Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the expansion of the Healthcare Practice Group with Ricky Benjamin. He joins Akerman in Atlanta as a partner, bringing experience in an array of healthcare regulatory, transactional and risk management issues, including leading internal investigations stemming from government inquiries. Benjamin comes to Akerman from the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith, P.C.
“Ricky’s broad experience in the healthcare sector, along with his experience serving as a former in-house counsel and compliance officer, has positioned him as a strategic advisor to his many clients, with a focus on helping them achieve their business objectives,” said Robert Slavkin, Healthcare Practice Group Chair. “His breadth of experience complements our existing capabilities in the healthcare space.”
Benjamin has three decades of healthcare experience in healthcare regulatory, transactional and risk management issues, serving as trusted counsel to long term care facilities, health systems, hospitals, academic medical centers (specifically on the complexities of the competing laws within the academic environment of Title IX, FERPA, HIPAA and Title VII), physician practice groups, laboratories, ambulatory surgical centers, nurses, medical device manufacturers, and compounding pharmacies. As a former in-house general counsel and compliance officer, Benjamin serves as trusted counsel to his clients. He provides a combination of knowledge of the healthcare industry and its complex web of federal and state laws, including the federal Antikickback Statute, Physician Self-Referral Laws (Stark), Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA), Data Privacy & Cybersecurity, including responding to investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) amid allegations against his clients of Unfair Trade Practices.
Benjamin defends Fraud lawsuits and counsels on a wide variety of healthcare issues. He represents clients by responding to Civil Investigative Demands, (CIDs), and leading internal investigations under the FCA, and by the FTC, FDA, CMS, OIG and DOJ, as well as internal audits to prevent, detect, and mitigate enterprise and regulatory risks. He has experience in medical malpractice defense (national opioid litigation supervisory team leader) and qui tam litigation, government investigations (leading Health System through drug diversion investigations by the OIG), and regulatory compliance counseling, including drafting Compliance Plans and implementing Compliance Programs.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.
Ranked Tier One in the United States in Healthcare Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers, Akerman’s multidisciplinary Healthcare Practice Group crafts practical legal strategies designed to achieve our clients’ unique business objectives. Led by lawyers who are Board Certified in Health Law, our team has deep industry knowledge gained from service as in-house counsel and senior executives at national health systems, biopharmaceutical companies, and state healthcare agencies. Many have also served as instructors of public health and health administration at leading university graduate programs.
