Akin Gump Grows Health Industry Practice with Addition of Former FDA Advisor Nathan Brown

(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump is pleased to announce that Nathan A. Brown, former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lawyer and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee advisor, has joined the firm as a health care and life sciences partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.

At Akin Gump, Mr. Brown will provide regulatory, compliance and policy advice to health industry participants with regard to drugs, biologics and medical devices as well as cosmetics and food products regulated by the FDA. Prior to joining the firm, he served in several prominent roles with the FDA. Most recently, he was detailed to serve as health policy advisor to the Senate HELP Committee to cover FDA issues.

“Nate is a great addition to our health care practice, which has been routinely noted as among the best in the country,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “With his extensive background and experience, we look forward to the great work he will do on behalf of our clients.”

Jorge Lopez Jr., head of the firm’s health industry practice, added “The health care industry continues to change rapidly, and throughout we have remained focused on building a team that can advise clients across the spectrum of issues they may encounter. Nate’s arrival adds to our already strong bench, and his experience—particularly with the FDA—makes him an ideal fit for Akin Gump. I am thrilled to have him with us.”

Mr. Brown has substantial experience in drug legislation matters including, on behalf of HELP Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, playing a lead role negotiating and drafting the Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013—which addresses compounded drugs and establishes a nationwide track and trace system for the pharmaceutical supply chain—as well as in coordinating passage of the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013.

Mr. Brown has also advised FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health on a wide range of matters, including software and health IT regulation, device review program reform, third-party review, laboratory developed tests and appeals issues. He served as counsel on the medical device user fee reauthorization negotiation team (“MDUFA 3”) and represented the FDA in providing assistance to Congress on device reform for the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act of 2012 (FDASIA).

Mr. Brown said, “Working with Akin Gump is an incredible opportunity for me. It has always been a known industry leader in the health care industry, and I am looking forward to working with this impressive team and putting my skills to work on behalf of the firm’s clients.”

About Nathan A. Brown

Before going to the Senate HELP Committee, Mr. Brown served in two roles at FDA. As special assistant to the chief counsel, he counseled FDA leadership on high priority and cross-cutting matters involving drugs, devices, and other FDA-regulated products, emerging public health issues, high-profile enforcement cases and congressional investigations. He also served as senior counselor to the associate commissioner for regulatory affairs (ACRA) in the Office of Regulatory Affairs, where he advised the ACRA on compliance, enforcement and policy matters.

Prior to his work at FDA, Mr. Brown was a lawyer in private practice, where he focused on providing regulatory, legislative and litigation counsel relating to Medicaid, Medicare and other health programs to national associations, hospitals and other health care providers. He represented clients before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Department of Health and Human Services Departmental Appeals Board and various state agencies and in litigation in federal and state courts. He also advised clients on election law and lobbying law requirements.

Mr. Brown has been a vice-chair of the Montgomery County (Md.) Board of Social Services and previously served as co-chair of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Advisory Committee on Financial Sustainability.

Mr. Brown received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his B.A., summa cum laude, in government and politics from the University of Maryland.

About Akin Gump’s Health Care and Life Sciences Practice

Akin Gump combines the knowledge and experience of its health industry, food and drug law, intellectual property, public law and policy, corporate and tax practices to assist health industry clients in navigating the complex array of policies and regulations to which their industry is subjected. The firm represents participants in all aspects of health care and life sciences, including: hospitals and health care systems; pharmaceutical companies; medical device and technology manufacturers; health plans and managed care organizations; and lenders, investors and underwriters involved in health industry transactions. 

The practice has been regularly recognized for its accomplishments and quality of service, including, most recently, as a Law360 Practice Group of the Year for 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 850 attorneys in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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