Goodwin, the global law firm serving innovators and investors, is pleased to announce that Ilene C. Albala joined the firm’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Healthcare practices as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.
Albala previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, where she was lead counsel for the federal government in False Claims Act (FCA) qui tam litigation. Supervising federal agents and collaborating with the FBI, HHS-OIG, DEA, and FDA, Albala led investigations of medical device manufacturers, hospital systems, compounding pharmacies, clinical laboratories, diagnostic testing facilities, skilled nursing homes, hospice providers, physician practices, home health providers, as well as private equity investors in healthcare companies.
“We are thrilled to have Ilene, an expert in False Claims Act litigation, join our government enforcement defense team,” said Deborah Birnbach, co-chair of Goodwin’s Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. “Ilene’s experience and extensive knowledge of DOJ enforcement in life sciences and healthcare sectors will be invaluable as we continue to support the needs of our clients across the industries they operate in.”
Albala joins a team of former federal prosecutors and DOJ leaders at Goodwin who defend alleged FCA violations. Albala handles all aspects of governmental enforcement matters involving the Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law, among others.
Goodwin has unmatched experience defending pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, healthcare providers, private equity investors, as well as senior executives and directors. The firm has been recognized as an industry leader in government investigations and enforcement and white collar defense by Benchmark Litigation, Chambers and The Legal 500, which also ranked Goodwin as a leading advisor for healthcare law across the U.S.
Mergermarket ranks the firm as the number one U.S. advisor for healthcare and life sciences M&A, while PitchBook recently named Goodwin the number one global legal advisor for venture capital deals in the healthcare devices and supplies sector.