Manatt Adds Top California Healthcare Trial Lawyer to National Team

LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that John M. LeBlanc has joined the firm's litigation practice as a partner in the Los Angeles office. LeBlanc comes to Manatt from Barger & Wolen LLP.

LeBlanc focuses his practice on litigation and regulatory matters affecting the health insurance and managed care industries. He has represented the nation's leading insurers, health plans, and many of the healthcare insurance industry's top trade associations.

"John's deep knowledge of the healthcare industry and long track record of achieving outstanding results on behalf of clients is a powerful combination and a perfect fit for Manatt," said Matt Kanny, chair of the firm's Litigation division. "As implementation of the Affordable Care Act continues, the healthcare industry will face new regulatory challenges. We anticipate a wave of litigation as healthcare reform takes hold in the coming years. John is a highly talented trial lawyer who joins our outstanding litigation team at an opportune time, as we work to help healthcare clients face new and complex regulatory challenges."

LeBlanc has worked on groundbreaking matters in the health field. His clients include the leading health insurance industry trade association in California, for whom LeBlanc led a successful legal challenge to rules and regulations that impacted the industry. LeBlanc has also successfully represented California's largest health plans and health insurers in significant trial and appellate matters that have changed the legal landscape in the health field.

"Expansion of our nationally recognized litigation platform is a strategic objective," said William T. Quicksilver, Manatt's chief executive officer and managing partner, "particularly in the healthcare arena, where our lawyers and consultants are doing groundbreaking work. John is a strong addition to our team of highly skilled healthcare litigators. We are pleased to welcome him to Manatt."

"Manatt has built one of the top healthcare practices in the nation," LeBlanc said. "That, together with its exceptional reputation for litigation prowess across industry sectors, makes the firm an ideal place to provide clients with an unparalleled level of counsel and service."

In addition to his practice, LeBlanc writes and speaks on healthcare regulatory and litigation changes, and is a member of the American Association of Health Lawyers. He is co-author of the health insurance and managed care section of the California Practice Guide: Insurance Litigation, published by The Rutter Group. He has also developed a strong reputation for his use of visual presentations in the courtroom to convey his clients' cases in compelling, thought-provoking ways.

Manatt's litigation practice combines aggressive, creative litigation talent with a deep knowledge of industries and practice areas, including advertising, healthcare, entertainment, consumer brands, energy, financial services, intellectual property and real estate. The firm's litigators include some of the top trial and appellate lawyers in the country.

Manatt has been recognized for excellence for both its litigation practice and its healthcare practice. Manatt's litigation practice has been recognized by The American Lawyer and Chambers USA, and appears on U.S. News & World Report's list of "Best Law Firms." Manatt's healthcare practice also appears on U.S. News & World Report's list of "Best Law Firms" and has been consistently recognized for excellence by Chambers USA, which recently presented the group its 2014 Award for Excellence in healthcare.

LeBlanc earned his B.A. from California State University, Long Beach and his M.Div., with honors, from Biola University. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Southwestern University School of Law.

About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation's leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base — including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies — across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.

CONTACT:
Lawrence Martinez, (310) 231-5443
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

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