Lauri is an experienced healthcare regulatory and transactional attorney, with a special focus on all legal matters related to clinical research, including representation of pharmaceutical companies and clinical sites.
Lauri joined Benesch in 2019 and has been involved in numerous health care transactions and acquisitions, including hospital acquisitions by non-profit health systems, corporate life sciences and private equity, nephrology dialysis joint ventures, and physician practice acquisitions, paying particular attention to the corporate practice of medicine and fee splitting prohibitions. As a result of her broad expertise, Lauri has developed a nationwide practice involving regulatory matters and compliance/HIPAA, health care fraud and abuse, medical staff bylaws and credentialing issues, hospital system contracts including material electronic medical record agreements, and physician practice group matters. Lauri has advised clients and written extensively on telehealth/telemedicine under the regulatory environment, in particular during the COVID pandemic, and is part of the nationally recognized Benesch Cannabis Industry Group.
Prior to joining Benesch, for over 20 years, Lauri served as vice president and general counsel for a state academic medical center and also in-house for a large integrated health care system that was involved in acquiring numerous hospitals. For the state institution, as also serving as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Ohio, Lauri advised on public law matters such as sunshine laws and state immunity, providing confidential health care advice to state boards, executive teams and a faculty practice plan that included over 260 physicians of various specialties. In addition to being instrumental in the merging of two large state institutions, Lauri was involved in the creation of a state funded institutional self-insurance captive.
Representative Experience
- Represented one of the largest inpatient psych hospital chains in the U.S. against nine EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act) violations brought by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) and referred to the U.S. Office of Inspector General (OIG). The allegations against the client were the result of a surprise onsite EMTALA audit by CMS. The Benesch team prepared and represented the client through the due process hearing held in front of a panel of QIO physicians. Upon review of the hearing materials, the OIG decided not to pursue civil money penalties against the client which could have exceeded $111,000 per violation.
- Represented Petauri, a portfolio company of Oak Hill Capital, in its acquisition of Formulary Insights, a market access services provider in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry.
- Represented a private equity sponsored buyer in its acquisition of a provider of medical communications, marketing and education services.
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Represented IntegriChain, a portfolio company of Nordic Capital, in its acquisition of BridgeView Data Solutions, a commercial data warehouse and data aggregation business.
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Represented private equity in life science service acquisitions.
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Represents pharmaceutical institutional sites and consultants in all areas of clinical research.
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Represented State University faculty practice plan in this development of an ASC.
- Represented Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions in its recapitalization by Amulet Capital Partners, a private equity firm.
- Represented multiple health care providers in nephrology and dialysis facility joint ventures.
- Represent management support organization supplying management services to physician practices in New York, New Jersey and other states with a focus on physician extenders, physiatry, telemedicine and remote patient monitoring so as to enhance EBITDA for future capital event. Handled all aspects of structuring, diligence and execution of all arrangements. Advised on post-closing integration and provide ongoing regulatory support.