Former Health Care Fraud Chief Starts Lowenstein Sandler's Health Care Litigation, Investigations & Compliance Practice

ROSELAND, N.J., Sept. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lowenstein Sandler announced that Maureen A. Ruane has rejoined the firm to lead its new Health Care Litigation, Investigations & Compliance Practice. The practice will help the firm's health care and life science clients strengthen their regulatory and compliance programs, as well as defend corporate and individual clients who become the subjects or targets of government investigations or enforcement actions.  Ms. Ruane most recently served for more than three years as the Chief of the Health Care & Government Fraud Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey.  She was previously with Lowenstein Sandler as Partner and Co-Chair of the firm's appellate litigation practice from 2006 to 2010.

United States Attorney Paul Fishman recruited Ms. Ruane in 2010 to create and lead the Office's first stand-alone Health Care & Government Fraud Unit.  As Chief, Ms. Ruane directed and supervised the Office's criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions of health care fraud offenses, as well as its criminal investigations and prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act ("FCPA"), and various environmental, tax, and other statutes.  She also supervised and directed the successful prosecution of more than 70 health care fraud cases, and the conviction of more than 150 defendants for health care fraud and other offenses, including environmental crimes, tax fraud, and government fraud.  Since the creation of the Unit, it has recovered more than $510 million in settlements, judgments, fines, restitution, and forfeiture under the False Claims Act, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and other statutes.

"Maureen strengthens our core white collar and litigation practices and adds a valuable new dimension to the services Lowenstein Sandler can provide to its many clients in the life sciences, from start-up biotechnology firms to the most established and successful pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers," said Michael B. Himmel, Chair of Lowenstein Sandler's Litigation Department and White Collar Criminal Defense Practice. "Maureen is uniquely well qualified to counsel and represent health care and life science clients because she possesses a meaningful understanding of all the procedural and substantive aspects of health care fraud, FCPA, and other fraud investigations.  Maureen also shares our commitments to community and clients, and will be an immediate fit with her colleagues, many of whom worked with her during her prior years with the firm.  We are delighted to welcome her back to Lowenstein Sandler."

Before becoming a Partner in 2006, Ms. Ruane was of counsel at Lowenstein Sandler in 2004 and 2005, and an associate with the firm from 1994 to 1998.  From 1998 to 2004, Ms. Ruane was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Appeals and Criminal Divisions at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, where she investigated, prosecuted, and tried complex fraud and criminal cases to federal juries.

"The number of health care fraud, FCPA, and other fraud investigations is growing rapidly, in the District of New Jersey and nationwide," said Ms. Ruane.  "Companies in heavily regulated industries can and should proactively develop and strengthen compliance programs to lessen the chance that they will be the focus of any government investigations or enforcement actions.  Moreover, if a company finds itself the subject or target of any investigations or actions, it should retain counsel with significant experience in government investigations to ensure a vigorous and effective defense at every stage of the process.  I am excited to use my experience and skills to help companies develop and strengthen the type of compliance programs and procedures that can steer them clear of investigations or enforcement actions and allow them to focus instead on growing their businesses."

About Lowenstein Sandler

Lowenstein Sandler is a leading provider of transactional, litigation, and bankruptcy and creditors' rights legal services to many of the country's top companies and funds. Close to 300 lawyers in our New York, New Jersey and California offices immerse themselves in our clients' industries in order to deeply understand their businesses. We are characterized by our passion for our clients' success, our commitment to our people, and our pro bono and public interest work in the communities that we serve.

SOURCE Lowenstein Sandler LLP