Pilar G. Mendez
Managing Associate
She / Her / Hers
Overview
Pilar’s goal is to provide personalized, efficient, and innovative support and the best possible client-driven solution.
Pilar assists with all aspects of health care investigations and litigation matters, including legal research, regulatory and compliance counsel, due diligence reviews, policy analysis and development, and preparing witnesses appearing in briefings, transcribed interviews, and hearings before government entities. Drawing on her experience in the federal government, Pilar advises a variety of healthcare and industry-related clients, including nonprofit organizations, hospitals, hospice and home health care facilities, and physician groups on matters presenting significant legal, political, operational, and reputational risks.
As a senior oversight counsel in the Biden-Harris Administration, Pilar continued to cultivate considerable healthcare industry knowledge, developed strategic responses to congressional and other government requests and subpoenas, and transformed federal policies and procedures. She uses that insight to help drive change and make a difference for our clients. Her desire to help others is enhanced by her exceptional work ethic, effective communication skills, attention to detail, and persistence.
Pilar brings a unique perspective to clients, having worked for a U.S. Senator, the federal government, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, public interest organizations, and state health departments, where she helped address critical health and human services concerns such as supply chain management, data breaches, healthcare disparities, access to care, and patient safety.
Credentials
Education
- Moot Court Chief Justice of one of the Top 10 programs in the country; Best Oralist and Runner-Up National Health Law Moot Court Competition; President, Health Law Society; Editor of Annals of Health Law and Life Sciences Journal
- Dean’s List; Beazley Institute for Health Law and Policy Fellow; Michael Shabat Appellate Advocacy Fellow; Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund Recipient
- Scholars Program
- Departmental Honors in Public Health
Clerkships and Bar Admissions
More
- Member, Public Interest Law Initiative Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
- Member, Health Law Community of the District of Columbia Bar Association
- Former Co-Chair, Health and Hospital Law Committee for the Young Lawyer’s Section of the Chicago Bar Association
- Former Board Director, Public Interest Law Initiative
Related News & Insights
From New Division to New Leadership: White House Appoints National “Fraud Czar”
The White House has announced the creation of a new senior enforcement role focused on identifying, coordinating and advancing large-scale fraud matters across federal programs and the private sector, signaling a renewed emphasis on centralized fraud enforcement strategy rather than a shift in underlying legal standards.
White House Announces Creation of New National Fraud Enforcement Division
On January 8, the White House released a fact sheet announcing the creation of a National Fraud Enforcement Division within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). According to the Administration, the Division will focus on coordinating and prioritizing enforcement efforts targeting fraud involving federal programs and funds, including healthcare, procurement, financial assistance and emerging forms of large-scale or systemic fraud. [1]
IDPH Issues Submission Guidance via the SIREN Notification System on Illinois Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law Requiring Hospitals to Adopt and Submit Policies Regarding Law Enforcement Interactions
The recently enacted Illinois Health Care Sanctity and Privacy Law (HB 1312 codified at 210 ILCS 85/6.14h) establishes new requirements for Illinois hospitals to adopt policies governing interactions with law enforcement, including immigration enforcement activities. IDPH has issued formal policy submission guidance via the SIREN system explaining how hospitals should submit their policies through a Smartsheet link. We understand there was a Hospital Licensing Board Emergency Rulemaking Vote Meeting on December 19, 2025, during which implementation of the law was discussed. [1] As of the date of this alert, meeting materials from that session have not yet been published.
Illinois Governor Pritzker Signs HB 767 Expanding IDPH Authority to Issue State-Specific Vaccine Guidance and Mandate Insurance Coverage
Key Takeaways Expanded IDPH Authority: House Bill 767 (“HB 767”) expands the Illinois Department of Public Health’s statutory authority by …