Robinson+Cole Elects New Partner and Counsel

Robinson+Cole is pleased to announce the election of Taylor A. Shea as partner and the promotion of Nathaniel T. Arden, Jonathan H. Schaefer, Cara C. Vecchione, and Anna Jinhua Wang to counsel, effective January 1, 2020. Read more in the press release.

Lisa Thompson Invited to Join the Boston Bar Foundation's Society of Fellows Committee

Health Law Group member Melissa (Lisa) Thompson has been invited to join the Boston Bar Foundation (BBF) Society of Fellows Committee. The Committee is tasked with advising on membership initiatives and recruiting new members. Its focus in the coming year will be the Drive for 5 Campaign, an ambitious $5 million endowment effort designed to create a permanent base of support for the BBF. The Society of Fellows is a group of nearly 400 individuals who are dedicated to furthering the mission and work of the BBF. Members are invited to attend social and networking events throughout the year, and are publicly recognized for their generous commitment to the community.

The Foundation is the charitable arm of the Boston Bar Association (BBA), the hub of the legal profession in Boston, which works to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, promote and facilitate access to justice, and serve the community at large by supporting the public interest activities and pro bono work of the BBA. 
 

Robinson+Cole Receives 33 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Four National Rankings in Latest U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”

Robinson+Cole received 33 first-tier metropolitan rankings and four national rankings in the 2020 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” The national rankings are in the areas of Information Technology Law, Labor Law - Management , Land Use & Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Law firms included in the publication are recognized for professional excellence with consistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Read more in the press release.

Lisa Thompson Appointed Co-chair of the Boston Bar Association Health Law Section

Health Law Group lawyer Melissa (Lisa) Thompson has been appointed by the Boston Bar Association (BBA) to serve as co-chair of its Health Law Section for a two year term beginning September 2019. With nearly 13,000 members representing private practice, corporations, government agencies, legal aid organizations, the courts, and law schools, the BBA’s mission is to advance the highest standards of excellence for the legal profession, facilitate access to justice, foster a diverse and inclusive professional community, and serve the community at large. Read more in the press release.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Home-Based Care Providers Adopting the ‘One-Stop-Shop’ Model Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article “Well Care Health CEO: We’re Pushing the Envelope of Care Innovation” published in Home Health Care News on September 12, 2019. The article uses Well Care Health as an example of how “a number of previously one-dimensional companies have evolved into ‘one-stop shops,’ or integrated businesses that offer an array of complementary services” in order to stay "competitive in today’s post-acute care landscape." “For somebody who’s been in the space a long time, this trend is very interesting,” said Les. “Twenty or so years ago, you had one-stop-shop models that people were trying to promote, pitching to managed care companies. But the market just wasn’t quite in tune enough to make that succeed.” Read the full article.

Les Levinson Quoted in Article on Home Care Assets Published in Home Health Care News

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article “Lack of Scalable Home Care Assets Means Buyers May Have to Get Creative'” published in Home Health Care News on August 25, 2019. The article uses the recent agreement between Amedisys Inc. and ClearCare Inc., which allows Amedisys to grow a personal care network through a partnership model instead of direct acquisition, as an example of how buyers are getting creative in their approach to growing their home care footprint. “This certainly may be an alternative way [to] sort of get deeper into the personal care space when there’s a lack of acquisition targets out there,” said Les. Read the full article.

57 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020

57 Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020. Of the 57 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 44 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state. Robinson+Cole also has the highest number of listed lawyers in Connecticut in the areas of environmental law, insurance law, and litigation-construction.

Additionally, the following four lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Thomas P. Cody in Real Estate Law, Michael R. Enright in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, John B. Lynch Jr. in Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Theodore J. Tucci in Insurance Law. Kathleen M. Porter was also named a Best Lawyers® 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston, Massachusetts, in the area of Information Technology Law. Read more in the press release.

Conor Duffy Is Named a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Health Law Group and Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team member Conor Duffy has been invited to join the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Fellows comprise a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose careers “have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities.” They are recommended by their peers and elected by the Board of the ABF. The prestigious invitation was extended in recognition of Conor’s contributions that support “the ABF’s groundbreaking research on the role and impact of law, lawyers and the legal process on society,” which help in the advancement of justice. 

Lisa Thompson Addresses Boston Bar Association's Health Care Conference

Health Law Group member Lisa Thompson was a featured speaker at the Boston Bar Association’s inaugural Health Care Conference in Boston, MA on May 30, 2019. Lisa spoke as a panelist on the program “Data Sharing Across the Health Care Industry.” She also participated as a member of the conference’s Advisory Committee. 

The event covered a variety of legal trends and developments affecting health care providers and institutions, payers, insurers, physicians, and medical groups, medical device and pharmaceutical companies, offering programs that included “Innovations in Health Care,” “Drug Pricing,” “Health Care Enforcement: What’s On the Horizon?” and the “Right to Try and Expanded Access to Investigational Drugs.” The full day of education and networking brought together firm experts, in-house counsel, regulators and policy leaders, and healthcare specialists – practitioners with the skills to help guide clients through the legal and regulatory changes they may face, as well as the industry knowledge to seize opportunities for growth and collaboration that can drive further improvement in the health care system.
 

Les Levinson was among the panelists who presented during the webinar “Home Health & Hospice: The Future of Healthcare Delivery”

Health Law Group lawyer Les Levinson was among the panelists who presented during the webinar “Home Health & Hospice: The Future of Healthcare Delivery” on April 25, 2019. Presented by Irving Levin Associates, the webinar covered the rising costs and continuing preference for home health care and hospice companies.  With the elderly population growing at a much faster rate than the increase in the number of caregivers, there is a question as to whether the home care business can grow as fast as people expect it to. Despite some of these concerns, demand for home healthcare and hospice companies continues to grow, as investors believe it will be part of the solution to containing costs and providing continuity of care to patients.

The topics the webinar addressed included: how active has the acquisition market been in the past few years; what are buyers paying, and how the multiples change depending on size; who the sellers are, and whether now is the time to sell; if labor pressures are squeezing profits enough to dampen investors’ appetite; and whether it makes sense for hospitals to get into, or continue in, the home care business. 

Adam Anderson and Nathaniel Arden Facilitate "Contracts 101" workshop

Adam Anderson and Nathaniel Arden facilitated the workshop “Contracts 101: Drafting and Negotiating Tips and Strategies” in Hartford, Connecticut on April 24, 2019. The event was sponsored by the MIT Enterprise Forum Connecticut. On any given day, a company might need to write, sign or negotiate a number of different contract types. “Contracts 101” presented the basics on the elements of an agreement and contract negotiation and offered critical tips and best practices to help save money and head off problems in both the short and long term. The workshop was the first in a series that will address legal, finance, strategy, operations, and marketing issues for startup founders. Robinson+Cole is a sponsor of the Connecticut Chapter of MIT Enterprise Forum.  

Les Levinson Authors Healthcare Financing Article

Health Law Group lawyer Les Levinson authored the article “Healthcare Financing Anti-assignment Limitations” published as a Lexis Practice Advisor® Practice Note on March 22, 2019. The article describes how to structure financing transactions for healthcare providers to overcome anti-assignment and collection limitations on Medicare and Medicaid receivables. 

The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) generally prohibits restrictions on assignment, making it possible for secured lenders to obtain a perfected security interest in these assets. Other regulations, however, make it difficult for lenders to collect on those receivables. The Practice Note addresses the structure and legal status of the “double lockbox” mechanism that lawyers commonly use to work around these federal regulations. To read the full article, click here. 

Robinson+Cole Receives “Top” Honors in JD Supra’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards

JD Supra’s 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards named Robinson+Cole the Top Firm on the subject of cybersecurity for the fourth consecutive year as well as a thought leader in that area, recognizing the firm “for achieving the highest visibility and engagement among readers for (its) particular expertise.” Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team lawyers Linn F. Freedman and Kathryn M. Rattigan and Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy were recognized as outstanding authors among some 50,000 authors who published insights and commentary on JD Supra in 2018. Linn was announced as the #1 author in the area of cybersecurity and a Top Author in the area of class action. She is the editor of the firm’s Data Privacy + Security Insider blog. Kathryn was recognized as the #1 author in the area of airlines/aviation as well as a Top Author in the area of class action. She also contributes to the Data Privacy + Security Insider blog. Conor was named a Top Author in the area of healthcare. He contributes to the Data Privacy + Security Insider  as well as the firm’s Health Law Diagnosis blog. The Readers’ Choice Awards recognize top authors and firms who were read by C-suite executives, in-house counsel, media, and other professionals across the JD Supra platform during 2018.

Christine Bromberg and Les Levinson Named to Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards

Tax Group lawyer Christine E. Bromberg and Health Law Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson have been selected to serve on Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards for 2019. Ms. Bromberg has been re-named to Law360’s Tax Editorial Advisory Board. She has served on the board since 2016. Mr. Levinson has been re-named to Law360’s Health Editorial Advisory Board. He has served on the board since 2015. The purpose of these editorial advisory boards is to get feedback on Law360's coverage and to gain insight from experts in the field on how best to shape future coverage.

Robinson+Cole Receives 36 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Four National Rankings in Latest U.S. News – “Best Law Firms” Survey

Robinson+Cole received 36 first-tier metropolitan rankings in the 2019 “Best Law Firms” list published in U.S. News & World Report. The firm also received four national rankings: Tier 2 rankings for Land Use & Zoning Law and Real Estate Law and Tier 3 rankings for Information Technology Law and Labor Law - Management.

The rankings are presented in tiers, on both the national and metropolitan lists, by practice area. Rankings are based on surveys in which major clients and lawyers are asked to rate the law firms they consider best in their practice areas. The full methodology can be found at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx.

View the complete list of first-tier metropolitan rankings.

Brian Nichols Profiled in ABA Health Law Section’s “Feature Friday”

Health Law Group lawyer Brian D. Nichols was profiled in the American Bar Association (ABA) Health Law Section’s “Feature Friday,” published in Section News on October 18, 2018. The premise of the weekly series is to get section members better acquainted with section leaders. Brian currently serves as Chair of the Health Law Section’s Business & Transactions Interest Group and is Co-Chair of the Emerging Issues in Healthcare Law Conference. Read the “Feature Friday."

51 Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2018. In addition, 32 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” The Super Lawyers designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas. An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here. View the list of recognized attorneys and their areas of practice.

Conor Duffy Quoted in Renal & Urology News Article on Criminal Charges for HIPAA Violations

Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy was quoted in the article “Massachusetts Physician Guilty in HIPAA Case,” published in Renal & Urology News on October 9, 2018. The article focuses on the potential implications for improper disclosure by citing the recent sentencing of Dr. Rita Luthra, a gynecologist who treated women in a low-income area of Springfield, Massachusetts, to one year of probation for violating HIPAA laws and obstructing an investigation into a federal health care probe. “Prosecutors appear to utilize criminal charges under HIPAA in part as a fall back or as leverage against a provider, because proving HIPAA violations can be easier than proving the existence of an illegal kickback arrangement,” Conor said. “The Massachusetts case is notable in that the government ended up dropping its kickback allegations but nonetheless prosecuted the physician for a HIPAA violation.” Read the full article.

Lisa Thompson Presents MassBar Program on Health Care Provider-Payor Dispute Resolution

Health Law Group lawyer Melissa (Lisa) Thompson was among the faculty presenting during a program on “Health Care Provider-Payor Dispute Resolution—Techniques and Strategies” on September 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. Co-sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association (MassBar) Dispute Resolution Section and Health Law Section, the program offered insight on the nuances of dispute resolution in recoupment, reimbursement and other payor-provider disputes. The session covered the importance of provider agreements as well as the policies, procedures and other documents incorporated by reference into those agreements, and considerations in selecting mediators and arbitrators for health care disputes.

Les Levinson Adds Insights as Specialty Medical Groups Webinar Panelist

Transactional Health Law Group co-Chair Leslie J. Levinson was a panelist on the webinar “Specialty Medical Groups: Why Dermatology, Anesthesiology, and Others Are Hot M&A Targets” presented on September 13, 2018. Levinson, who is also a member of the firm’s Health Law and Business Transaction Groups, was joined in the 90-minute moderated discussion of opportunities and challenges of acquiring specialty practices in 2018 by Andrew Colbert, Managing Director at Ziegler and Jeff Swearingen, Managing Director at Edgemont Capital Partners. As specialty physician groups have become a favorite - and highly profitable - target of private equity investors, practices such as orthopedics, ophthalmology, dentistry and dermatology are finding ways to enhance profitability within demographics-driven niche markets. The panel discussed questions including “Who really runs the practice after the sale?,” “Which specialties are reimbursed at the highest levels?” and “How hard is it to build a regional platform?”

Brian Nichols Participates in Webinar on Hospital M&A Market at Mid-Year

Health Law Group lawyer Brian D. Nichols was among the panelists that participated in a program on “Hospital M&A Market at Mid-Year: Surviving, or Not, Healthcare Reform,” presented on June 21, 2018. Hosted by Irving Levin Associates, the webinar covered the state of the hospital M&A market today, how valuations have been trending in 2018, and the outlook for traditional hospitals.

Conor Duffy Presents Webinar on Compliance for American Health Lawyers Association

Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy was among the speakers that presented during a live webinar entitled “Turning ‘Can We Do This?’ into ‘We Can Do This!’: Navigating Compliance, Part V" on June 20, 2018. Presented by the American Health Lawyers Association, the program explored hypothetical and real life legal obstacles and solutions for public, academic, and safety net hospitals that are looking to expand through partnerships, alliances, acquisitions, and investments.

Meaghan Cooper Named New Leader in the Law by the Connecticut Law Tribune

The Connecticut Law Tribune has recognized Health Law Group lawyer Meaghan Mary Cooper as a New Leader in the Law. She was honored at the publication’s 2018 Connecticut Legal Awards “Professional Excellence” event on May 24, 2018 at The Bond Ballroom in Hartford. This distinction spotlights lawyers under the age of 40 who have excelled in the courtroom, in client service and cultivation, in service to bar associations, and in performing pro bono work or community service in a volunteer capacity. Read more and view a photo in the press release.

Chambers USA Recognizes Robinson+Cole Lawyers and Practice Groups

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Robinson+Cole in all six practice areas that Chambers USA covers in Connecticut in its 2018 edition and has individually recognized 18 of the firm’s lawyers.  
Robinson+Cole earned rankings in the following Connecticut practice areas: Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate. See the individual market press releases for the list of Robinson+Cole lawyers included in Chambers USA 2018.

Les Levinson Presents Webinar on Selling a Health Care Services Company to a Private Equity Firm

Health Law Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson was among the panelists that presented during a webinar on “The Ins and Outs of Selling your Healthcare Services Company to a Private Equity Firm” on March 8, 2018. Presented by Irving Levin Associates, the webinar covered what private equity firms are looking for in a services business, why sellers often misjudge their business’ real worth, and what to expect before you sell, and what you may find after. View the webinar here.

Conor Duffy Presents Webcast on Managing Risks Under HIPAA & HITECH

Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy co-presented the program “Crucial Steps and Strategies in Managing Risks Under HIPAA & HITECH” on March 14, 2018. Presented by The Knowledge Group, the webcast covered the framework of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act and the potential risk issues health care providers might face under these Acts. Mr. Duffy offered insight on protecting highly sensitive data, breach reporting obligations at the federal and state level, and planning for a ransomware attack.

Christine Bromberg and Les Levinson Named to Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards

Tax Group lawyer Christine E. Bromberg and Health Law Group lawyer Leslie J. Levinson have been selected to serve on Law360 Editorial Advisory Boards for 2018.  Ms. Bromberg has been re-named to Law360’s Tax Editorial Advisory Board. She has served on the board since 2016. Mr. Levinson has been re-named to Law360’s Healthcare Editorial Advisory Board. He has served on the board since 2015. The purpose of these editorial advisory boards is to get feedback on Law360's coverage and to gain insight from experts in the field on how best to shape future coverage.

Conor Duffy Quoted in Cook County Record Article on $100,000 Fine for Defunct Business Associate Due to Improper Disposal of Medical Records

Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy was quoted in the article “Feds snag $100K deal from defunct Northbrook firm accused of leaving HIPAA records in dumpster,” published in Cook County Record on February 28, 2018. The article discusses the recent $100,000 settlement announced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights with a court-appointed receiver representing Filefax, Inc. arising from the 2015 discovery of medical records that contained protected health information (PHI) of over two thousand individuals in a dumpster. Filefax, a now-defunct medical records moving and storage company located in Illinois, acted as a business associate under HIPAA. “This settlement is a reminder that companies subject to HIPAA can expose themselves to sanctions if they ignore fundamental HIPAA obligations, like implementing reasonable safeguards against unauthorized access to, or disclosure of, PHI,” said Mr. Duffy. Read the full article.

Natale Di Natale, Rich Fil, Les Levinson, Virginia McGarrity, and Brian Nichols Present Health Law Webinar

Health Law Group lawyers Leslie J. Levinson and Brian D. Nichols, Labor + Employment Group lawyers Natale V. Di Natale and Virginia E. McGarrity, and Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Group lawyer Richard M. Fil presented a program on “Getting Your Health Care Entity Ready for a Purchase or Sale Transaction: Steps for Success” on February 27, 2018. The webinar provided practical takeaways and key considerations in planning for a purchase or sale transaction of a health care entity including: regulatory issues related to hospitals, physician practices, and post-acute health care providers; resource management, deal process considerations, and transaction timing; and labor, employee benefit, and environmental issues.

Les Levinson Quoted in Part B News Articles on 2017 and 2018 Health Care Predictions

Transactional Health Law Group co-chair Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in a Part B News article published on January 1, 2018. The article, “2018 predictions: Providers take on risk, OCR goes after ‘juicy’ violations, MIPS habits change and more," offers predictions of what will affect physician practices in 2018. Regarding the prediction that mergers and acquisitions among medical practices will be strong in 2018, Mr. Levinson says that M&A activity should continue to be active and that some large medical organizations will spin off acquisitions that don’t prove profitable. "That trend, particularly with private equity investors, should continue in the coming year." Click here to read the article

Another Part B News article, published on the same day, recapped predictions that were made early last year. The article, “PBN's 2017 predictions: Right on QPP, CCM, fraud — and almost everything else,” indicated that Mr. Levinson's 2017 prediction came to fruition as “large players, acquiring, trading or spinning off businesses kept the sector hopping.” Click here to read the article.

Robinson+Cole Receives 37 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and 3 National Rankings in Latest U.S. News – Best Law Firms Survey

Robinson+Cole received 37 first-tier metropolitan rankings in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list published in U.S. News & World Report.

The firm also received three national rankings: Tier 2 ranking for Real Estate Law and Tier 3 rankings for Information Technology Law and Land Use & Zoning Law.

The rankings are presented in tiers, on both the national or metropolitan lists, by practice area. Rankings are based on surveys in which major clients and lawyers are asked to rate the law firms they consider best in their practice areas.

View a complete list of the firm's first-tier metropolitan rankings in the news release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 56 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2017. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 29 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here.

See the list of included lawyers in the news release.

Conor Duffy Moderates ABA Webinar on Health Care Fraud and Abuse

Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy moderated the webinar "Avoiding Pinstripes and Fines: Fundamentals of Health Care Fraud and Abuse," on September 21, 2017. This webinar provided an introduction to the Stark law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and other health care fraud and abuse laws; reviewed common compliance issues that arise under these laws; and discussed the range of penalties for noncompliance with such laws. The webinar, an ABA presentation, was co-sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division and the Health Law Section. 

Ted Tucci, Kate Dion, and Conor Duffy Co-author Article Published in AHLA Connections

Business Litigation Group lawyers Theodore J. Tucci and Kathleen E. Dion and Health Law Group lawyer Conor O. Duffy co-wrote the article "Escobar Materiality Standard for Implied False Certification Claims Poses Acute FCA Compliance Challenge," published in the September 2017 issue of AHLA Connections, the member magazine for the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA). The article focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2016 decision to uphold the validity, at least in some circumstances, of the “implied false certification” theory of liability under the False Claims Act (FCA), and the continued disagreement over the meaning and impact of Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar. Click here to view the entire article.

Copyright 2017, American Health Lawyers Association, Washington, DC. Reprint permission granted.

Fifty-Nine Robinson+Cole Lawyers Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018

Fifty-nine Robinson+Cole lawyers were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Of the 59 lawyers from across the firm’s practice groups and offices named to the list, 49 are from Connecticut. The firm continues to have the highest number of recognized lawyers in the state.

Additionally, the following six lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Litigation – Construction; Stephen E. Goldman in Insurance Law; Stuart D. Rosen in Litigation – Banking and Finance; Edward J. Samorajczyk Jr. in Securities / Capital Markets Law; William T. Sellay in Mergers and Acquisitions Law; and Theodore J. Tucci in Health Care Law.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the press release.

Pamela Del Negro Appointed to Board of AHLA Publication

Health Law Group lawyer Pamela Del Negro has been appointed to the Editorial Board of the Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law, a publication of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA). The board, consisting of law professors, in-house counsel, and lawyers in private practice, formulates goals and activities for the upcoming year, identifies for lawyers critical topics on health and life sciences law, and reviews articles for publication. The AHLA is the nation's largest, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) educational organization devoted to legal issues in the health care field. Ms. Del Negro's appointment is for a one-year term, beginning July 1, 2017.

Robinson+Cole Sponsors Panel Discussion on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices

In a panel discussion held at Robinson+Cole’s Hartford office on June 1, 2017, Health Law Group and life sciences lawyer Melissa (Lisa) Thompson spoke on "Cybersecurity for Medical Devices." The panelists exchanged views on a variety of topics that included patient safety, post-market management practices and FDA guidance, cybersecurity by design, functionality, protecting patient data, and cyber-related vulnerabilities and incident information sharing. Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Group and Intellectual Property Group lawyer Kathleen M. Porter organized the event, which was co-sponsored by Robinson+Cole, the Biomedical Engineering Alliance and Consortium (BEACON), and Court Square Group (CSG). Centrally located along the New England Knowledge Corridor that extends from New Haven, Connecticut, to Northampton, Massachusetts, BEACON is a nonprofit organization consisting of academic and medical institutions, as well as corporations and entrepreneurs, dedicated to the development, commercialization, and manufacture of new medical devices and technology. Robinson+Cole and CSG are BEACON members, and Ms. Porter and CSG President Keith Parent serve on BEACON's board of directors. Click here to see photos from the event.

Chambers USA Recognizes Robinson+Cole Lawyers and Practice Groups

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized the law firm of Robinson+Cole in six practice area categories in its 2017 edition and has individually recognized 18 of the firm’s lawyers, including one lawyer who received nationwide recognition.  
Robinson+Cole earned rankings in each of the practice areas that Chambers USA covers in Connecticut: Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate.
See the full press release for the list of Robinson+Cole lawyers included in Chambers USA 2017.

Health Law Group Lawyer Presents on Voluntary Self-Disclosure Protocols

Health Law Group lawyer Melissa (Lisa) Thompson presented the webinar "Navigating Voluntary Self-Disclosure Protocols" on April 19, 2017. She discussed  the OIG Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol (SDP) and the CMS Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP). In addition, Ms. Thompson  provided insight into deciding how, when, and which protocol to use; an overview of protocol requirements; the new SRDP processes and forms; and the latest statistics on settlements. 

Les Levinson Moderates Home Care 100 Conference

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group, attended the Home Care 100 Leadership & Strategy Conference in Amelia Island, Florida, on February 6, 2017. Mr. Levinson moderated the session "Managed Care," which addressed solutions for home health providers. The panel of managed care veterans examined data sharing and gainsharing and offered the payer perspective on value-based partnerships, including how home health providers can share in the risk. Home Care 100 provides a forum for senior executives in the home care and hospice fields to discuss the current business landscape, growth strategies, and the future direction of the industry.

Les Levinson Quoted in Part B News Article on 2017 Health Care Predictions

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group, was quoted in a Part B News article published on January 2, 2017. The article, "2017 predictions: Increased cash payments, no changes to MACRA and more," discusses the potential for 2017 to be an unparalleled time for changes in health care. Regarding the prediction that practice consolidation will accelerate, Mr. Levinson says that practice acquisition was active in 2016, "particularly in the specialty practice areas with dermatology, ophthalmology and anesthesia remaining strong, along with a continuing consolidation of dental practices by practice management companies." 

Les Levinson Presents at ACG Connecticut Health Care Meeting

Leslie J. Levinson, co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Team, presented at the Connecticut Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth's (ACG) Health Care Breakfast Meeting on November 4, 2016, in Stamford, Connecticut. He joined others from Connecticut's health care industry to discuss a range of issues in the panel discussion "From Closing to Value Enhancement – Increasing Value from Health Care Transactions." Topics included (1) how are investors considering health care investments, (2) how to identify post-transaction risk, (3) actions that maximize value, and (4) health care transactions in the future, such as possible impacts of the election and emerging trends. His co-presenters were David Howard of Grant Thornton and Adam Dolder of Great Point Partners. Lou Feuerstein of Grant Thornton was the moderator. 

Robinson+Cole Receives 34 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and 3 National Rankings in Latest U.S. News – Best Law Firms Survey

Robinson+Cole received 34 first-tier metropolitan rankings, including 26 in the city of Hartford, in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list published in U.S. News & World Report.

The firm also received three national rankings: Tier 2 rankings for Information Technology Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law.

The rankings are presented in tiers, on both the national or metropolitan lists, by practice area. Rankings are based on surveys in which major clients and lawyers are asked to rate the law firms they consider best in their practice areas.

View a complete list of the firm's first-tier metropolitan rankings in the news release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

A total of 51 Robinson+Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island for 2016. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 23 attorneys at the firm were recognized as “Rising Stars.” An explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology can be found here.

See the list of included lawyers in the news release.

Les Levinson Interviewed for Privcap Healthcare Insider Article

Leslie J. Levinson was interviewed for the article "Where Some See Healthcare Challenges, PE Sees Roll-Up Opportunity," published in the Privcap Healthcare Insider on September 7, 2016. The article discusses how health care subsectors such as dermatology and behavioral health have to deal with fewer reimbursement pressures, resulting in more opportunities for private equity. A recent Privcap webinar highlights both addiction treatment and dermatology as areas of health care consolidation that drive opportunities in the smallest end of the middle market. You can learn about Mr. Levinson's take on this topic by viewing the article and the video here. You can also view the transcript of his interview here. 

Mr. Levinson is a health law and business transactions partner in Robinson+Cole's New York  and co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Group.

Meaghan Cooper Joins Interval House Board of Directors

Interval House, Connecticut’s largest domestic violence intervention and prevention agency, has appointed Meaghan Mary Cooper to its Board of Directors for a two-year term. Founded in 1977, Interval House has positively affected the lives of nearly 200,000 women and children who have experienced psychological and physical abuse at the hands of a domestic or intimate partner. 

Read more in the full release.

Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017

Robinson+Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of Connecticut lawyers selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 (Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Across the firm’s practice groups and offices, 57 lawyers were named to this year’s list, including 47 in Connecticut.

Additionally, the following four lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Construction Law; Judith M. Keppelman  in Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Linda L. Morkan in Appellate Practice; and Edward J. Samorajczyk Jr. in Corporate Law.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the news release.

Robinson+Cole Bolsters Health Law Practice with Two New Lawyers

Robinson+Cole’s Health Law Group welcomes Melissa (Lisa) Thompson as a partner in the firm’s Boston and Providence offices and Erica S. Youngerman as an associate in the firm’s New York office. Ms. Thompson will be working closely with Lisa M. Boyle, chair of the firm’s Health Law Group, and fellow partners Leslie J. Levinson and Brian R. Nichols in continuing to expand the firm’s health care practice in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Read more in the full release.

Robinson+Cole Welcomes Thirteen New Lawyers

Robinson+Cole welcomes 13 new lawyers who joined the firm over the last several months in its offices in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, and New York. The lawyers bring additional breadth to a number of our corporate practices, including business transactions, data privacy, employee benefits and compensation, finance, health law, labor and employment, insurance and reinsurance, real estate and development, and tax.

"Robinson+Cole continues to draw high-caliber talent to our practices, and we are thrilled to welcome these latest additions to our firm," said Stephen E. Goldman, Robinson+Cole's managing partner. "They bring valuable and diverse experiences with them that will allow us to continue to provide the high level of service our clients expect and also to offer new insights and perspectives to the legal challenges our clients face."

Kathryn Rattigan Appointed Vice Chair of MBA's Health Law Council

Kathryn M. Rattigan has been appointed vice chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association's (MBA) Health Law Section Council. The health law council is part of the Health Law Section, which works to enhance the professional competence of lawyers dealing with health care issues through seminars and publications.

Ms. Rattigan is a business litigation lawyer in Robinson+Cole's Providence office.

Health Law Lawyers Write Article for CLT's Special Health Law Section

Health law lawyers Meaghan Mary Cooper and Conor O. Duffy wrote the article "New Guidance for Health Care Program Exclusions" for the May 2, 2016, edition of the Connecticut Law Tribune's special Health Law Section. In the article, Ms. Cooper and Mr. Duffy discuss the new policy statement that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published on April 18, 2016, that outlines the OIG's authority to exclude individuals and entities from participating in Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs because of fraudulent or abusive conduct. In particular, the article covers these topics: the exclusion presumption, alternative remedies, OIG risk factors, and takeaways for providers. To find out more about their analysis, please click here to view the article.

Chambers USA Recognizes Robinson+Cole Lawyers and Practice Groups

Les Levinson Moderates Health Care Services M&A Round Table

Leslie J. Levinson moderated the webinar "Health Care Services M&A 101 Round Table" on May 5, 2016. The panelists, Darby Anderson, chief business development and strategy officer at Addus HealthCare; Burk Lindsey, managing director at Raymond James; and John Pouschine, co-founder and managing member of Pouschine Cook Capital Management, discussed the current state of the M&A market for health care services, focusing on valuation, regulatory compliance, and due diligence; where most deals are impeded; and where to invest the most time and effort to close a deal.

Mr. Levinson is a health law and business transactions partner in Robinson+Cole's New York office.

Ted Tucci Publishes Article on Batchclaim Liability in PLUS Journal

Health law lawyer Theodore J. Tucci wrote the article "The New Frontiers of Healthcare Batchclaim Liability," published in the April 2016 issue of PLUS Journal. Along with his co-author, Kristin McMahon, chief claims officer at IronHealth, Mr. Tucci discusses types of batch claims and legal theories that support them, a case study about the New England Compounding Center, regulatory fraud and abuse, macro trends, financial batch claims, and risk management strategies.

PLUS Journal, a publication of the Professional Liability Underwriting Society, is a source for professional liability education and networking.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Present an Update on Managed Care Litigation

Health and benefits litigation lawyers Theodore J. Tucci and Jean E. Tomasco presented a webinar entitled "Managed Care Litigation Update 2016" for a firm client in the specialty risk insurance industry on March 30, 2016. After starting with a brief summary of managed care market trends and litigation data for the past year, Mr. Tucci spoke about cases brought by patients and plan members against insurers and managed care entities, such as lawsuits involving alleged misrepresentations concerning plan networks and claims for benefit parity. He also addressed litigation brought by insurers and other payors, including cases brought against providers for unfair billing practices, waiver of cost-sharing requirements, and referral incentives. Ms. Tomasco provided an overview of trends in litigation brought by providers against managed care organizations, for example, antitrust claims, suits involving claims for payment under benefit assignment agreements, network participation claims, and contract disputes. The presentation also included an overview of recent cases concerning ERISA preemption and the False Claims Act as well as regulatory initiatives for 2016. Professionals from across the nation and from a wide range of health care settings, such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, and managed care organizations, participated in the webinar.

Hartford Lawyers Present at HFMA Program

Health law lawyers Meaghan Mary Cooper and Conor O. Duffy presented "Recent Developments in Fraud and Abuse Enforcement – Important Issues for Hospitals and Providers" at the 2016 Legal Playbook: Best Practices to Keep Your Healthcare Operations on the Winning Side program on February 23, 2016, in Wallingford, Connecticut. Sponsored by the Connecticut Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the program focused on key changes, best practices, new trends, and opportunities in the healthcare industry. The audience included healthcare decision makers across the state, including hospital finance managers, compliance officers, and in-house counsel.

Les Levinson quoted in Law360 Article on Medicare’s 60-Day Overpayment Rule

Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article "6 Key Policies In Medicare's 60-Day Overpayment Rule," published in Law360 on February 11, 2016. The article discusses Medicare's final rule regarding a new obligation for doctors and hospitals to return Medicare overpayments and outlines six key ways in which the rule is now more beneficial. Responding to the change that an overpayment is not officially identified until it is qualified, Mr. Levinson says, "Adding the quantification element will be very helpful to providers." As a final note, he says that "[o]ne thing I think providers should take away from this...is maintain good records, keep good notes in the file—whatever it takes to demonstrate that you did exercise reasonable diligence." To read about Mr. Levinson's take on other final rule changes, click here to view the article.

Mr. Levinson is a health law and business transactions partner in Robinson+Cole's New York office.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Present at Annual Central Massachusetts Health Care Symposium

Business litigation lawyers Kathleen E. Dion and Kathryn M. Rattigan presented at the Massachusetts Bar Association's Third Annual Central Massachusetts Health Care Symposium on February 10, 2016, at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Along with co-presenters Lorianne M. Sainsbury-Wong of Health Law Advocates in Boston, David Harlow of The Harlow Group in Newton, and Roy J. Watson of the Watson Law Offices in Cambridge, Ms. Dion and Ms. Rattigan discussed how to navigate substantive legal development in health law practices. Specifically, the topics included digital health, HIPAA hot topics, charitable hospital duties under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) and the U.S. Tax Code, and corporate compliance strategies for health care organizations.

Les Levinson Featured in Part B News Article

Leslie J. Levinson, health law and business transactions lawyer in the New York office, was quoted in the January 4, 2016, issue of Part B News in the article "M&A outlook: More big deals; insurers, private equity stepping in." The article focuses on the expanding health care industry and how leaders in the industry predict that expansion will continue in 2016. Additionally, it emphasizes the trend toward consolidation in the health care industry. Mr. Levinson comments on private equity firms looking to anesthesia, cardiology and "other specialty practices with a view towards consolidation and scalability" of their health care portfolios.
Part B News provides guidance, analysis, and news concerning Medicare Part B payment, coding, and billing rules for physician practices. Mr. Levinson is co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group.

Les Levinson Speaks at Privcap Conference

Health care and business transactions partner Leslie J. Levinson spoke at Privcap's "Healthcare Game Change 2015" conference on November 18, 2015, in New York City. He participated in the panel "Healthcare Deal Flow Dynamics" with principals from FFL Partners and Vestor Capital. The presentation featured an interactive discussion among the panelists and audience on the state of the health care deal market and trends, deal dynamics, negotiation strategies, and unusual diligence and closing considerations.

The annual conference, a unique gathering of private equity investors and health care thought leaders, was attended by over 65 private equity firms, including, among others, Apex Partners, Bain Capital, and TPG Capital.

Linn Freedman Co-Presents at HDM Webinar

Business litigation lawyer Linn F. Freedman spoke at the webinar "Battling Mobile Security Challenges," sponsored by Health Data Management (HDM) and Citrix, on December 8, 2015. Along with her co-presenter, Keith Fricke, the principal security consultant at tw-Security, Ms. Freedman spoke about risks facing organizations related to mHealth, including using a Bring Your Own Device Program, mobile devices and removable media, how best to mitigate specific risks to protect health care organizations, and emerging risks related to the access, use, and disclosure of sensitive health care information.

Ms. Freedman is chair of Robinson+Cole's Data Privacy + Security Team.

Health Law Lawyers Co-present at Health Care Webinar

Health law lawyers Leslie J. Levinson and Brian D. Nichols, along with Dave Terry, CEO and founder of Archway Health Advisors, spoke at the webinar "Bundled Payment Programs—What You Can't Afford to Miss" on November 12, 2015. The presenters analyzed bundled payment programs (both governmental and commercial), their impact, and the direction in which they are headed.

Mr. Levinson is co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group. Mr. Nichols is a partner in the firm's Health Law Group, focusing on corporate and regulatory health law. Both are frequent speakers at industry conferences.

Health Law Lawyers Participate in Annual Hospital 100 Conference

Health law lawyers Leslie J. Levinson and Brian D. Nichols attended the Hospital 100 Leadership & Strategy Conference: Embracing Risk and Making It Work from October 19 to 21, 2015, in Miami, Florida. The conference was held exclusively for C-level leaders of hospitals and health systems. Mr. Nichols, along with Thomas Beeman, CEO of Lancaster General Health; Jess Kupec, CEO of Saint Francis HealthCare Partners; and George Terrazas, president of Texas Care Alliance, presented the session "Hospital Alliances and Networks, Coming to a Region Near You." They discussed the fast-growing regional hospital alliances forming around the country, focusing on the benefits and the pitfalls of these new models of collaboration.

Mr. Levinson is co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group. Mr. Nichols is a partner in the firm's Health Law Group, focusing on corporate and regulatory health law. Both are frequent speakers at industry conferences, such as Hospital 100.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Recognized by Super Lawyers®

Les Levinson Moderates Webinar on Home Health and Hospice M&A

Health law and business transactions lawyer Leslie J. Levinson moderated the webinar "Home Health & Hospice M&A: Buying, Selling, and Valuing" on August 20, 2015. The session, part of the Health Care M&A Webcast Series presented by Irving Levin Associates, focused on the home health and hospice merger and acquisition (M&A) market. The topics covered who's buying what and how these deals are being financed, what reimbursement changes are coming and what's ahead for the next five years, and whether this is a good time to buy or sell, among many other topics. The panelists included Darby Anderson, chief business development and strategy officer at Addus HomeCare, Inc.; David Berman, principal at Simione Healthcare Consultants; and Dexter Braff, president of The Braff Group.

Robinson+Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Lawyer Count in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016

Robinson+Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of Connecticut lawyers selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2016 (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Across the firm’s practice groups and offices, 55 lawyers were named to this year’s list, including 45 in Connecticut.

Additionally, the following seven lawyers were named the Best Lawyers® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Hartford, Connecticut, in the noted practice areas: Bruce B. Barth in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Dennis C. Cavanaugh in Litigation – Construction; Stephen E. Goldman in Insurance Law; Joey Lee Miranda in Environmental Law; Craig A. Raabe in Litigation – Intellectual Property; Edward J. Samorajczyk, Jr., in Securities / Capital Markets Law; and William T. Sellay in Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Peter V. Lacouture was named the Best Lawyers® 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Law in Providence, Rhode Island.

See a complete listing of all Robinson+Cole's ranked lawyers in the news release.

Les Levinson Featured in Law360 Article on FCA 60-Day Rule

Health law and business transactions lawyer Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the article "5 Takeaways From FCA 60-Day Overpayment Decision," published in Law360 on August 4, 2015. In the wake of the first court decision on a False Claims Act (FCA) requirement for hospital systems to return identified overpayments from Medicare and Medicaid within 60 days, the article focuses on the importance of taking overpayments seriously and brings up questions on compliance obligations. Mr. Levinson commented on the defendant hospital's foot-dragging as well as the decision not fully explaining the term "put on notice." Click here to view the article in its entirety.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Write Article for Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law

Health law lawyer Pamela H. Del Negro and employment litigation lawyer Stephen W. Aronson published an article entitled "Religious Accommodations for Employers in the Health Care Workplace" in the June 2015 issue of the Journal of Health & Life Sciences Law, issued by the American Health Lawyers Association. The article contains a 50-state survey of employee rights of refusal for procedures and services performed in health care workplaces and tips for employers on responding to employees who refuse to perform procedures or services based on their religion. Please click here to view the abstract of the article.

Health Law Lawyers Pen Article for Law360

Health law lawyers Conor O. Duffy, Nathaniel T. Arden, and Leslie J. Levinson authored the article "ACA, Health Care Overpayments and the 60-Day Rule," published in Law360 on May 26, 2015. In the article, they discuss how the ACA amended the Social Security Act to establish the 60-Day rule, requiring individuals and institutional providers to return Medicare or Medicaid overpayments. In particular, they explore what it means to return an overpayment per the 60-day rule and the chasm between the rule's strict statutory requirements and the current regulatory processes that some state governments employ. Please click here to view the article.

Robinson+Cole Earns Six Practice Area Rankings in Chambers USA 2015

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Robinson+Cole in six practice area categories in its 2015 edition and has individually recognized 19 of the firm's lawyers, including one lawyer recognized nationwide.

Robinson+Cole earned rankings in each of the practice areas that Chambers USA covers in Connecticut: Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Labor &Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate.

See the Robinson+Cole lawyers included in Chambers USA 2015 in the full news release.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Present Update on Managed Care Litigation

Health and benefits litigation lawyers Theodore J. Tucci and Jean E. Tomasco presented a webinar entitled "Managed Care Litigation Update 2015" for a firm client in the specialty risk insurance industry on April 8, 2015. Mr. Tucci covered litigation concerning provider reimbursement and network management, benefits recoupment cases under ERISA, and potential antitrust exposure from consolidation and new market models. He also spoke about possible claims arising under the Affordable Care Act. Ms. Tomasco provided an overview of recent cases concerning benefits coverage discrimination claims and mental health parity, as well as an update on litigation under the False Claims Act and lawsuits arising from recent data breaches in the health care industry. Well over 80 professionals from across the nation and from a wide range of health care settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and managed care organizations, registered for the webinar.

Virginia McGarrity Is Guest Lecturer at SCOTUS Symposium

Virginia E. McGarrity, employee benefits lawyer in the Hartford office, was a guest lecturer for a Supreme Court symposium at Quinnipiac University School of Law on March 30, 2015. Her topic, King v. Burwell, is the latest challenge to a key component of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—the premium tax subsidy. The symposium was part of a 14-week course on the Supreme Court of the United States that focuses on seven blockbuster cases before the Court this term. Each case is discussed in two classes: in the first class, guests lecture on the case's factual and legal background, as well as on its vulnerability for each side, and in the second class, students present moot court-style oral arguments.

Brian Nichols Is Contributing Author for Clinical Integration

Health law lawyer Brian D. Nichols recently co-authored the book Clinical Integration: Population Health and Accountable Care, third edition. The book, a comprehensive compilation of current understanding of the evolution of clinically integrated networks (CINs) and accountable care organizations (ACOs) across the US health care system, looks into the early results of the Affordable Care Act and updates its chapters on financial management, quality, primary care, regulatory, leadership, network evolution, health information technology, and comparative effectiveness research. To find out more about the book, please click here.

Virginia McGarrity Presents on Health Care Reform

Employee benefits lawyer Virginia E. McGarrity presented a continuing education session sponsored by ConnectiCare to a group of approximately 40 large group brokers on March 2, 2015. The session, "Advising Your Clients on Health Care Reform," covered common issues and questions brokers will face from large employers concerning control group rules, employer mandate penalties, and the Cadillac tax.

In addition, Ms. McGarrity co-conducted with Tim Harlan from Express Scripts an in-house training session, "Large Group Health Care Reform and Pharmacy Trends," for ConnectiCare on February 4. 2015. Participants included large group sales staff, actuaries, and benefits managers as well as account managers, underwriters, product management staff, and medical analytics staff.

Les Levinson Selected to Serve on Law360's 2015 Health Advisory Board

Health law and business transactions partner Leslie J. Levinson has been selected to serve another year as a board member on the Health Editorial Advisory Board for Law360. Board members obtain information on Law360's coverage as well as find out from experts in the field on how best to plan future coverage. In addition, board members help reporters and editors understand complex legal issues and also contribute content to the newsletter though interviews and expert analysis.

Law 360, operated by the LexisNexis subsidiary Portfolio Media Company, is a an online daily newswire that offers subscription-based legal news for business lawyers.

Les Levinson Quoted in Part B News

Health law and business transactions lawyer Leslie J. Levinson was quoted in the January 5, 2015, issue of Part B News, an edition that features 2015 predictions regarding the health care system, with input from industry experts. Mr. Levinson is quoted in the section "Practice-buying will slow in 2015—but some markets will keep booming." To prepare to deal with buyer inquiries, Mr. Levinson advises physician practices to work with advisors in the legal, clinical, and financial areas. As a result, "the practice will shine and questions that are likely to be asked on diligence will be thought through as best as possible and addressed in advance."

Part B News provides guidance, analysis, and news concerning Medicare Part B payment, coding, and billing rules for physician practices. Mr. Levinson is co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group.

Health Law Lawyers Pen Article for Becker's Hospital Review

Health Law Group lawyers Leslie J. Levinson and Nathaniel T. Arden wrote the article "Recent Case Law Extends Stark Law to Medicaid," published in Becker's Hospital Review on December 2, 2014. In the article, Mr. Levinson and Mr. Arden discuss several recent federal district court decisions that contradict the long-held belief that the federal physician self-referral law, known as the Stark Law, applies only to Medicare claims and does not apply to Medicaid claims. They analyze each court's reasoning in applying the Stark Law to Medicaid claims and address the potential impact these decisions may have on health care providers. Please click here to view the article.

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Honored as “New Leaders in the Law” at Celebration Dinner

Robinson+Cole lawyers Britt-Marie K. Cole-Johnson, Sorell E. Negro, Brian D. Nichols, and Keisha S. Palmer were among 60 attorneys, all under age 40, recognized as "New Leaders in the Law" at an awards dinner on November 6, 2014, at The Bond Ballroom in downtown Hartford. American Bar Association President James R. Silkenat was the honorary guest speaker. The Connecticut Law Tribune presented the awards and previously recognized the lawyers in its 2014 New Leaders in the Law Yearbook. Honorees were selected based on examples of their legal work, pro bono efforts, and community involvement. Robinson+Cole lawyers Lisa M. Boyle, Candice M. Cunningham, Andrew L. Kramer, and David M. Panico attended the event. To view a photo from the event, click here.

Robinson+Cole Welcomes New Lawyers

Robinson+Cole continues to expand its lawyer roster with the addition of five new associates across its practice areas. The lawyers join the firm's Hartford, Stamford, and New York offices and their arrival corresponds with that of Leslie J. Levinson, who, as previously announced, joined the firm as a partner and co-chair of Robinson+Cole's Transactional Health Law Group in the firm's Metro New York offices.

"The arrival of these associates strengthens Robinson+Cole's practice groups, allowing the firm to more effectively and completely serve clients throughout our reach," said Joey Lee Miranda, partner in the Environmental + Utilities Group and chair of the firm's Hiring Committee. "We are very pleased to have them on board and bring their experiences to our teams and our clients."

Robinson+Cole Lawyers Named “New Leaders in the Law”

The Connecticut Law Tribune has recognized Robinson+Cole lawyers Britt-Marie K. Cole-Johnson, Sorell E. Negro, Brian D. Nichols, and Keisha S. Palmer as New Leaders in the Law. They are among 60 attorneys, all under age 40, recognized in the New Leaders in the Law 2014 Yearbook and will be honored at an awards dinner on November 6 at The Bond Ballroom in downtown Hartford. The Connecticut Law Tribune received more than 300 award nominations, and honorees were selected based on examples of their legal work, pro bono efforts, and community involvement. Read more in the press release here.

Hartford Lawyers Present Risk Management Webinar

Health law lawyer Theodore J. Tucci and business litigation lawyer Andrea Donovan Napp presented the webinar "E-discovery: Risk Management for Health Care Providers and Business Associates" on September 17, 2014. Their audience comprised over 100 brokers and health care insureds of a firm client. Mr. Tucci and Ms. Napp covered the emerging legal liability risks faced by hospitals and health care systems faced with requests for broad electronic discovery of patient health and medical information. In addition, they offered risk management strategies designed to mitigate those risks.

Robinson+Cole Expands Health Law Practice with Two New Lawyers

Robinson+Cole has further expanded the reach of its health law practice with the addition of Leslie J. Levinson and Christopher J.Librandi to its team. Mr. Levinson has joined Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group as a partner and co-chair of the firm's Transactional Health Law Group in the firm's New York City office, and Mr. Librandi has joined the group as an associate resident in the firm's Stamford office.

Robinson+Cole Welcomes Six New Lawyers

Robinson+Cole is pleased to welcome to the firm five new associates and one counsel across its practice areas. The lawyers join the firm's Boston, Hartford, and Stamford offices and their arrival corresponds with that of Matthew T. Miklave, who, as previously announced, joined the firm as a partner to head Robinson+Cole's labor and employment practice in the firm's Metro New York offices.

Robinson+Cole Earns Rankings in Chambers USA 2014 in all Connecticut Practice Areas

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Robinson+Cole in six practice area categories in its 2014 edition and has individually recognized 21 of the firm's lawyers, including three labor and employment lawyers who are ranked for the first time, one as an "Associate to Watch."  

Adding the Labor & Employment ranking this year gives Robinson+Cole rankings in all the practice areas that Chambers USA covers in Connecticut: Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate.

Robinson+Cole’s Health Law Group Makes ABA’s Top List

The American Bar Association's (ABA) Health Law Section recognized Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group in its inaugural "Annual Regional Law FirmRecognition." The practice ranked seventh in the Top 10 list for the Northeast Region.

The regional lists were published in the ABA Health Law Section Voice of the Health Law Bar spring magazine. The Northeast region covers New York through Maine and Robinson+Cole was the only firm listed in Connecticut. The ABA's Health Law Section has more than 9,500 members, and the Top 10 list recognizes its member firms that had the largest number of lawyers in 2013.

Robinson & Cole Elects Four New Partners and Promotes Six Counsel

Robinson & Cole Receives 34 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Three National Rankings in U.S. News – Best Lawyers Survey

Super Lawyers® Names 61 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2013 List

Hartford Office Lawyers Elected to Executive Committee of CBA's Young Lawyers Section

Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

Robinson & Cole was again recognized as having the highest number of attorneys in Connecticut selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2014 (Copyright 2013 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Across the firm's practice groups and offices, 56 attorneys were named to this year's list, including 48 in Connecticut and 2 who received the distinction for the first time.

Additionally, three lawyers were named "Lawyer of the Year" for 2014. Judith M. Keppelman was named Hartford Trusts and Estates "Lawyer of the Year," Dwight H. Merriam was named Hartford Litigation - Real Estate "Lawyer of the Year," and James A. Wade was named Hartford Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants "Lawyer of the Year."

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Five Practices, Names 17 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

The legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized Robinson & Cole in five practice area categories in its 2013 edition and has individually recognized 17 of the firm's lawyers, including two who are ranked for the first time.
 

Ted Tucci Quoted in Law360 Article for Health Law

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Appointed to Board of Directors of Nonprofits

Robinson & Cole Receives 32 First-Tier Metropolitan Rankings and Four National Rankings in U.S.News - Best Lawyers Survey

Super Lawyers® Names 49 Robinson & Cole Attorneys to 2012 List and Recognizes 26 as Rising Stars

A total of 49 Robinson & Cole attorneys were named Super Lawyers® in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island for 2012. The Super Lawyers® designation is based on regional balloting by attorneys, third-party research, and a peer review process encompassing myriad practice areas.

In addition, 26 attorneys at the firm were recognized as "Rising Stars." Read an explanation of the Super Lawyers methodology here.

Recognized attorneys and their areas of practice can be read in the full press release.

Robinson & Cole Receives Top Listing in Connecticut Attorney Count in Best Lawyers National Peer Review Survey

Robinson & Cole LLP was again recognized as having the highest number of attorneys in Connecticut selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (© 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Across the firm's practice groups and offices, 55 attorneys were named to this year's list, including 46 in Connecticut and 10 who received the distinction for the first time.

Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 4.4 million confidential evaluations are submitted by attorneys on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Additional information regarding the Best Lawyers selection methodology may be read here. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Ted Tucci on Panel Discussion about the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Health Care

Theodore J. Tucci to Participate in the Metro Hartford Alliance’s Panel Discussion on the U.S. Supreme Court’s Ruling on Health Care Reform

• Theodore J. Tucci, Partner, Robinson & Cole LLP
• Kevin Counihan, Chief Executive Officer, Connecticut Health Insurance Exchange
• J. Bruce Boisture, Of Counsel, Day Pitney LLP

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Five Practices, Names 16 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

Robinson & Cole LLP announced today that the legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized the firm in five practice area categories in its 2012 edition and has individually recognized 16 of the firm's attorneys.

Robinson & Cole Welcomes New Health Law Attorneys

Class Dismissed! Appellate Team Wins Summary Judgment for Health Insurer

Chambers USA Ranks Robinson & Cole in Six Practices, Names 12 Attorneys as Leading Lawyers

Robinson & Cole LLP announced today that the legal directory Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has recognized the firm in six practice area categories in its 2011 edition; 12 of the firm's attorneys have been individually recognized.

Health Law Attorneys Publish ACO Regulations Article in Connecticut Law Tribune

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Present Webinar on Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

Attorneys Present Webinar on Accountable Care Organizations

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Present Medicaid Audit Defense Seminar

Health and Benefits Litigators Win “Appropriate Care” Disability Insurance Case

The insured, a dentist, claimed to be totally disabled due to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The policies required that to be eligible for benefits, the insured must receive regular and personal physician’s care that is appropriate, under prevailing medical standards, for his condition. The insured refused to pursue carpal tunnel release surgery after more conservative treatments failed to help. On behalf of Paul Revere, Ms. Tomasco and Mr. Tucci filed an action in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut seeking a declaratory judgment that the insurer owed no duty to pay additional benefits and that it was entitled to repayment of certain benefits. Both parties cross-moved for summary judgment on the complaint. Ruling in favor of Paul Revere, the court held that the language of the policies unambiguously imposed on the insured the duty to seek and accept appropriate medical care for his condition. The court further determined, given the undisputed facts of the case, that by forgoing release surgery the insured failed to comply with the “appropriate care” provisions and no longer qualified for benefits. The court also ruled in favor of Paul Revere on the insured’s statutory bad faith and other counterclaims.

The firm believes this is the first reported decision in the country to grant summary judgment to a disability insurer on whether the insured’s failure to obtain surgery violates an appropriate care requirement.

Health Care Attorneys Talk Strategy with Hospitals

VNA Health Care Elects Attorney to Board of Directors

Robinson & Cole LLP Receives Most Connecticut First-Tier Rankings in Inaugural U.S.News - Best Lawyers Survey

Health Law Group Hosted Webinar on New Electronic Health Record Requirements

Robinson & Cole Partner Quoted in Hartford Business Journal on Health Care Reform Impact to Local Businesses

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Author CT Law Tribune Article on Expansion of Fraud and Abuse Laws Under Reform Legislation

Robinson & Cole Attorneys Featured in Health Care Reform Book

Robinson & Cole Attorney Speaks at Regional Economic Development Forum

Connecticut Governor Appoints Robinson & Cole Attorney to Advisory Committee