Kathleen Lewinski DeBruhl
New Orleans,LA
Summary
Skilled lawyer with background in corporate and regulatory health care law, offering deep understanding of legal procedures and negotiation tactics. Known for ability to develop comprehensive client strategies and for persuasive communication skills, leading to successful outcomes in complex matters. Strong analytical thinker with aptitude for identifying key legal issues quickly and effectively communicating them to clients and colleagues. Contributed to positive impact on previous workplaces by streamlining legal processes, enhancing team efficiency, and mentoring junior lawyers.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
Work History
Of Counsel
Milling Benson Woodward, L.L.P.
Mandeville, LA
09.2023 - Current
- Merger of Kathleen L. DeBruhl & Associates, LLC, to enhance regulatory healthcare law practice.
- Continue to provide strategic advice and planning to healthcare clients in multiple states as it pertains to mergers, healthcare regulatory compliance, and other operational and transactional issues.
- Act as a liaison with existing and new clients of the law firm and its attorneys.
- Provide teaching and mentorship to associates regarding healthcare law.
- Introduce law firm attorneys and associates to local and national healthcare associations, including committee work and speaking.
Owner and Managing Partner
Kathleen L. DeBruhl & Associates, LLC
New Orleans, LA
11.1998 - 09.2023
Regulatory and transactional Healthcare practice with 6 + attorneys and staff
Clients include physicians, hospitals, medical staffs, ambulatory surgery centers, laboratories, pharmacies and imaging centers.
Also provided outside counsel work to LSU Health Sciences Center in both New Orleans and Shreveport, LA
Merger representation of sellers to hospitals and private equity
Participation in regulatory appeals to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers.
Representation of matters involving fraud and abuse, whistleblower ( qui tam) defense and work with criminal counsel
Member/Owner
Massengale DeBruhl
New Orleans, LA
10.1995 - 10.1998
- Co-Owner of 10 attorney Healthcare Law practice
- Regulatory, transactional, and litigation practice that included healthcare regulatory issues and compliance; medical staff issues; antitrust; and contract disputes.
Shareholder
Liskow & Lewis
New Orleans, LA
01.1992 - 10.1995
- Relocated healthcare practice as a lateral-hire shareholder.
- Member of the management committee and head of the corporate health care section.
- Acted as a representative of the law firm with a national forum of women partners and the role they play in the law firm
- Provided general counsel representation to hospital boards, home health agencies, physicians, and joint ventures.
- Representation of clients with regulatory matters under Medicare, Medicaid, and other state and federal programs.
Owner
Kathleen L. DeBruhl, A Professional Law Corp.
New Orleans, LA
02.1986 - 12.1991
- Established the specialty practice of health care law, which involves the regulatory oversight by the federal, state, and local governments.
- Represented the first physician-owned hospital in the state of Louisiana as outside counsel.
- Participated in the building of new hospitals, nursing homes, and ambulatory surgery centers.
- Provided outside legal counsel work to the Louisiana Nursing Home Association.
- Acted as counsel in the establishment of the LSU Healthcare Network, a nonprofit division of the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, including seeking and receiving its 501(c)(3) designation. This was the first privatized faculty school practice in the state of Louisiana.
- Provided outside counsel works with the Louisiana Hospital Association.
Associate Attorney
Wyllie & Fraiche
New Orleans, LA
11.1981 - 02.1986
- Worked with a new health law practice group that provided services as in-house counsel to a small New Orleans hospital and to outside clients as well.
- Participated in both state and federal litigation including Medicare appeals in Baltimore, MD; federal lawsuits against the US Department of Health and Human Services; Medicaid reimbursement appeals.
- Worked with development attorney to build hospitals., nursing homes and surgery centers including seeking state and federal approvals needed to build
- Worked with the Louisiana Hospital Association on regulatory legislation
Education
Board Certified in Healthcare Law -
Louisiana State Bar Association Specialization Bar
New Orleans09-2019
J.D. -
Benjamin N. Cardoza School of Law
New York, NY06-1981
Bachelor of Arts - History And Political Science
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY06-1976
Skills
- Legal compliance
- Corporate transactions
- Client counseling
- Legal advisory
- Evaluating contracts
- Business transaction analysis
- Healthcare regulatory analysis and review
Admitted to Practice
- Supreme Court State of Louisiana - 1982
- Supreme Court, State of New York - 1982
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Louisiana - 1982
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Louisiana - 1983
- U.S. District Court - Middle District of Louisisna - 1983
Accomplishments
2024 ABA Health Law Section Champion of Diversity & Inclusion Award
2014 - 2024 - New Orleans Magazine "Top Louisiana Lawyers".
2017 - 2024 - Lawyers of Distinction - Healthcare Law
Affiliations
1982 - Present Louisiana State Bar Association
* Founding Member and officer of Health Law Section
* Co-Chair of LSBA Health Law Program ( 2021 - 2024)
1982 - Present New York State Bar Association
1982- Present American Health Law Association
* Member: Physicians Practice Group
1992 - Present American Bar Association
* Member- Health Care Section
* Vice Chair - Physician Interest Group ( 2 years)
* Co-Chair - Physician Issues Conference ( 3 years with Chicago Medical Society)
* Member - Health Law Section Council ( 3 years)
2018 - 2023 - ABA Commission on Women in the Profession
* Liaison for Health Law Section 2018 - 2021
* Commissioner - 2021 - 2023
* Participated in writing of Resolution 300 (Passed) encouraging legal employers to cease mandatory arbitration in claims of sexual harassment
Co-Chair : Launching Leaders Program ( Covid interrupted)
Co-Chair : Men in the Mix
Committee Members: Grit Committee
Liaison to Commission Liaisons: Established position to communicate and include 50+ liaisons in knowledge about the Commission and its
work and enhancing overall relationships through zoom calls, orientations, and newsletter.
2012 - 2017 American Medical Association - Legal Advisory Committee
Publications
Co-Author; American Health Law Association - "Physician Practice Handbook, Chapter on Reimbursement of Physician's Services; Volumes 1-4
Contributing Editor - eHealth Newsletter on Physician Practice Issues, American Health Lawyers Association
Co-Author, American Medical Association: Co-Management Agreements ( Book)
Co-Author, American Medical Association: Principles of Physician Employment ( Book)
American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Co-Author, Practice Management Committee: "To Pay or Not to Pay'; EMTALA Compliance; Negotiating Your
Employment Agreement
Speaking Engagements ( Sample Only)
- i3 Verticals - National Healthcare Meeting: Current Legal Healthcare Issues
- Tulane University School of Law: Negotiating Employment Agreements
- American College of Legal Medicine: Keynote Speaker on Women in Leadership ( JD/MD Participants)
- American Medical Association: Joint Ventures and OIG Issues
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Negotiating your Employment Agreement
- American Bar Association: Compliance with the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act
- American Bar Association: Vendor Fraud and Abuse
- Louisiana State Bar Association: Private Equity Joint Ventures
Timeline
Of Counsel
Milling Benson Woodward, L.L.P.
09.2023 - Current
Owner and Managing Partner
Kathleen L. DeBruhl & Associates, LLC
11.1998 - 09.2023
Member/Owner
Massengale DeBruhl
10.1995 - 10.1998
Shareholder
Liskow & Lewis
01.1992 - 10.1995
Owner
Kathleen L. DeBruhl, A Professional Law Corp.
02.1986 - 12.1991
Associate Attorney
Wyllie & Fraiche
11.1981 - 02.1986
Board Certified in Healthcare Law -
Louisiana State Bar Association Specialization Bar
J.D. -
Benjamin N. Cardoza School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - History And Political Science
Binghamton University
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