Christine M. Clements has joined Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP as a partner in the Corporate practice group and as a member of the Healthcare team, based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Clements joins from Crowell & Moring LLP.
"We’re thrilled to welcome Christine. With more than 25 years of combined experience in private practice and in-house at Aetna, Christine understands the ever changing regulatory landscape facing the healthcare industry today. Our clients will greatly benefit from her practical advice and innovative solutions to complex regulatory matters," said Jon W. Newby, vice chairman of Sheppard Mullin.
Eric. A. Klein, who leads Sheppard Mullin’s Healthcare team commented, "Christine brings extraordinary regulatory expertise that will be invaluable to health plan and insurance company clients who participate in federal healthcare government contract programs, particularly involving Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug programs (Medicare Part D). We’re strategically focused on expanding our healthcare regulatory capabilities on the East Coast and firmwide, and Christine’s knowledge and skill set are an ideal fit."
Clements focuses her practice on federal healthcare government contract programs, with particular emphasis on the Medicare Advantage Program, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medicaid managed care, and the Medicare and Medicaid Financial Alignment Demonstration. Clements advises clients on contract application requirements, rate development and bidding, medical loss ratio and other financial and reporting requirements, risk adjustment, sales and marketing, benefit design, employer/union group offerings, provider and vendor contracting and payment, audit, fraud and abuse, and compliance programs. Between stints of private practice, Clements served as chief Medicare counsel at Aetna Inc., where she was responsible for the company's Consumer Segment and the lead attorney for the company's Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit businesses, Medicare Supplement products, and other retiree plans.
"I am excited to join Sheppard Mullin and rejoin Mike Paddock, Bob Rhoad and Kathleen Stratton with whom I previously practiced. The firm has stellar Healthcare and Corporate groups, both of which dovetail nicely with my practice and the services that I deliver to clients. I look forward to contributing to the expansion of the firm's regulatory expertise and overall Healthcare team," added Clements.
Clements received a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and a B.A. from George Washington University.
In the last two months, the Washington, D.C. office also welcomed Denise Giraudo to the Labor and Employment practice, Joe Jay to the Government Contracts, Investigations & International Trade practice, and Ken Wiseman and Mark Sundback to the Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance team.’’
Sheppard Mullin has 80 attorneys based in its Washington, D.C. office. The firm's Healthcare team includes more than 140 attorneys, and the Corporate practice includes 150 attorneys firmwide.