Jones Day Welcomes Health Care Partners

ATLANTA, March 19 -- The global law firm Jones Day has announced that Rebekah N. Plowman and Kristen Pollock McDonald have joined the Atlanta Office as partners in the Health Care Practice, where they will represent health care providers and life sciences companies in fraud and abuse investigations and litigation and regulatory compliance matters. Both were formerly partners in the Atlanta office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, where Ms. Plowman chaired the national Fraud and Abuse Practice.

"Our health care and life sciences clients face tremendous challenges and opportunities in the wake of new legislation and regulation and we are delighted that Rebekah and Kristen have chosen to bring their nationally recognized industry practices to Jones Day," said Atlanta Partner-in-Charge Lizanne Thomas.

"This is a significant addition to our already formidable capabilities in the health care litigation and government investigations area," said James Dutro, the San Francisco based co-leader of Jones Day's Health Care Practice. "As provider regulation continues to grow in complexity and intensity with the roll out of the Affordable Care Act, our clients will welcome the broad experience and deep knowledge of practitioners like Rebekah and Kristen."

Ms. Plowman concentrates on health care matters such as government investigations, False Claims Act and Qui Tam actions, and clinical research misconduct and certification and licensure appeals before federal and state administrative tribunals. She also advises clients on health care regulatory issues, including fraud and abuse analysis for health care systems, ancillary providers, and physician practices; clinical research for hospitals and academic medical centers; issues affecting long-term care providers; Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement and certification; and regulatory compliance. Ms. Plowman was selected by the editors of Nightingale’s Healthcare News as one of the “Outstanding Fraud and Compliance Lawyers” of 2008 and is also listed in the Health Care Law Section of the Chambers USA guide. Ms. Plowman currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Prior to law school, Ms. Plowman was a registered nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Indiana University Medical Center.

A frequent speaker on health care legal issues, Ms. Plowman is a graduate of Indiana University (J.D. cum laude 1991; B.S. cum laude 1987).

Ms. McDonald's practice focuses on litigation related to the Federal and State False Claims Acts, OIG/DOJ investigations, commercial disputes between health care providers, defense of government audits, and appeals before federal and state administrative bodies. She also assists health care providers in general regulatory matters, including fraud and abuse analysis, corporate compliance programs, and HIPAA privacy and security regulations.

Also a frequent speaker on health care law topics, Ms. McDonald is a graduate of George Washington University Law School (J.D. 1998; Moot Court Board; Jessup Moot Court Competition, International Rounds Participant; Research and Writing Dean’s Fellow) and the University of California-Los Angeles (B.A. summa cum laude 1995; Phi Beta Kappa).

Jones Day is a global law firm practicing in the major centers of business and finance throughout the world. Ranked among the world's best and most integrated law firms, and perennially ranked among the best in client service, Jones Day acts as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, approximately half of the Fortune 500, Fortune Global 500, and FT Global 500. The Atlanta Office of Jones Day proudly traces its roots back to 1890. As part of a full-service office that has steadily grown to its present size of about 130 lawyers, Jones Day's Atlanta attorneys advise clients on the full range of issues relevant to leading corporations doing business in the southeastern United States and worldwide.