Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Valerie Cohen has joined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice in the New York office. Ms. Cohen is an established lawyer specializing in False Claims Act litigation, regulatory and internal investigations, and compliance redesign in the managed care reimbursement, pharmacy benefit, and drug manufacturer areas.
Jessie F. Beeber, a co-chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice in New York, said, “Valerie has a stellar reputation and in-depth experience working with clients on litigation matters in the highly-regulated healthcare space and across a wide range of other industries. Her quick thinking and development of smart strategies on behalf of her clients are impeccable.”
Stacie E. Tobin, a co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Division, said, “As we continue to grow our Commercial Litigation Practice, we are always looking for talented litigators like Valerie, who not only goes above and beyond for her clients, but who truly takes the time to build those relationships and nurture them for long-term growth and success.”
Ms. Cohen’s practice focuses on major healthcare insurers, pharmaceutical entities, and financial institutions in complex, high-stakes civil litigation and regulatory, enforcement, and business matters. She is regarded for her experience in litigating and investigating risk adjustment matters for Medicare Advantage and Commercial exchange plans under the Affordable Care Act. She also has specialized knowledge of the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, diagnosis coding guidance, and federal and state regulations governing pharmacy benefit managers and drug manufacturers. She has a long record of representing healthcare clients before the U.S. Department of Justice, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Ms. Cohen also has extensive experience in corporate governance litigation, representing a broad range of companies and their directors and officers in securities fraud, breach of duty, derivative, and books and records inspection litigation, in addition to investigating and advising boards of directors on shareholder demands. She has conducted numerous internal employment investigations related to adverse employment actions and whistleblower allegations and advised on separation agreements and potential litigation for breaches of non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality provisions. She also has experience litigating Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases against regulatory bodies. She has represented financial institutions before the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, and state attorneys general. She has defended issuers and underwriters in shareholder securities class actions and derivative actions brought in U.S. federal and state courts. She also successfully represented a large public company in an ERISA matter involving an alleged breach of a top-hat benefit plan.
Matthew T. McLaughlin, the partner-in-charge of the New York office, said, “The success of a law firm’s office really relies on the people who work there. We are fortunate to have a team of great attorneys in our New York office who contribute to the continued growth and success of our firm. Valerie will join those ranks and will be a great addition to our office.”
Commenting on her move to Venable, Ms. Cohen said, “Venable stands out for its world-class lawyers, its collegial firm culture, its entrepreneurial spirit, and, above all, a deep commitment to client service.”
Ms. Cohen received her J.D. from Fordham University and her B.S. from Cornell University.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including in California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients' objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.