K&L Gates Adds 340B Lawyer to Health Care Practice in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes health care lawyer Amanda Smith to the firm’s Health Care and FDA practice in Washington, D.C. She joins the firm as counsel from 340B Health, a nonprofit organization comprising more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program.

Smith has advised on regulatory, legislative, and legal matters related to the 340B program. She has worked directly with member hospitals on 340B compliance and policy issues, prepared legal analyses and advocacy documents on various 340B issues, and has played a key role in the development of state level policy and advocacy resources. Prior to her role at 340B Health, Smith served as a Health Care Law Clerk for the United States Senate Committee on Finance.

Smith’s arrival follows the addition of several other new lawyers and policy professionals to the Washington, D.C., office during the last year, including K&L Gates’ first senior scientific advisor Peter Coneski, international trade partners Nate Bolin and Dave Allman, former US Department of Justice lawyers Varu Chilakamarri and Michael Culhane Harper, antitrust partner Vishal Mehta, public policy of counsel Joseph Trahern, as well as government affairs advisor John Northington Jr.

“We are delighted to welcome Amanda to the firm.  Amanda’s experience complements the firm’s nationally ranked health care regulatory practice and adds depth in the area of 340B program compliance and policy issues,” said Michael Scanlon, a leader of K&L Gates’ global Policy and Regulatory practice area. “Her experience and knowledge increases our health care policy and regulatory offerings and our ability to provide strategic counseling to clients navigating regulatory requirements in a global marketplace.”

Lawyers in K&L Gates’ Health Care and FDA practice have decades of experience effectively addressing the issues and problems that arise for health care providers, including health systems, academic medical centers, and pharmacies. The team provides advice regarding regulatory issues, fraud and abuse issues, as well as payor disputes and contracting.