
Larry has a deep understanding of what drives government enforcement actions, and how to defend against them, in the health care and life sciences industries. As a trial lawyer and then official in the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, he litigated and supervised hundreds of False Claims Act and qui tam cases nationally. In his litigation practice, Larry has successfully represented hospitals and health care systems, laboratories, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health care executives against fraud and abuse allegations and investigations brought by federal and state agencies. He is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading health care defense attorneys.
Larry’s health care and life sciences litigation practice focuses on defending clients against allegations and investigations of fraud and abuse involving governmental programs. He is highly experienced in representing clients against actions brought by federal and state agencies including the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS OIG), the United States Attorneys’ Offices, and state OIGs and Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs).
Larry’s practice is based on his 24-years of experience handling complex civil litigation, often in the context of parallel proceedings, and achieving global resolutions. In addition to enforcement defense, Larry counsels clients through internal investigations, corporate compliance, investor due diligence reviews, and health care bankruptcies involving governmental liabilities. His clients include hospitals and health systems, dialysis providers, clinical laboratories, medical equipment companies, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health care executives.
Prior to private practice, Larry served as an Assistant Director with the Civil Fraud Section of the DOJ and focused solely on the False Claims Act and its qui tam provisions. At DOJ he supervised hundreds of qui tam cases filed in US district courts throughout the country, was part of the leadership team for the pharmaceutical enforcement initiative, and managed high-profile actions often involving multiple US Attorneys’ Offices and federal agencies.
Prior to his position as Assistant Director, Larry served with the Civil Fraud Section as a trial attorney focused on health care fraud and defense procurement. He co-led the notable investigation and prosecution of national independent clinical laboratories known as “Operation LABSCAM.” For his achievements, Larry was highly-recognized by the Attorney General with the Department’s highest and second highest awards, as well as multiple awards from the HHS OIG and the MFCUs.
Following law school, Larry served as a law clerk for the Honorable Richard Cardamone of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Larry has a deep understanding of what drives government enforcement actions, and how to defend against them, in the health care and life sciences industries. As a trial lawyer and then official in the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, he litigated and supervised hundreds of False Claims Act and qui tam cases nationally. In his litigation practice, Larry has successfully represented hospitals and health care systems, laboratories, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health care executives against fraud and abuse allegations and investigations brought by federal and state agencies. He is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading health care defense attorneys.
Experience
- Represent a major national “Part D” Plan Sponsor in declined qui tam litigations in the Southern District of New York and the District of Rhode Island regarding alleged industry-wide fraud in “Direct and Indirect Remuneration” reporting to CMS.
- Represent a national testing laboratory in a False Claims Act investigation and qui tam matter regarding relationships with hospital-clients, and part of teams representing numerous genetic testing clinical laboratories in qui tam investigations and settlements.
- Represented a $1B urban health care system in a DOJ criminal and civil investigation involving allegations of violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Laws with respect to physician compensation, and successfully reached a comprehensive civil settlement.
- Represented a CEO of major Medicaid managed care company with respect to alleged fraud involving Medicaid “medical loss ratio” reporting.
- Represented leading solar distributed power company in False Claims Act investigation involving alleged fraud in connection with U.S. Treasury “1603” program of grants in lieu of tax credits.
- Represented as settlement counsel Tuomey Hospital in its False Claims Act and Stark Law litigation involving physician compensation, and successfully resolved all allegations against it after two trials and appeals.
- Represented a health care system with respect to its only known administrative proceeding by CMS alleging Stark Law violations, and successfully resolved allegations without any liability.
- Represented national dialysis company with respect to a qui tam matter and high-profile internal investigation and whistleblower matters.
- Represented the United States as a DOJ official with respect to hundreds of qui tam actions nationally alleging fraud by hospitals and health systems, clinical laboratories, post-acute providers, dialysis companies, and others with respect to allegations under the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and related criminal and civil enforcement laws.
viewpoints
The Supreme Court’s SuperValu Decision on the “Knowingly” Element in the False Claims Act: Protecting Against Liability When There is Regulatory Ambiguity
June 14, 2023 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Hope Foster, Stephnie John
CMS Proposed Rule for Refunding Overpayments Would Align With False Claims Act “Knowledge” Standard
January 17, 2023 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Jane Haviland
Serial Relator Brings Multiple Lawsuits Alleging False Claims Act Violations Premised on Paycheck Protection Program Fraud
November 2, 2022 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Jane Haviland
Supreme Court Declines to Weigh in on False Claims Act Pleading Requirements
October 25, 2022 | Blog | By Brian Dunphy, Laurence Freedman, Ashley Markson
Health Care Enforcement Year in Review & 2022 Outlook
February 11, 2022 |
False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $5.6 Billion in Fiscal Year 2021
February 2, 2022 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Jane Haviland
Senator Grassley and Others Propose Amendments to the False Claims Act
August 2, 2021 | Blog | By Samantha Kingsbury, Brian Dunphy, Laurence Freedman
Are Speaker Programs a Thing of the Past? OIG’s Fraud Alert Indicates It Thinks They Should Be
November 25, 2020 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman
West Virginia Hospital Enters into a $50 Million Settlement to Resolve Allegations over Excessive Compensation Paid to Referring Physicians
September 16, 2020 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Rachel Yount
Seventh Circuit Adds to Circuit Split Over Standard for DOJ Dismissals in FCA Cases
August 25, 2020 | Blog | By Laurence Freedman, Geoffrey Friedman, Caitie Hill
News & Press
50 Years In, Industry Has Knives Out For Potent Kickback Law
March 18, 2023
HHS Pans Pfizer's 'Far-Fetched' Kickback Views At High Court
December 14, 2022
A Circuit-By-Circuit Guide To FCA Suits After High Court Snub
November 1, 2022
Healthcare Enforcement & Litigation 2022
August 27, 2021
FCA's Epic Run In 2010s Will Be Hard To Match In 2020s
January 29, 2020
2019 Trends In DOJ Civil Health Care Fraud Cases
January 15, 2020
Mintz Recognized by Chambers USA 2019
April 26, 2019
Supreme Court Eyes Hospital Giant's FCA Case
February 25, 2019
Justices Search for Limits of False Claims Act Liability
April 27, 2018
DOJ Says Guidance Documents Can’t Drive Enforcement Actions
January 26, 2018
Attys React To DOJ's New Memo On FCA Dismissals
January 25, 2018
2017 Health Care Enforcement Review: Materiality Under FCA
January 18, 2018
One Year Later, Escobar Is Roiling FCA Landscape
June 16, 2017
Health Care Enforcement Review And 2017 Outlook: Part 3
January 18, 2017
Health Care Enforcement Review And 2017 Outlook: Part 2
January 17, 2017
Does Regulatory Compliance Matter in False Claims Act Cases?
December 29, 2016
Top Gov't Contracts Cases Of 2016
December 12, 2016
Justices Could Tip Power Balance In FCA Seal Dispute
October 31, 2016
U.S. Attorney Changes Mean Opportunities for Fraud Defendants
September 7, 2016
Supreme Court term mixed bag for healthcare industry
July 3, 2016
Senate Finance Mulls Overhaul of Fraud Law
June 30, 2016
SCOTUS Goes Down Middle in False Claims Case
June 17, 2016
Health Fraud Defense Attys Riding High As Wins Pile Up
April 11, 2016
DOJ Aims Torpedo At FCA Sampling Suit In 4th Circ.
March 28, 2016
The Medicare Overpayment Rule: Implications for Compliance and Health Care Enforcement
February 26, 2016
Lookback Period Cut to Six Years in Final Overpayments Rule
February 11, 2016
Health Care Enforcement Reflections and Forecasts: Part 3
January 26, 2016
Health Care Enforcement Reflections and Forecasts: Part 2
January 25, 2016
Health Care Enforcement Reflections and Forecasts: Part 1
January 22, 2016
Health Care Cases to Watch in 2017
January 2, 2016
Events & Speaking
Handling Whistleblower Claims 2022 - Rights of Private Sector Employees
DC Bar Continuing Legal Education
D.C. Bar, Washington, DC


Enforcement Liability & Bankruptcy/Insolvency
ABA 32nd Annual National Institute on Health Care Fraud
Caesars Palace

Handling Whistleblower Claims Series 2021 - Rights of Private Sector Employees
The District of Columbia Bar
Online Event

4th Annual Mintz /ML Strategies Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Industry Summit
Mintz and ML Strategies
Boston, MA
Handling Whistleblower Claims 2018, Part 2: Rights of Private Sector Employees
DC Bar
Washington, DC
12th Annual ABA Civil False Claims Act and Qui Tam Enforcement National Institute
American Bar Association
Washington, DC
3rd Annual Mintz /ML Strategies Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Industry Summit
Mintz and ML Strategies
Boston, MA

Compliance Programs and Internal Investigations in Health Care Organizations
Practicing Law Institute
New York, NY
Advanced Compliance Education Webinar Series, Part IV: Compliance for Clinical Laboratories
American Health Lawyers Association
Webinar
ACI's 15th Advanced Forum on Fraud & Abuse in the Sales and Marketing of Drugs
American Conference Institute
Omni Parker House, Boston, MA
Larry has a deep understanding of what drives government enforcement actions, and how to defend against them, in the health care and life sciences industries. As a trial lawyer and then official in the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, he litigated and supervised hundreds of False Claims Act and qui tam cases nationally. In his litigation practice, Larry has successfully represented hospitals and health care systems, laboratories, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health care executives against fraud and abuse allegations and investigations brought by federal and state agencies. He is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading health care defense attorneys.
Recognition & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America: Health Care Law (2017-2024)
- Included on the Washington DC Super Lawyers: Health Care list (2014-2020)
- Recognized by the The Legal 500 United States for Healthcare: Service Providers (2015)
- US Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service (2000)
- US Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service (1997)
- DOJ Special Commendation for Outstanding Service (2003)
- DOJ Special Achievement Awards (1997, 2000)
- DOJ Meritorious Award (1996)
- HHS Inspector General’s Exceptional Achievement Award (1997)
- HHS Inspector General’s Integrity Award (1995)
- National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units Award (1997, 2003)
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Chambers USA: District of Columbia – Healthcare (2019-2023)
Larry has a deep understanding of what drives government enforcement actions, and how to defend against them, in the health care and life sciences industries. As a trial lawyer and then official in the Civil Fraud Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, he litigated and supervised hundreds of False Claims Act and qui tam cases nationally. In his litigation practice, Larry has successfully represented hospitals and health care systems, laboratories, pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, and health care executives against fraud and abuse allegations and investigations brought by federal and state agencies. He is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading health care defense attorneys.
Involvement
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, American Health Lawyers Association
- BNA Health Care Fraud Report, Editorial Board Member
- Rx Compliance Report, Advisory Board Member
- Member, Board of Trustees, Temple Sinai (DC) 2018 - 2021
- Sinai Assisted Housing Foundation, Board Member
- Member, Program Committee, AdvaMed 2013
