Our people

Robert is a member of the Life Sciences Health Industry Group, practicing in the area of transactions and related regulatory issues for clients in health care and pharmaceuticals.

For example, Robert regularly negotiates rebate agreements between pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers or managed care companies, including rebate agreements for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans and commercial health plans.  Robert also negotiates various other types of agreements related to pharmaceuticals and other health care products and services, including co-promotion agreements, sales, marketing and distribution agreements, pharmacy provider agreements, and group purchasing agreements.

Robert also handles mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and financings for clients ranging from major corporations to investment funds and startup entities.  These include acquisitions of hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, pharmacies and providers of various health-related services, as well as formation of joint ventures between health care providers. The financing transactions he handles include senior secured loans, mezzanine loans, sale/leaseback transactions and various types of equity investments.

Robert's regulatory counseling focuses on fraud & abuse laws, Medicare Part D rules and guidance, and various other Federal and State laws relating to provision and payment for health care and pharmaceuticals.  He frequently interacts with regulators on various issues.

Representative Matters

• Represented AmerisourceBergen Corporation in its $90 million acquisition of Network for Medical Communication and Research, a provider of oncology-related physician accredited continuing medical education and analytical research.

• Represented HCR Manor Care, Inc. in the sale of 29 assisted living facilities to Alterra Corporation for $200 million.

• Represented Kindred Healthcare, Inc. in its $45 million acquisition of Specialty Healthcare Services, Inc., an operator of six long-term acute care hospitals.

• Represented Faulding Pharmaceutical Co. (now part of Hospira) in acquisition of U.S. distribution rights and associated business for two multiple source cancer medications, methotrexate and leucovorin, from Xanodyne Pharmacal, Inc.

Publications

• "Medicare Part D and Long-Term Care: Confusion and Complaints Mark Transition to New Drug Coverage," AHLA Health Lawyers News, January 2006

Speeches / Presentations

• Panelist, "The Impact of Medicare Part D on Pharmacy Benefits Contracting," The American Bar Association Health Law Section and the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education (March 26, 2009)
• Presenter, ACI’s 6th Annual In-House Counsel Forum on Prescription Drug Pricing, New York, NY, March 12-13, 2008
• Presenter, “Medicare Part D and Long Term Care,” American Health Lawyers Association's Long Term Care and the Law Conference, New Orleans, LA, February 27-29, 2008
• Moderator, “Delivering the Medicare Part D Benefit: Contracting Issues for Part D Plan Sponsors, PBMs, Pharmacies, and Providers Part III: Final Rules Affecting Medicare Parts C and D,” AHLA teleconference, February 7, 2008
• Moderator, “Delivering the Medicare Part D Benefit, Contracting Issues for Part D Plan Sponsors, PBMs, Pharmacies, and Providers Part II: Contracting Issues for Part D Plan Sponsors and PBMs,” American Health Lawyers Association teleconference, January 30, 2008
• Presenter, "Part D Formulary Negotiations and Contracting: What Have We Learned and Where Are We Going?," ACI's Drug Pricing Boot Camp conference, New York, NY, November 15-16, 2007

Experience

Legal Education

Undergraduate Education

Professional Admissions / Qualifications

• District of Columbia

Professional Affiliations

• American Health Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association, Sections of Business Law and Health Law
• Recognized by Nightingales Healthcare News as one of America's "Outstanding Healthcare Transaction Lawyers" in 2008