Senior HHS Official Kelly Cleary Returns to Akin Gump
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(Washington, D.C.) – Akin Gump today announced that Kelly Cleary has rejoined the firm as a partner in its health care and life sciences practice. Ms. Cleary is returning to Akin Gump after serving for three years as Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Chief Legal Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
As CMS’s head lawyer, Ms. Cleary served as the principal legal advisor to the CMS Administrator and HHS leadership on all matters involving the Medicare and Medicaid programs and regulation of the individual and small group insurance markets. She served as lead attorney on several major Department-wide initiatives, including efforts to modernize the anti-kickback and physician self-referral regulations, promote interoperability and patient access to health information, and address drug pricing. She closely collaborated with senior federal officials across the executive branch in support of the administration’s strategic goals and objectives.
Ms. Cleary brings a broad set of skills and experience in health industry regulatory and policy matters back to the firm, having worked throughout her career on issues affecting the gamut of clients in the health and life sciences sector, including hospitals, academic medical centers, cancer centers, health IT companies, and pharmaceutical and device manufacturers.
“We have long been known as the home of one of the country’s top health care practices, and Kelly’s return further strengthens our team,” said Akin Gump chairperson Kim Koopersmith. “She is an outstanding lawyer, and her tenure in public service has provided an added layer of experience, perspective and leadership that will be tremendously beneficial to both our clients and to her colleagues on our health care team.”
“Having been on the front lines of all of the major regulatory and policy developments in the health care space over the last several years, Kelly brings a wealth of experience that will be extremely valuable,” said John R. Jacob, head of Akin Gump’s health care and life sciences practice. “I am delighted to have her back on our team.”
“Returning to Akin Gump is like going home again,” said Ms. Cleary. “This is an outstanding firm that operates as a true leader in the health care arena. For a health care and life sciences industry that operates in an increasingly complex and dynamic regulatory and enforcement environment, Akin Gump offers a tremendous pool of talent that has demonstrated excellence and ingenuity in helping clients navigate uncertainty and meet their objectives.”
She added, “My time in public service was immensely valuable and rewarding, and it has been exciting to play a pivotal role in the formation of health care regulatory and enforcement policy. At the same time, I look forward to collaborating once again with many of my former colleagues and putting my skills and experience to work on behalf of Akin Gump’s clients.”
About Kelly M. Cleary
In her government roles, in addition to the responsibilities noted above, Ms. Cleary was in charge of a division of more than 80 attorneys responsible for counseling and litigation related to CMS-administered programs, as well as of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. As legal advisor to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, she played a key role in the development of regulations implementing the interoperability and information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act.
At HHS, Ms. Cleary formulated legal strategy to advance policy priorities and optimize success in high-stakes litigation. She also served as a liaison with the Department of Justice on pending and anticipated litigation, and with the Office of the Inspector General on program integrity matters.
Ms. Cleary began her career as a law clerk to Judge Claude M. Hilton of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Ms. Cleary received her J.D, magna cum laude, from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and her B.A. from Colgate University.
About Akin Gump’s Health Care and Life Sciences Regulatory Practice
Akin Gump’s award-winning health care team has industry-leading experience representing hospitals and health care systems on a wide range of matters involving regulatory compliance, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, legislative and policy advocacy, HIPAA, fraud and abuse, transactions, financial restructuring, tax and antitrust.
The practice is ranked nationally by Chambers & Partners and has been regularly recognized for its accomplishments and quality of service, including multiple times as a Practice Group of the Year.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers and advisors in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1945, the firm is proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2020. #AkinGump75
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