(Philadelphia, PA—November 5, 2012) – Reed Smith LLP, a leading international law firm, today announced the addition of Salvatore G. Rotella, Jr., as a partner in its Life Sciences Health Industry (LSHI) group resident in the firm’s Philadelphia office.
Mr. Rotella had been a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Health Law Group, practicing in that firm’s Philadelphia office since 2003. Prior to that, he was chief compliance officer and regulatory counsel for the Washington D.C. Department of Mental Health.
“Sal adds to Reed Smith’s reputation as a leading health law practice in Pennsylvania and nationally. He works with providers to give them practical solutions to contracting, reimbursement, and compliance issues, and invests time into understanding not just their legal needs, but how their businesses work,” said Carol Loepere, Chair of Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group. “He also brings significant experience in legal and business issues related to behavioral health, which is an in-demand niche capability that we can now offer.”
Mr. Rotella represents health systems, acute care and specialty hospitals, and other health care providers in reimbursement disputes with public and private payers, class actions, and billing investigations. In addition, he advises providers, health plans, and other health care industry participants on health care regulatory and compliance issues, and on privacy law requirements.
“With increasing regularity, my clients need high level regulatory counsel, for which Reed Smith’s D.C. presence will be a tremendous asset,” said Mr. Rotella. “The firm’s national platform provides an opportunity for me to expand my practice, as well as to work alongside a team of highly regarded attorneys in Philadelphia and nationally whom I have come to know and respect over the years.”
Mr. Rotella’s experience covers the full spectrum of hospitals and health systems including significant work representing behavioral health care providers including inpatient psychiatric facilities, residential academies for at-risk youth, outpatient mental health clinics, wraparound service providers, foster care programs, and others in Pennsylvania and across the country.
At the D.C. Department of Mental Health (DMH), Mr. Rotella was a member of the department’s senior executive team and was involved in the day-to-day operations of a large inpatient psychiatric hospital and multiple community-based clinics, as well as in the oversight of private behavioral health agencies throughout D.C. regulated by DMH.
“Sal is the perfect addition to our Life Sciences and Health Industry Group (LSHI),” said Ajay Raju, Reed Smith’s Philadelphia Managing Partner. “With his wide-ranging experience and impeccable reputation, particularly in the realms of HIPAA and government investigations, Sal is not just a practitioner of the highest order, but a well-respected thought leader who personifies everything that makes LSHI one of Reed Smith’s strongest, finest practice groups. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Sal aboard, and look forward to his tremendous contributions in service of our clients.”
Mr. Rotella received his B.A from Harvard College in 1988 and his J.D in 1993 from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He began his legal career as a clerk to the Honorable Boyce F. Martin, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Following the clerkship, he joined the Washington, D.C., office of Covington & Burling, where he handled complex commercial litigation matters and provided regulatory advice, with an emphasis on the health care industry. He has also served as a trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, where he focused on civil prosecutions of health care fraud. He is admitted to the Bar in Pennsylvania and District of Columbia and publishes and speaks frequently on health care legal topics.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy and natural resources, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
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