We are pleased to announce that Meredith S. Auten has joined as a partner in our Philadelphia office.
As the leader of the Philadelphia False Claims Act Team, Ms. Auten focuses her practice on defending corporations facing bet-the-company federal and state government investigations, civil False Claims Act (FCA) and qui tam actions, and state attorney general matters, particularly in the pharmaceutical, healthcare and government contracting sectors.
Ms. Auten brings deep experience guiding corporate clients through complex, sensitive and often fast-moving enforcement investigations and matters. She regularly represents companies and executives in federal and state investigations involving allegations of healthcare fraud, government contracts fraud, Controlled Substances Act violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) issues and other business-related claims. Her work includes defending clients in opioid-related investigations and litigation involving the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and state attorneys general nationwide.
Clients often rely on Ms. Auten to conduct sensitive internal investigations that require discretion, sound judgment and practical insight. She advises companies on strengthening compliance and ethics programs – particularly in the life sciences and healthcare industry – and collaborates closely with leadership teams to help them anticipate and address regulatory risk.
Ms. Auten is the latest of a group of litigators focused on healthcare government enforcement matters to join Holland & Knight in the last 18 months, including former federal prosecutors and Partners Henry Leventis, William Brady and Jessica Sievert.
"Meredith is a well-known and highly respected, prominent member of the white collar defense bar, and her arrival marks a significant enhancement of our litigation capabilities in Philadelphia," said John Grugan, leader of Holland & Knight's Philadelphia Litigation Practice Group. "Her strong track record of delivering outstanding results for clients, along with her history of working closely with colleagues to support those clients, makes her an excellent fit for Holland & Knight."
Ms. Auten earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania.