The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported over $5.6 billion in False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments in 2021, with $5 billion alone related to health care. But, the focus from the DOJ doesn’t stop there. As we have seen through recent qui tam suits against Riordan, Lewis & Haden, H.I.G. Capital, the Gores Group, and Alliance, justice officials have zeroed in on private equity firms as being potentially liable for the misconduct, fraud or malfeasance that occurred at portfolio companies.
In this hybrid webinar, Matt Hays, partner at Gryphon, will welcome Chris Harwood, partner at Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello PC and Caleb Hayes-Deats, partner at MoloLamken, for a candid conversation about the recent FCA litigation between the DOJ and private equity firms, the risks involved in forgoing due diligence and compliance, and how to save time, money and reputation when entering a deal in the health care industry. The event will take place at Morvillo Abramowitz’s offices in New York City, as well as be offered virtually.*
In this webinar, you will learn how to:
- Establish a comprehensive, best-in-practice due diligence process
- Consider all legal and regulatory risks when investing in a health care company
- Avoid litigation, as well as reputational and monetary losses
* CLE credit will be provided for participating attorneys in New York. For in-person attendance, please note that space is limited.
Speakers
Caleb Hayes-Deats is an accomplished litigator who has repeatedly secured advantageous outcomes for clients. He represents companies and individuals in high-stakes commercial disputes and government investigations, including under the False Claims Act and other whistleblower statutes. He has been recognized as a “Rising Star” in D.C. by the National Law Journal and in New York by Super Lawyers. The Legal 500 has cited his “ability as a cross-examiner,” honed through “substantial experience as a prosecutor.” Before joining MoloLamken, Caleb was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. As an AUSA, he had wins valued at nearly $2 billion in high-profile fraud, tax and Bank Secrecy Act cases. He secured those wins against some of the nation’s largest financial institutions, such as Wells Fargo, AIG and US Bank. In 2016, he was part of a team that, after a five-week mortgage fraud trial, won the 18th largest jury verdict in the country, according to the National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts of 2016. Caleb also helped settle high-stakes cases, winning the Department of Justice’s John Marshall Award for Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Christopher B. Harwood is a former federal prosecutor with experience handling complex civil litigation, as well as criminal and regulatory matters. His extensive experience includes dozens of investigations, litigations and settlements involving the False Claims Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute and FIRREA. Chris’ cases have involved allegations of financial fraud, health care fraud, federal program and grant fraud, money laundering, failure to file SARs, failure to implement an effective anti-money laundering program, violation of U.S. sanctions laws, breach of contract, and employment discrimination and retaliation. Chris previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he was Co-Chief of the Civil Frauds Unit. During his eight years in the Southern District of New York, Chris also personally litigated a wide range of civil enforcement matters. These cases resulted in more than $2.3 billion in recoveries for the U.S. In addition to litigating and supervising civil enforcement matters, Chris litigated defensive civil matters, prosecuted criminal matters, served as the Office’s coordinator of parallel (civil/criminal) proceedings, and was also the Office’s Civil Healthcare Fraud Coordinator. Prior to joining the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chris was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia. While at the D.C. U.S. Attorney’s Office, Chris handled a full docket of defensive civil litigation, including cases arising under the First Amendment, the Administrative Procedure Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. Chris conducted civil trials during his stints in both the Southern District of New York and D.C., as well as appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Matt Hays joined Gryphon in 2019 and currently serves as partner and the company’s first Chief Revenue Officer. Matt leads all business development efforts and works closely with senior management to establish strategic revenue goals and provides actionable plans to drive growth across the firm. In addition, Matt manages Gryphon’s political risk, business intelligence, due diligence and other investigative offerings in Asia. Prior to joining Gryphon in 2019, Matt was based in Bangkok, Thailand for the International Republican Institute, where he served as country director for their Thailand and Malaysia programs. In this capacity, Matt advised political parties and elected officials throughout Southeast Asia to strengthen their communications, constituent engagement and policy development. Matt previously served as a foreign policy advisor on the Europe and Eurasia Subcommittee for a senior U.S. Congressman. Matt holds a master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a B.A. in History from American University.
