News

---

8 Aug 2011

Frank E. Sheeder III joins DLA Piper's Dallas office

Press Release

---

Nationally Recognized Partner to Chair DLA Piper’s Health Care Compliance and Enforcement Practice; Addition Strengthens Firm’s Complex Health Care Litigation and Regulatory Compliance Capabilities

DLA Piper announced today that Frank E. Sheeder III has joined the firm as a partner and chair of the Health Care Compliance and Enforcement practice, resident in the Dallas office working with the Litigation practice and Health Care Sector.  Prior to joining DLA Piper, Sheeder was a partner in the Dallas office of Jones Day. He is also president of the Health Care Compliance Association.

Sheeder focuses his practice on complex health care litigation and regulatory compliance. For more than 20 years, he has defended clients against civil and criminal fraud allegations brought by the government and other hostile third-party litigants, especially whistleblowers. He has appeared before multiple federal and state courts and represents clients opposite a multitude of federal and state agencies, and other plaintiffs.

“Frank is well known and respected in the Dallas legal community and nationwide,” said Philip D. Weller, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Dallas office. “His vast knowledge and experience, combined with his broad base of client contacts and relationships, will help fuel the firm’s growth opportunities in Dallas and throughout Texas, as we continue to build our presence across a number of key practices and strategic areas.”

Formidable National Health Care Capabilities

“Frank will be a tremendous asset to our health care provider clients seeking counsel surrounding compliance and enforcement matters,” said Kimberly K. Egan, co-chair of DLA Piper’s Health Care Sector.  “Frank’s talent and entrepreneurial spirit are a perfect fit with our already strong Health Care practice, and our global platform will be ideal for the growth and expansion of his practice.”

In his new role as chair of DLA Piper’s Health Care Compliance and Enforcement practice, Sheeder will lead a strong team of attorneys advising clients on a number of issues in light of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice’s increased enforcement of the federal laws governing health care. The firm’s attorneys represent clients who are the target of an investigation or are facing allegations that they submitted false claims, or who are the victims of the fraud committed by others, including employees, partners in joint ventures and suppliers.

DLA Piper’s highly experienced White Collar team of more than 50 former government lawyers in the United States has represented clients in numerous sensitive matters. Their knowledge of the legal landscape, and of the public officials responsible for shaping it, enables them to provide reliable insight and advice on all aspects of a client’s anti-corruption efforts, from compliance controls to internal investigations to dealing with regulators and enforcers. In addition, DLA Piper’s White Collar team negotiates settlements, defends qui tam suits, designs and implements corporate compliance programs for health care clients and provides ongoing compliance training to clients to prevent and detect fraud and other violations.

“Frank brings a wealth of experience in health care litigation and regulatory matters to DLA Piper and is the ideal choice to lead the firm’s Health Care Compliance and Enforcement practice,” added Stephen L. Goff, co-chair of DLA Piper’s Health Care Sector. “We’re pleased to add a lawyer of his caliber to the Dallas office and welcome him to the firm.”

About Frank E. Sheeder III

Sheeder has advised clients from virtually all segments of the health care industry, such as health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers, physician groups, DME providers, long-term-care providers, home health agencies, ancillary providers, pharmacies, laboratories and allied health professionals. Those cases generally involve Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. He also has defended putative class actions and civil cases involving parallel criminal proceedings.

A frequent speaker and author on topics including health care reform, investigations and regulatory compliance, he is active in the Health Care Compliance Association, a Certified Ethics and Compliance Professional, and the author of Corporate Governance and Compliance for Health Care: A Practical Guide.  He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Dallas Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance and a graduate of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2007.

Sheeder received a J.D. from Boston University, and a B.A. from Duke University, cum laude.

About DLA Piper’s Health Care Sector

DLA Piper’s Health Care Sector is robust.  Our attorneys represent health care provider systems, for-profit and nonprofit hospitals, nursing homes, physician groups, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, practice management companies, management service organizations (MSOs), health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), independent practice associations (IPAs), trade associations, academic research institutions, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, insurance providers, and other organizations that provide or finance health care services.  Our team includes experienced litigators, corporate practitioners, regulatory advisors, and government relations professionals, including former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).  The depth of our regulatory knowledge in the health care industry – along with our established track record of helping sophisticated clients address complicated matters – enables us to provide a full range of health care legal services to our clients, including preeminent capabilities in federal affairs and public policy, regulatory, health care transactional, health care fraud and compliance, health insurance and managed care, HIPAA privacy and security, taxation, ERISA and employee benefits, antitrust, and professional liability and litigation.