Former Top DOJ Attorney John Kelly Joins Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bass, Berry & Sims PLC is pleased to announce the addition of John Kelly, a former top U.S. Department of Justice official, as a partner in the firm's Compliance and Government Investigations Practice.

Mr. Kelly will be the managing partner of the firm's new Washington, D.C. office. He has extensive experience with complex federal and state investigations and litigation matters related to healthcare fraud and abuse, the False Claims Act, white collar crime, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and regulatory and compliance issues.

Mr. Kelly joins Bass Berry following a distinguished record of service with the Department of Justice, and subsequently as a partner at Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.  During his tenure at DOJ, Mr. Kelly supervised investigations and prosecutions in a broad range of healthcare fraud actions nationwide, including violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, wire and insurance fraud, and anti-money laundering.  He served in several prestigious positions including Assistant Chief for Health Care Fraud of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section, and he led the Los Angeles Medicare Fraud Strike Force. He also served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Director of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, where he worked closely with senior leadership within the 94 U.S. Attorneys' Offices, the Department of Justice, and various federal agencies including HHS-OIG, FBI, and DEA. 

"With increasingly significant regulatory and enforcement activity having such direct impact on our clients and the healthcare industry, we saw no better time than now to establish a presence in Washington, DC," said Keith Simmons, Managing Partner of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. "We are most fortunate to have John at the helm. He is deservedly regarded as one of the most capable healthcare fraud enforcement and compliance lawyers in the profession.

"The best way to build a practice in Washington is by recruiting the best lawyers in Washington, those who are firmly established and recognized in the marketplace," added Mr. Simmons. "John brings an insider's knowledge of the Beltway that will have a direct and beneficial impact on our clients who are so directly affected by legislative and regulatory decisions made at the federal level."

"It is an honor to now be a part of this prestigious law firm," said Kelly. "I particularly welcome the opportunity to build on Bass, Berry & Sims' stellar client base and grow its Compliance and Government Investigations Practice here in Washington."

About Bass, Berry & Sims

The firm is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2012.

From a rich history in capital markets activity in the southeast, the firm's more than 200 attorneys now represent more than 40 public companies and have developed a national healthcare practice from Nashville, the hub of for-profit healthcare.  Bass, Berry & Sims has distinguished itself for service to healthcare clients at every level, including service to hospitals, health systems, pharmaceutical companies and outpatient service providers.  The healthcare practice, which includes an interdisciplinary team of more than 100 attorneys, provides unsurpassed depth in government investigations and enforcement, compliance, regulatory and operational matters, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures and syndications.  

For more information, please visit www.bassberry.com.   

SOURCE Bass, Berry & Sims PLC