Biography

Melissa (Lisa) Thompson advises companies, senior management, and their boards of directors, with a focus on the health care, life sciences and technology industries. She is a member of the firm’s Health Law Group, Data Privacy + Cybersecurity Team, and Intellectual Property and Technology Law Practice Group.

Health Care, Life Science and Technology Industries

Ms. Thompson represents domestic and international clients in the health care, life science and technology industries, such as pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, biotechnology companies, hospital systems, academic medical centers, health information exchanges (HIEs) and technology services providers. In addition, she has represented laboratories, physician practices, pharmacies and retail pharmacy chains, among others in these industries.

Ms. Thompson handles a range of matters, including corporate law and contracting, government investigations and audits, clinical research law, and matters involving Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). She has extensive experience representing clients on matters involving privacy and security including HIPAA, reimbursement, Medicare and Medicaid, state and federal surveys and termination actions, managed care disputes, pharmacy and compounding laws, fraud and abuse, Stark Law, anti-kickback, and federal program exclusions.

Ms. Thompson’s life sciences experience includes U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance and regulatory matters, product recalls and liability claims, FDA citizen petitions and appeals, labeling review, advertising and marketing compliance, drug and medical device reimbursement, clinical research agreements, Sunshine Act compliance, and commercial contracting.  Her technology sector experience includes advising on privacy and security, software licensing, data use agreements, information exchange system agreements, and regulatory requirements.

Ms. Thompson formerly served as chief counsel for an international medical device manufacturer and as in-house corporate counsel for a major academic health care institution. She is a co-editor and contributor for the firm’s blog, Health Law Diagnosis.

Administrative and Federal Court Appeals

In addition to corporate and regulatory matters, Ms. Thompson also serves as a litigator. In this capacity, she handles administrative and federal court appeals for clients in the health care, life sciences and technology sectors. Ms. Thompson has obtained results for clients, including prevailing in consolidated reimbursement appeals cases before the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administrative law judges and obtaining temporary restraining orders in U.S. District Court against government entities. Ms. Thompson has successfully helped clients resolve matters through alternative dispute resolution. She has negotiated settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of clients. Ms. Thompson also has experience with complex commercial litigation, product liability lawsuits, toxic torts and environmental litigation, class actions, shareholder suits, managed care issues, and insurance coverage disputes.

Arbitration and Mediation

Ms. Thompson provides mediation and arbitration services, both as an advocate and as a neutral. She is an arbitrator and mediator with the American Arbitration Association, serving on its Commercial Panel and National Healthcare Panel. She has also provided arbitration services for consultants preparing clients for arbitration.  Her matters have included:

• International and domestic commercial contract disputes
• Federal and state government party mediations
• Class actions
• Intellectual property and technology
• Product liability claims
• Real estate and franchise matters
• Partnership, employment, non-compete, and recruitment agreements
• Insurance coverage disputes
• Managed care arbitration between plans and providers
• Physician practice and hospital contract disputes
• Wrongful death and torts