Reed Smith Adds Partner-Counsel Duo to Life Sciences Health Industry Practice

Reed Smith today announced that Brian Bewley is joining the firm as a partner and Kaitlyn Dunn as counsel in its Life Sciences Health Industry Group. Formerly with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, the duo served previously in the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG). Bewley will work from the firm’s D.C. office, while Dunn will be based in Chicago. The team has worked together for more than five years.

“With years of government experience, Brian and Katie will be able to interact with the government at the highest level on behalf of clients and enhance our prominent health care and life sciences offerings,” said Scot Hasselman, co-chair of Reed Smith’s Life Sciences Health Industry Group (LSHI). “We do work for shared clients, so combining forces makes great sense both for the firm and our clients. We are thrilled that both Brian and Katie are now with Reed Smith.”

Bewley’s multinational practice includes advising clients on regulatory compliance, business strategy, transactional and operational matters, including government audits and investigations, fraud and abuse laws, and False Claims Act matters. His clients include medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, hospital and health systems, digital health companies, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, and private equity investors who invest in the health care and life sciences industries. Specifically, he represents private equity companies on all aspects of investment strategy and structures, including advising private equity sponsors and their respective portfolio companies on regulatory compliance and operational matters throughout the life cycle of their businesses and investments.

After earning his law degree, Bewley was accepted into the highly competitive Department of Justice U.S. Attorney General’s Honors Program and was also appointed as a special assistant U.S. attorney. He joined HHS in 2005, eventually serving as senior counsel and team leader for the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General until 2012, overseeing the Boston, Miami, Dallas and San Francisco regions.

Dunn represents health care, pharmaceutical and medical device companies in a wide range of regulatory compliance issues, government investigations and strategic transactions. She provides regulatory and compliance counseling related to reimbursement, licensure, corporate practice of medicine, and federal fraud and abuse laws. She also advises companies on mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity matters. Dunn began her law career as an associate counsel with HHS OIG, serving as a team leader for the New York, Chicago and Kansas City regions.

Reed Smith’s reputation as a powerhouse in health care and life sciences, as well as its collegial culture and teamwork approach to serving clients, were chief among the reasons Bewley and Dunn decided to join the firm.

“There’s a great deal of synergy between Reed Smith’s LSHI practice and the clients we are bringing with us to the firm,” Bewley said. “In addition, the firm’s global platform and highly regarded and recognized practices across the transactional and regulatory spectrum will allow us to continue to offer top-level service to existing and new clients. We’re excited to be joining the firm.”

Immediately prior to joining Manatt, Bewley practiced at Goodwin Procter and Bass Berry & Sims. He earned his B.A. from Drury University and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. Before law school, he served as a volunteer in the U.S. Peace Corps, teaching science in the French language to students ranging from 5-18 years old in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Dunn earned her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, M.A. in public health from Tufts University School of Medicine, and B.A., summa cum laude, from Syracuse University.

“Companies in the health care and life sciences industries continue to face greater regulatory scrutiny, as well as mounting legal risks from potential enforcement actions,” said Lesley Reynolds, office managing partner in the firm’s D.C. office. “Brian and Katie’s broad scope of government experience, coupled with their vast industry knowledge, boosts our capabilities at a critical time.”

Source:  www.reedsmith.com