Overview
"The only constant in the healthcare industry is change. Healthcare clients need an advisor who understands the challenges specific to the industry and an advocate who delivers creative solutions for today’s legal and regulatory issues."
Emily provides practical, results-driven advice on a broad range of legal disputes and challenges within the highly regulated healthcare industry.
Counseling Practice
As part of her counseling practice, Emily advises hospitals, health systems, and licensed health professionals on contracts and contract disputes, business torts, employment matters, and regulatory compliance. She has business and legal experience in the myriad issues affecting these clients, including tax appeals, Stark and anti-kickback requirements governing physician-hospital arrangements, and Title IX compliance for healthcare educational institutions. In addition, Emily regularly enforces physician recruiting agreements and represents providers in business tort actions like defamation, conspiracy, and fraud.
High-Stakes Litigation
Emily’s extensive healthcare experience and assuredness in the courtroom have made her a “go-to” for high-stakes healthcare and commercial litigation. She has played a prominent role in high-profile matters in the Commonwealth, including representation of the Attorney General of Virginia as lead trial counsel in a case challenging the constitutionality of the Commonwealth’s health care statutes and regulations. In 2022, Emily tried a three month jury trial to verdict in Fairfax Circuit Court, securing a $20M verdict for her client. She currently serves as local counsel for a national pharmacy benefits manager in ongoing litigation related to prescription opioid medications.
Recognition
Named a “Leader in the Field,” Litigation: General Commercial, Southern Virginia, Chambers USA: Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2021 and 2022
Selected for inclusion as a "Super Lawyer," Civil Litigation: Defense, Virginia Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2018-2022
Named to “Legal Elite,” (Health Law), Virginia Business, 2016-2022
Selected for inclusion as a “Super Lawyer,” Health Care, Virginia Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2017
Named a “Rising Star,” Business Litigation and Employment, Virginia Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2009, 2013, 2015
Experience
Experience
Represented the Commonwealth of Virginia in a constitutional challenge to Virginia’s health care statutes and regulations.
Assisted a national pharmacy benefit manager client in multiple cases filed in Virginia’s circuit courts.
Enforced physician recruiting agreements and physician-hospital leases in compliance with Stark and the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Secured a favorable ruling from Virginia’s Tax Commissioner for health system client seeking tax exemption for business personal property in provider-based clinics.
Assisted a professional school with Title IV, Title IX, and FERPA requirements.
Provided regulatory guidance for joint ventures between physician practice groups and hospitals.
Defended providers in human rights investigation and appeal.
Advised practitioners in DHP investigations.
Challenged and defended provider covenants not to compete, wrongful termination claims, and discrimination claims based on Title VII, Title IX, ADA, ADEA, and FMLA.
Represented medical staff and physicians in peer review investigations, hearings, and appeals.
Coordinated wind-down of practices for retiring licensed professionals.
Advised healthcare providers in vendor / supplier contract and managed care disputes.
Assisted estate clients with will challenges and administration.
Served as lead counsel in complex business tort litigation involving multiple interrelated business entities in ‘bet-the-company’ jury trial.
Perspectives
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Community
Beyond the Law
Beyond the Law
Emily is a recovering Latin teacher. After attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Go Heels), she earned her Master’s Degree in Classics at the University of Texas at Austin.
Following an obligatory stint in food service, Emily taught high school Latin for six years. She reminds those questioning the utility of a dead language that her knowledge of Latin scored her several research assistant jobs in law school translating 17th century land grants. It also makes her fun at cocktail parties.
Emily devotes considerable energy to UNC basketball and has decorated her office with Carolina’s NCAA championship banners, much to the chagrin of her UVA-educated coworkers.
Services
Education
University of Richmond School of Law, J.D.
- Walter Scott McNeill Law Society
- Moot Court
- Journal of Law and Technology
University of Texas at Austin, M.A., Classics
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., History
Admissions
- Virginia
- United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Fourth Circuit
