Barrett, Demosthenidy Strengthen Jones Walker's Health Care Practice

MIAMI and NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Walker announced today that two attorneys have joined the firm's Health Care practice:

• Lynn M. Barrett, special counsel, Miami, Fla.
• Mollye Monceaux Demosthenidy, associate, New Orleans, La.

"Health care continues to be a focus of our firm, given our client base and the range of health care issues facing companies today," said William H. Hines, Jones Walker's managing partner. "We are pleased to have such highly talented attorneys join Jones Walker, particularly with the depth of experience they bring to the firm."

"Lynn and Mollye are outstanding additions to our Health Care practice," said partner Myla R. Reizen, the health care practice leader. "Their combined experience with health care systems, hospitals, and various types of health care providers is invaluable to both our team and our clients.

"Lynn has extensive operational experience and has handled a multitude of complex transactions and matters that health care companies and providers address on a daily basis. This type of experience is increasingly important, given the current state of the health care industry.

"Mollye's teaching experience and educational background in public health provide a unique perspective that really strengthens our team. She also has a deep background in regulatory issues, as well as in compliance, which is imperative for players in the health care industry," she added.

Ms. Barrett joins Jones Walker after serving as Deputy General Counsel for the South Broward Hospital District from 2005–2009. In this position, she handled regulatory, corporate, transactional, and other matters for the five-hospital public health system, which includes a primary care network, a home health agency, and a skilled nursing facility. During her tenure with South Broward, she assisted with a number of system-wide projects, including the $32-million acquisition of an acute care hospital and adjacent properties, as well as the structuring and roll-out of an enterprise-wide electronic medical records system. Ms. Barrett previously served from 1999–2005 as Managing Senior Counsel, Florida Region, for Tenet Healthcare Corporation, where she directly provided and oversaw the legal representation of 16 hospitals in Florida. In addition, she served as Senior Corporate Attorney, Office of the General Counsel, for Baptist Health Systems of South Florida, Inc. from 1997–1999.

In addition to her extensive in-house experience, Ms. Barrett was previously in private practice at law firms McDermott, Will & Emery and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Ms. Barrett is a 1991 graduate of the New York University School of Law, where she received her juris doctor degree, and is also a 1985 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University.

Prior to joining Jones Walker, Ms. Demosthenidy worked as an associate attorney at Sullivan, Stolier & Resor in New Orleans as a member of that firm's health care practice. She also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, where she teaches Health Law and Regulation to graduate students in the Master of Public Health and Master of Health Administration programs. Ms. Demosthenidy's practice focuses on representing parties in the health care industry with regard to regulatory and compliance matters, including Stark and Anti-Kickback laws, certification, accreditation, and reimbursement issues. In addition, she has experience in transactional matters in the health care arena.

Ms. Demosthenidy is a 2007 graduate of the Tulane University Law School, where she received her juris doctor degree, as well as the Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, where she received her Master of Health Administration, also in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology-Human Movement, cum laude, from Louisiana State University in 2003.

Ms. Reizen has extensive experience handling health care investigations and qui tam cases, covering a wide range of areas such as physician arrangements, quality of care, and coding and billing issues. She has represented heath care providers regarding complicated regulatory matters and a variety of operational issues, and has conducted numerous internal investigations and compliance audits. In addition, Ms. Reizen has developed and implemented compliance programs for a wide spectrum of health care providers. Ms. Reizen previously served as Assistant General Counsel to Tenet Healthcare Corporation, where she provided advice on a wide range of government investigations and complex litigation. Following graduation from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Ms. Reizen worked as an associate for the law firm McDermott, Will & Emery in Miami.

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrere & Denegre L.L.P. (www.joneswalker.com) provides a comprehensive range of legal services to a national and international corporate client base through offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

SOURCE Jones Walker