital health issues, and corporate governance. Working in conjunction with other of the firm's practice groups, the team is able to provide comprehensive support on matters ranging from private equity transactions to bankruptcies and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Notable work includes representing The Peoples' Choice Hospital in a civil suit initiated by Aetna over damages from rural reference lab programs. The team is jointly led by San Francisco-based James Dutro, Stephen Sozio in Cleveland, and Kenneth Field in Washington DC. Lisa Han in Columbus, Ohio has extensive experience in managed care negotiations and regulatory matters, and San Francisco-based David Morris is a name to note for transactions between healthcare payers and providers.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents a variety of national insurers and locally oriented health plans, with a particular emphasis on regulation, government investigations and litigation. The team provides regulatory advice to multiple payers, with notable clients including UnitedHealthcare, Molina Healthcare, and AON. In addition, the team benefits from the government experience of its partners, with several attorneys having worked in multiple previous presidential administrations. Daniel Meron had a particularly standout year, with multiple successful defenses of United Healthcare in FCA claims and other regulatory challenges.

Specializing in False Claims Act defense and other litigation, O'Melveny & Myers LLP has a very experienced team and an enviable client base including Anthem, Humana, KaiserPermanente and UnitedHealthcare. Most notably in the review period, the team represented Health Care Service Corporation in an unpaid risk corridor case, and has also continued its representation of UnitedHealth Group in an ERISA class action case, both with significant estimated valuations. Key figures in the team are experienced attorneys Lee Blalack, who specializes in litigation; Brian Boyle, a name to note for ERISA class actions; and David Deaton, who leads the practice group from Newport Beach. The team has also invested heavily in its internal technological infrastructure, including data science and AI-based information systems, in order to improve team efficiency.

The growing team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has expanded its focus on healthcare transactions, having recently been involved in several significant structured collaborations and M&A. The firm's expertise in transactions and risk arrangements involving Medicare Advantage plans, led by practice head Eric Klein, has been a key feature in its major cases. Other key figures include Lynsey Mitchel, who is recommended for her experience in HMO licensing, and Eric Newsom, a name to note for healthcare transactions and M&A. The firm has also stood out for its diversity initiatives, receiving multiple recognitions from clients and external bodies.